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OPINION

Sh500m has laid the stage for a fight between the National Unity Platform (NUP) president, Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine, and Mathias Mpuuga, MP Nyendo-Mukungwe.

Until the end of last year, Mpuuga was one of the two powerful NUP leaders. The other who still is, was Bobi Wine, as party president, who wields executive powers over NUP. Before he lost the position, Mpuuga as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP) headed the Opposition and had clout as accorded by the Constitution of Uganda. In other words, the NUP president cannot exert authority on LOP. It would take cordial relations, respect, and a meeting of minds for the two to work closely together.

As LOP, on many occasions, Mpuuga seemingly carried out his job without necessarily running to the Boby Wine for guidance and direction. Mpuuga, a seasoned politician, teacher and lawyer would find answers to any situation and no need to seek help from the party president.

The more he talked on the floor of Parliament and addressed the press, the more he looked like he was rising to the position of party president. His growing image and influence in national politics overshadowed that of Bobi Wine and as a result, he was replaced as LOP.

By the time this happened, there were signs that both leaders were drifting apart and signs of a rivalry simmering. Two tendencies played out in NUP, one the radical espoused by Bobi Wine and the progressive collating around Mpuuga, with roots in the Democratic Party (DP).

His eloquence when contributing to the debate on the floor of Parliament increasingly made him look like an alternative to Bobi Wine. He was playing the politics he knows best; pointing out wrongs committed by the Government without banging tables and throwing physical punches.

Bobi Wine in a veiled rebuke to the sober approach last year said, “If you pretend to be normal in an abnormal situation, we don’t understand you. Stop this nonsense of talking about policy. There is no policy in Uganda that will be implemented. The first policy is to maintain the freedom of our people, to make sure that all Ugandans are human beings.”

To appease Mpuuga, he was picked as the party’s representative to the Parliamentary Commission. It is a quiet position that does not thrust one into the limelight. But then it emerged that Mpuuga as former LOP is to get sh500m as a ‘service award’ for his tenure in the position. The award is unprecedented and so legitimately raises questions. But how Bobi Wine responded smacks of one finding the opportunity to deal with a political rival. Hastily, he concluded it was fraudulent money, citing NUP’s position of zero tolerance to corruption.

The stage for the fight between Bobi Wine has been set. The NUP president citing the party principle against corruption demands that Mpuuga steps down as a Commissioner of Parliament. And also, apologises to the party for the alleged misconduct. In response, Mpuuga says he will not resign, which means he sees no wrongdoing in accepting to take the money offered.

Bobi Wine in the short-term projects himself as a strong leader who is out to deal with corruption. He is sending out a message that if he takes power, he will firmly deal with the vice. But in the long run, he will deepen division in the party, if Mpuuga does not willingly resign.

It is unlikely that Mpuuga will step down. This will force, Bobi Wine to initiate a party process to have him removed. But he will encounter a brick wall because Parliament is defending the sh500m. So as far as the august House is concerned, the sh500m reward is not an act of corruption. It was decided by the Parliamentary Commission.

Bobi Wine risks becoming a paper tiger, if Mpuuga snubs his call to resign and the party fails to force him out. Also, in the unlikely event that he pushes Mpuuga the ramifications could be politically damaging for him and NUP. Accusations of witch-hunting the Nyendo MP who is seen as a potential NUP president will be convincing. The worst could be a split of the party.

Last year, money split the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) into two. One, FDC-Najjanankumbi headed by Patrick Amuriat while the other is FDC-Katonga under the tutelage of Kizza Besigye.

In NUP, money has brought to the fore a silent Bobi Wine-Mpuuga duel which has been going on since Mpuuga was appointed LOP.

Since the party president is not an MP, the LOP is the boss in Parliament. The president remains outside, mobilising support and resources to develop the party, but has to keep an eye on the LOP to ensure he sticks to the party objectives. It is difficult for an elected MP and LOP for the matter to be under the armpits of an unelected leader.

There is always rivalry. A party president wants to control LOP and is suspicious of his/her intentions. LOP is a constitutional office at cabinet minister level with privileges, including police escorts, which may be envied by the party president.

By nature of the office, LOP is in the limelight which could make the party president uncomfortable. Mpuuga was overshadowing the boss. And since he was not of the “people power breed” he was a DP block member he became a threat and is still one, with the possibility of successfully contesting for the office of NUP party president.

X: @dmukholi1