Parliament summons MP Kipoi over absenteeism

By Vision Reporter

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebbecca Kadaga, has summoned the Bubulo West MP over his absence from Parliament. 

Last week, Sunday Vision reported that Tonny Kipoi had gone missing after he was interrogated by the CID over allegation of drug trafficing.

The Speaker demanded that Kipoi explains why he has continuously absconded from duty, yet he is being paid a salary. 

“He has been asked to explain in writing,” said Helen Kaweesi, the Parliament spokesperson.     

The MP last signed the attendance book in Parliament on May 17 and has missed more than 30 consecutive parliamentary sittings without explaination. 

The parliamentary rules of procedure give the speaker powers to expel an MP who stays away from the House for 15 consecutive sessions. 

Meanwhile, the news about the MP’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking has been received with mixed reactions from his constituency.

The commissioner in charge of narcotics, Fabian Amadia, told Saturday Vision that they had failed to find the MP.

“We went to Parliament seeking his side of the story but he did not succeed. We left a letter in his pigeon hole,” he said.

Edith Namaganda, an employee of Manafwa district local government, said the MP had not been seen in the area since March.

“He is living in South Africa with his family. We do not know much about him. We read the news about him being involved in drug trafficking in the papers,” she said.

Samuel Wanyama, a councillor representing Sibanga sub-county in Kipoi’s constituency, said there was alot of mystery about the MP. 

 “All we know about him is that he splashed a lot of money during the campaigns. I think that is why he won. He would ask people to form groups and he would give them a lot of money,” he said. 

Wanyama says people are now crying because he has never been seen again.

On June 14, Interpol was asked to investigate Kipoi over drug trafficking. This followed the arrest of a Ugandan, Shaban Moses Khuju, in Brazil with 80 plastic capsules containing 1.19kg of cocaine.

The Police said a suspected female drug dealer landed at Entebbe Airport, allegedly transporting 5kg of cocaine.

The Brazilian woman reportedly landed on May 13, aboard Turkish Airlines.

The Police are also investigating possible link between Kipoi and a Nigerian drug lord.