NRM Chief Whip Tells MPs to Halt Signature Collection for Censure Motion Against Commissioners

NRM Chief Whip Hanson Obua has called on NRM legislators to halt the collection of signatures for a motion to censure four NRM commissioners of Parliament.

The motion, led by Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County), accuses the commissioners of distributing a service award worth 1.7 billion shillings and inflating their salaries to 23 million shillings each.

Obua interfaced with the motion’s proponents on Tuesday, urging them to stop the signature collection process.

He revealed that the directive to halt the process came from higher authorities, emphasizing that the NRM has established systems and processes to handle allegations of corruption within the party. He criticized the proponents for bypassing the party’s procedural steps, stating, “Within the NRM, we have rules of procedure, but you started in gear two without going to gear one.”

Despite Obua’s plea, several MPs who had signed the motion vowed not to withdraw their signatures.

The legislators indicated that the exercise would continue until Friday as planned, noting they were less than 30 signatures short of the 177 required for the censure motion to proceed. Ssekikubo dismissed claims that the directive came from President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the NRM chairman, stating that the president does not operate in such a manner and has zero tolerance for corruption.

In response to allegations from Veronica Nanyondo (Bukomansimbi DWR) that she was misled into signing the censure motion, Ssekikubo mocked her claim, describing it as unfortunate and typical of the drama associated with censure motions in Parliament. He insisted that the motion was clearly labeled on each page and dismissed the notion that any MP could sign without being aware of what they were endorsing.

Ssekikubo expressed regret over Nanyondo’s claims, stating, “We displayed our motion, and on each and every page, we put a title, so it isn’t true that a member has given her signature by virtue of her misconception, misdirection, or deception. But those are the games associated with censure motions around Parliament. What caliber of MP says they didn’t sign while not aware? It is a matter of deep regret.”

Addressing Nanyondo’s letter to the Speaker, Ssekikubo questioned her motivations and suggested that many MPs would make various excuses as the process unfolds. He warned that those claiming to be misled would face a day of reckoning and that the ongoing drama would reveal the true problems within the country. He concluded, “We sympathize with you, now the country is seeing who is the problem in this country. Fortunately, we have enough signatures, but much more drama is going to appear and unfold.”

Nanyondo’s letter to the Speaker demanded the withdrawal of her signature from the censure motion, alleging that her signature was obtained in bad faith and that she was misled into signing.