Published on 31/10/2025
Jonathan Odur, Erute South Member of Parliament has questioned the legitimacy of Mathias Mpuuga as the designated Opposition Commissioner on the Parliamentary Commission, following his departure from the National Unity Platform (NUP) to the Democratic Front.
Odur argued that with the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Joel Ssenyonyi, reportedly barred from attending Commission meetings, the Opposition side effectively lacks representation on the key parliamentary body.
He raised the concern during the plenary sitting on October 29, 2025, prompting an exchange with Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who dismissed the claims as unfounded. “We have elected Commissioners on both sides of the House. The Leader of the Opposition is a member of the Parliamentary Commission, yet he has openly complained about being locked out,” Odur said.
“I would like you to confirm who currently represents the Opposition on the Commission, given the recent political realignments. Who can I approach as a member of the Opposition in light of the current vacancy?”
In response, Tayebwa insisted that there is no vacancy on the Commission and refuted allegations that Ssenyonyi was being excluded. “The Leader of the Opposition is a member of the Parliamentary Commission. Whenever he wants to attend meetings, he does,” Tayebwa said. “Mathias Mpuuga (Nyendo–Mukungwe) remains the Commissioner from the Opposition side. I don’t have any other useful information.”
Odur, however, maintained that Mpuuga’s continued presence on the Commission violates the Administration of Parliament Act, which stipulates that a vacancy automatically occurs when a designated member crosses to another political party. “If you look at the law that governs the Administration of Parliament, once a member designated from the Opposition changes a political party, a vacancy automatically occurs,” Odur stressed.
But Tayebwa countered with a rhetorical question: “And which party has he joined? Has he joined NRM? Because I thought any party that isn’t NRM is an opposition party,” he said. “You can help us understand better, you can lend us a few people like how your party (UPC) lent us, but you still remain as Opposition.”
Odur concluded by urging the Deputy Speaker to review the matter further. “This is a House of record,” he said. “We still have other Parliaments to come, and we must be guided by the law. I just want to be sure that the House is moving in the right direction, so perhaps when you retreat to your chambers, you can reflect on it further.”
The exchange has reignited debate over Mpuuga’s status on the Parliamentary Commission and the Opposition’s internal coherence, amid growing divisions following his fallout with NUP.
