In a recent development that has further strained political relations in Uganda, the United States government has revoked the visa of Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, the former Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in the Ugandan Parliament.
This move is seen as part of ongoing efforts by the U.S to hold alleged corrupt officials accountable, a campaign that aligns with National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi’s mission to root out corruption in Uganda.
Hon. Mpuuga, once a close ally of Kyagulanyi, now finds himself embroiled in allegations of self-enrichment.The rift between the two leaders began earlier this year when Mpuuga was accused of awarding himself a shs 500 million service award during his tenure as LOP.
Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, responded by removing Mpuuga from his position as the LOP in February and appointing Joel Ssenyonyi as his replacement.Despite his dismissal, Mpuuga secured a new role as a Commissioner of Parliament, a move that further deepened tensions between him and Kyagulanyi.
Reports indicate that Kyagulanyi and his loyalists made efforts to remove Mpuuga from this new position as Commissioner of Parliament.However, Mpuuga resisted these efforts, and his defiance was supported by Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Among.The alliance between Mpuuga and Among has only fueled accusations that the two are colluding for personal gain at the expense of the country’s resources.
Kyagulanyi has not shied away from publicly branding Mpuuga a “thief,” accusing him of teaming up with Hon. Among to plunder the nation.The situation took a significant turn when the US federal government imposed sanctions on Speaker Anita Among for her alleged involvement in corruption.Kyagulanyi welcomed these sanctions, viewing them as a step in the right direction towards holding corrupt officials accountable.
The sanctions against Among are part of a broader US campaign to address corruption globally, and Uganda has not been exempt from these efforts.In recent weeks, Hon. Mpuuga faced his own international setback when he was informed that his US visa had been revoked.
The visa cancellation came as a shock to the former LOP, who reportedly only learned of the revocation when preparing for a trip to the United States.He has since been instructed to reapply for a visa at the American Embassy. Despite numerous attempts to reach Mpuuga for comment, he has remained silent on the issue.
A top official within the Kyagulanyi administration confirmed that the visa revocation is directly linked to allegations of corruption.The official stated that Mpuuga’s ouster from the opposition leadership and the subsequent fallout with Kyagulanyi likely played a role in attracting international scrutiny.
“This is part of Kyagulanyi’s ongoing effort to fight corruption using all available fronts,” the official explained.
On the legal front, Mpuuga received some respite when the High Court ruled that the UGX 500 million service award was legal, having been approved by the parliamentary commission rather than through his own unilateral decision. This ruling provided a glimmer of hope for Mpuuga amidst the barrage of accusations and political challenges he has faced in recent months.
Kyagulanyi’s anti-corruption crusade remains a central pillar of his leadership within the NUP, and Mpuuga’s fall from grace has become a focal point in this campaign.The revocation of Mpuuga’s US visa is a significant development that underscores the international dimension of Uganda’s internal political struggles.As the situation continues to evolve, the future of Hon. Mpuuga’s political career hangs in the balance.
With tensions still simmering between him and Kyagulanyi, and with international actors now becoming involved, the outcome of this power struggle could have far-reaching implications for both Uganda’s political landscape and its relations with foreign governments.The revocation of Mpuuga’s visa by the US sends a clear message: the fight against corruption is not only a domestic affair but one that resonates on the international stage.
For Mpuuga, the loss of his visa symbolizes the growing pressure he faces both at home and abroad.Whether he can recover from these setbacks remains uncertain, but what is clear is that the stakes have never been higher in Uganda’s ongoing battle against corruption.
