At least 39,000 voters from Bukooli Central County in Bugiri District have signed a petition to censure their Member of Parliament, Mr. Solomon Silwany.
The petition accuses Mr. Silwany of misconduct, corruption, questioning Busoga’s integrity, and involvement in the arrest of voters.
Allegations Against Silwany
The accusations against Mr. Silwany include remarks made during an event in Masaka City, organized by his counterpart Mr. Mathias Mpuuga, where he allegedly stated that “Basoga are hypocrites with too much envy.”
Additionally, the petitioners criticize the arrest of Mr. Rogers Ngiya, the FDC Chairperson for Bukooli Central Constituency, over a Shs47 million debt owed to Mr. Silwany. Mr. Ngiya was released from civil prison recently.
Petition Drive
Leading the petition drive, Mr. Abubaker Lyavala, the NUP Chairperson for Bukooli Central County, aims to gather 60,000 signatures to push for Mr. Silwany’s removal from Parliament before the 2026 General Elections.
“We are optimistic that by next week, we will have secured the required number of signatures to present to Speaker of Parliament, Ms. Anita Among, and copy in the President,” Mr. Lyavala stated.
Support for the Petition
Former Bukooli Central County MP, Mr. Bernard Mulengani, emphasized that Mr. Silwany’s alleged comments violated Basoga’s cultural values.
He cited Article 84 of the Election Act, which empowers the electorate to censure their leaders for misbehavior. Mr. Mulengani assured the people of Bukooli Central County of their right to pursue this action without intimidation.
Additional Accusations
Mr. Silwany is also facing a motion to censure Parliamentary Commissioners, including himself and Mr. Mpuuga, for allegedly awarding themselves Shs1.7 billion in illegal payments.
The motion, presented by Lwemiyaga County MP, Mr. Theodore Ssekikubo, stemmed from a May 2022 decision where Commissioners approved a “one-time pay-off service award” of Shs500 million for the Leader of the Opposition and Shs400 million for backbench Parliamentary Commissioners, causing public outrage.
Local Leaders’ Reactions
Bugiri District LC5 Chairperson, Mr. Davidson Mulumba, criticized Mr. Silwany for setting a bad example as a Commissioner and opposing government programs that do not benefit him personally.
He urged that the Basoga should question Silwany’s integrity, not the other way around. Mr. John Balongo, the NRM Publicity Secretary for Bugiri District, suggested that Mr. Silwany should be reminded that voters are his bosses before the censure.
Ms. Taaka Margret, Chairperson of the Buwunga Sub-county Women’s League, expressed concerns about the district’s lack of progress under Mr. Silwany’s leadership.