Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo says they are piecing evidence on the latest service award saga. (Photo by Dedan Kimathi)

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The old adage “once beaten, twice shy” does not apply to Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo.

Even as he fights to retain his seat, now under threat from ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag-bearer Brig. Gen. (rtd) Emmanuel Rwashande, Ssekikubo has bounced back into the spotlight barely a year after spearheading a failed bid to censure four backbench commissioners: Mathias Mpuuga (Nyendo–Mukungwe, NUP), Solomon Silwany (Bukooli Central, NRM), Prossy Akampurira (Rubanda District Woman MP, NRM) and Esther Afoyochan (Zombo District Woman MP, NRM).

The commissioners at the time were accused of collectively awarding themselves a shillings 1.7 billion honorarium back in May 2020. Now, Ssekikubo has returned, vowing to hold the same group accountable over a fresh alleged payout amounting to shillings 1.6 billion.

Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo addressing journalists. (Photo by Dedan Kimathi)

“We shall not run from responsibility; we are gathering all the evidence, and at an appropriate time, we shall be able to move Parliament again on two fronts. To reconsider our motion, but also to retable fresh evidence. The other was evidence against shillings 500 million, which we have. Now, we are adding another evidence of the 400 million,” Ssekikubo says.

Whistleblower allegations

Ssekikubo is riding on allegations brought to light by Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP) Joel Ssenyonyi during a media briefing held in his boardroom on November 4, 2025.

Ssenyonyi claimed that, to cover their tracks, the bonanza, which allegedly took place before nominations for parliamentary seats, went through the Parliamentary SACCO (Savings and Credit Co-operative Organisation).

“Some weeks back, the four commissioners of parliament received the second service award of shillings 400 million each,” he alleged.

“This money was intended to see them through the campaigns and to avoid the paper trail, this money was received through the Parliamentary SACCO,” Ssenyonyi said.  

Parliament responds

However, the allegations have in back-to-back interviews since been dismissed as blackmail by SACCO chairperson Robert Migadde (Buvuma Islands, NRM), commissioner Solomon Silwany and Director of Communication and Public Affairs at Parliament Chris Obore.

With the latter attributing the latest debacle to what he says is Ssenyonyi’s trademark showman approach to politics.

“Those who said Ssenyonyi had been given shillings 650 million service award, I saw it running around. I said it was stupid propaganda, nobody has paid Ssenyonyi 650 million service award. Similarly, Ssenyonyi is becoming a public liar to keep saying Parliament is paying out service awards,” Obore told journalists on Tuesday.

Adding that “I think the only thing you need to accept as media, is these are my bosses, they can fire me anytime, including Ssenyonyi, he is my boss. But I think he loves the limelight more than institutional building. I would request that these bosses of mine start respecting themselves so that we can build an institution called Parliament, and if Ssenyonyi wants to be transparent like the way he says, let him start by giving you the accountability of the shillings 2.8 billion we allocate to his office.”

Whereas the paper trail remains scanty, Ssekikubo, while addressing the media on November 5, said he is piecing together details with the aim of resurrecting the two contentious issues altogether. 

He argued that even if the House is not recalled from recess, having been adjourned Sine die, their tenure is still on till May 27, 2026, when the 12^th Parliament shall be sworn in.

“We shall come to that. But with your experience, you have noted, they always dismiss it as wolokoso (loose talk). They are not the ones entitled to information alone. We are piecing together, but if they thought that they would run to court again this time round, we are tightening the loose ends,” he said.

“This time, we hope the Speaker won’t throw her weight behind those being accused. We hope this time, the Speaker will allow the Rule of Law, the role of Parliament and its oversight to take its course. We don’t expect any intervention… The moment you don’t do that, impunity will thrive…,” he added.

Court ruling

It should be noted that in September last year, Ssekikubo and his allies, who included Aringa South MP Yorke Alioni (NRM), who had collected over 180 signatures from MPs, ran into a brick wall.

After their last-ditch attempt to have the motion tabled on the House floor was dismissed by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who cited an August 12, 2024, court ruling by Justice Douglas Karekona of the civil division of the High Court, which had exonerated the four commissioners.

While as an enrolled advocate, Ssekikubo must be aware of the limits of challenging court decisions, on Wednesday, he did not hold back.

Referring to the case that sealed their fate last year, as choreographed.

“We did all that was in our hands. Now, when they chose to take themselves to court and the court conspired with them, it was a conspiracy. Because we were the movers of the motion. If anything, it required us to be the ones to table the evidence we had in court. But the court didn’t find that good,” Ssekikubo said.

“They were their own accusers, witnesses, lawyers, and finally the so-called person who went to court (Daniel Bwette), never stepped in court at any single moment. Can you imagine? An aggrieved person who never stepped into court? Because the court record is there to show,” he added.

WHAT THEY SAY

Solomon Silwany (Commissioner)

I first saw something on social media saying the LOP has gotten something like shillings 650 million, like service award. I thought it was media propaganda. So, I saw the LOP also counter-accusing commissioners that we got money. I think when you are a leader, you should limit [your] excitement and just do not talk about what you don’t know for the sake of politics.

Robert Migadde (Parliamentary SACCO chairperson)

I don’t know where he (Ssenyonyi) is getting that.