At least 39,000 voters from Bukooli Central County in Bugiri District have signed a petition to censure their Member of Parliament (MP), Solomon Silwany, citing allegations of misconduct, corruption, and derogatory remarks about the Basoga community.
The accusations against Mr. Silwany stem from his reported statements during an event in Masaka City, organized by Nyendo-Mukungwe County MP Mathias Mpuuga, where he allegedly called the Basoga “hypocrites with too much envy.” Additionally, petitioners highlight the recent arrest of Rogers Ngiya, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Chairperson for Bukooli Central, over a debt of Shs47 million owed to Mr. Silwany. Mr. Ngiya was released from civil prison on Tuesday.
Leading the petition effort, Abubaker Lyavala, the National Unity Platform (NUP) Chairperson for Bukooli Central County, aims to gather 60,000 signatures to demand Mr. Silwany’s removal from Parliament before the 2026 general elections. “We are confident we will have the required signatures by next week to present to the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, with a copy to the President,” Mr. Lyavala stated in an interview on Monday.
Former Bukooli Central MP Bernard Mulengani emphasized that Mr. Silwany’s comments violated the cultural values of the Basoga and their leadership under the Kyabazingaship. He assured the electorate that they have the right to censure their leaders under Article 84 of the Election Act.
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. This motion, led by Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo, addresses the Commissioners’ approval of a “one-time pay-off service award” of Shs500 million for the Leader of the Opposition and Shs400 million for the backbench Parliamentary Commissioners in May 2022, which sparked public outrage.
Bugiri District LC5 Chairperson Davidson Mulumba criticized Mr. Silwany’s conduct, stating that he opposes government programs that do not benefit him personally. “The only punishment we can impose is to force him out of Parliament. It is the Basoga who should question his integrity, not the other way around, as he is not a Musoga,” Mr. Mulumba said.
Bugiri District is predominantly inhabited by the Samia and Basoga ethnic groups, with Mr. Silwany believed to belong to the Samia, though this has not been verified.
John Barongo, the Bugiri District FDC Publicity Secretary, added that Mr. Silwany should not be allowed to return to Bukooli Central Constituency before his censure, reminding him that the voters are his bosses.
Taaka Margret, Chairperson of the Buwunga Sub-County Women’s League, expressed concerns over the district’s lack of development, attributing it to Mr. Silwany’s leadership. “Bukooli Central County is not progressing due to Mr. Silwany’s leadership. If you support the NRM or the opposition but do not support him, you will not benefit from any government programs,” she stated.
