Uganda, March 21 -- Nearly half of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party's membership in Parliament were absent at a caucus meeting convened to discuss the fate of House Commissioner Mathias Mpuuga.

Mr Mpuuga stands accused of indulging in corruption against party principles when he received a now-controversial multi-million 'service award' from Parliament in June 2022 yet he was barely into office as Leader of the Opposition.

He has resisted a party directive to return the money and resign as parliamentary commissioner -a position to which he was appointed last December. It is that decision which has reportedly stoked already simmering tensions inside the party.

Sources indicated yesterday that at least 22 of the 57 legislators were...