Commissioner Afoyochan blasts opponents and media over ‘service award ‘saga

By Mike Rwothomio

The woman MP of Zombo district Esther Afoyochan, who double as commissioner of parliament has lashed at media and opponents for over exaggerating false corruption allegation being label against her in Parliament of Uganda.

Afoyochan revealed that many of her opponents are banking on the false narrative to soil her name to the electorates, challenging them to instead present clear manifestos of what they intend to do for the people of Zombo.

She out rightly blamed the media for over exaggerating and sensationalizing false information about her.

The legislature also commended her electorates in Zombo for putting her in ‘prayers’ at this tough time, further applauding fellow MP of Ora County Songa Biyika Lawrence for not appending his signature during collection of signatures by some legislatures , who want the’ service award’ issue debated on the floor of parliament.

She reechoed that if she was guilty, she wouldn’t be guarded and moving scot-free.

Afoyochan made the remark recently at a fundraising event at St Peters college-Warr; a function presided over by the Arch-bishop of Gulu Archdiocese Most Rev. Raphael P’mony Wokorach.

 “I would like to thank you everyone for always praying for me all the time, honorable Songa am telling you when the issue of commission was all over radio, some people over exaggerated it, you know when something is happening to you, many people who hates you over exaggerate it, the issue was all over radio that Esther will be chased, but I want to let you know that when your people sent you with blessings, nothing can happen to you. I want to thank you MP Songa because when the list was brought to chase commissioners of parliament, Songa never signed saying he can’t do that against her sister” Afoyochan stressed.

She also  attributed her woes in Parliament to ” dirty  politics”  and scramble for positions, saying she will continue with her generosity for the people of Zombo.

” What is killing us is politics and jealousy for positions, so when you listen to those baseless talks, that is it. I have heard that all those who want to contest for woman MP seat are only talking about it, instead of talking about what they intend to do for you, they are talking about how Esther is going to be chased, can a thief be guarded like me ?, if you listen to those baseless talks, say it doesn’t exist. For me I will continue giving you all the support I can ” she added amidst applause from a section of the electorates at the event.

Her comment is coming at a time, when the movers and seconders of the motion seeking to impeach four back bench commissioners of parliament, have announced that they have secured the 177 signatures needed to table the motion on the floor of parliament. 

Undeterred, the movers of the motion led by Members of Parliament Theodore Sekyikuubo,(Lwemiyaga south) and Alioni Odria (Aringa south ), embarked on Arduous task of hoping from one place to another across the county, to fetch for signatures from their fellow legislators who were in recess.

Out of the over 40 MPs in the west Nile sub region, about 14 appended their signatures. From greater Nebbi that comprises 8 MPs, only the MP for Padyere County Ishaka Otimgiu signed on the censure motion. 

The deep seated alleged corruption scandal in Ugandan Parliament has triggered bevy of debate nationwide, propelling hundreds of concerned youths to pour on the streets of Kampala last week in peaceful protest against the vice. Many were arrested by security, charged, remanded and some granted bail.

During a recent 40th graduation ceremony of Ora technical institute-Warr in Warr sub- county , Songa Biyika Lawrence , the MP for Ora county Zombo district who double as the chairperson west Nile Parliamentary caucus distanced himself from heightened corruption reports in parliament , assuring his electorates that his name will never be heard in any corruption scandal in the country.

“you have heard about corruption everywhere, there are Members of Parliament who are already arrested because of corruption related issues , I must assure you that those corruption cases, you will never hear my name in it” Songa told hundreds who gathered at the event.

The commissioners accused of awarding themselves shs 1.7 billion as ‘ service award’ include former leader of opposition and the MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe county Mathias Mpuuga ( 500M) Esther Afoyochan, the Woman MP Zombo district ( 400 M) , Prosy Akampuriira, the Woman MP for Rubanda district( 400 M) and Solomon Silwany, the Bukooli central member of parliament( 400M).

Responding on the Afoyochan’s claim about media over exaggerating the commissioner’s alleged corruption woes, Alex Pithua, the executive director of Zombo Press Association said “ the journalists are guided by the journalistic principles to report facts the way it is objectively in a more professional manner, and that is exactly what our members are doing “

Many women who declared interest in challenging Afoyochan Esther in the 2026 polls when contacted by this publication, declined to comment about the matter, with only one who preferred anonymity saying “that statement is just a political statement and she should focus on how to clear her name”

The debate about ‘service award’ was at a fast clip in the public domain, following a social media campaign dubbed the parliament exhibition, earlier championed by concerned activists across the country. String of alleged corruption scandals l involving a handful of parliament staff were exposed by members of the public mainly on social media platform X formerly twitter. 

Apparently, some MPs from Ugandan Parliament are on remand in Luzira Prison over alleged corruption scandal after President Yoweri Museveni repeated his strong anti –corruption rhetoric against Some MPs and government officials during the recent state of the nation address.