Mathias Mpuuga is one of the few legislators in the Eleventh parliament who has seen it all in the political arena.
A political antagonist, academia, lawyer and lover of culture and sports development, Mpuuga by nature is a distinguished figure.
Mpuuga who has been a legislator for more than a decade, is the National Unity Platform (NUP) Vice president Central Region. He officially crossed from DP to the Kamwokya based outfit last year a few months to the 2021 general elections.
Seated at hotel triangle, a luxurious tavern in Kampala, Mpuuga is fit like a fiddle for this interview.
The newly-sworn in Nyendo- Mukungwe Member of Parliament has served the parliament with a lot of dedication and expertise.
Mpuuga is talking with a low tone on the subject of his journey as a humble kid who grew from nuts to become a formidable figure in the political arena.
He is one of the few politicians who have conversely achieved it all as a legislator and most of his injustice political drive such as Black Monday helped in fine-tuning the political status of Uganda’s state of governance.
In his black suit, Mpuuga grabs a glass of cocktail juice as he cools the throat. He talks of how he has managed to lead a team of leaders in Masaka City without compromising and segregating anyone.
In a low tone, Mpuuga says that politics is one the most difficult obligations people can do but when one executes it beyond everyone’s expectations, he or she must be credited.
Years seem to have passed, money seems to have been spent and yet still, voters themselves haven’t disappointed Mpuuga’s quest for sovereignty on the whelms of Masaka City’s growth.
Mpuuga is remarkably credited for fueling Masaka Municipality to Masaka City status under the watchful and voice of change from Buganda Kingdom Kabaka Ronald Mutebi.
It is no crime to say that Mpuuga has done well to exercise his duties as the legislator and obviously his personal side as a father with children at his home in the Soweto suburbs in Masaka City.
He has performed the legislature role as a service under the watchful eye of Buganda’s Kingdom.
Mpuuga has done well in developing Masaka City and the introduction of CBS PEWOSA initiative has conversely suppressed poverty within the locals in Masaka City.
“I think if we’re to talk of development as Masaka City we have made it. The few major phenomena is to see our people employed, children educated and leaders executing their political obligations wholly,” he shared.
At 46, Mpuuga can imagine the consequences and the thrilling journey it has been ever since he rose into the parliament.
He remains one of the few legislators in the Eleventh Parliament who have witnessed air battles between the law makers and president Yoweri Museveni himself.
Mpuuga is relatively warm to share that being the Member of Parliament calls for a lot of acquaintances and one of them are; dedication, lobbying and proper representation of interests of people in parliament.
The fallacy that a legislator’s major role is to represent the constituency and readily available to all communal functions according to him it’s wrong.
“The role of a parliamentarian is huge. Not always that your wishes and plans will be met but for a learned person like me, I must listen to every concern filed in my office,” he shares.
Mpuuga’s motive was to study and get a good job and that was perhaps when he would begin to think of establishing himself as a man whose livelihood and status should much his family dream.
“We grew up in a family where mostly we depended on coffee to get money for home use, school fees and solely working closely and at peace as a family helped us grow, materially and spiritually,” Mpuuga shares before his phone momentarily rings.
For the present, Mpuuga is not worried whatsoever. The dream of his family to see him growing from a raw school boy from Kyamaganda Boys Primary School to prominent person has been conversely met.
Lots of things have happened. Mpuuga says as a little boy, he grew up admiring being a journalist and fortunately he practiced it lowly only to fall for politics as a living servant.
“At home, they knew that I had love and spirit to be a leader. So, from then on, we had to set our future ambitions higher and open and today we’ve achieved it,” he says.
Sometimes in a flash, Mpuuga says that emerging victorious in 2011 as Masaka Municipality Member of Parliament came with pleasures and problems.
“Quite honestly, all we needed was a Change back then as Democratic Party. But at the end after realizing that the party had slipped away from our agenda, many brilliant and ambitious political phillosophists had to vacate,” he adamantly shares.
Mpuuga says in politics one is happy when his or her people are happy with new developments and achievements.
“The rich can all be lost but happiness in the people you’re serving highly counts a lot,” he added.
“We’ve done whatever it takes in the political arena. We have been beaten, seen blood flowing from our bodies and our people being killed. The corruption starting from the head of the state is obviously talked of everyday. I think we’ve a lot to tell and show our grandchildren,” he adds.
By nature, Mpuuga has a great liking for history, art and culture. Even when he is talking, culture is one of the many things one can see mould throughout his ways and expressions.
“There is no anything beautiful in the world than loving your King and serving your King. I’ve had the pleasure to do both. I’ve served and still serving my kingdom,” he astonishingly shares.
He is very cultural and the years he has been in the ebbs of Buganda Kingdom, Mpuuga has learnt the art of loving and serving people irrespective of their family background.
Even at the present, Mpuuga is still craving, longing and praying to serve Ugandans.
“The parliament is like a garden. If you don’t sow well and timely, you cannot succeed,” he shares.
Working day and night, serving people who are more positive than you’re to meet their political obligation is only full-filled by a Hero.
“I’ve done it. I’m doing it and we shall be doing it to ensure that the people we represent meet their desired goals,” he shares.
The parliament all together has connected him to the people and the people themselves have connected well with Mpuuga.
He has believed in prosperity and good life which many can attribute to his personal traits in managing and planning for the people in his political circles.
The question of who will upbeat his socks and trounce him from power remains in contention as the few; Mukasa Mbidde to mention but a few tried and walked home in 2021 general elections with saddened hearts and disappointments.
It is this recurring work load that has pushed the latter to become the National Unity Platform (NUP) Vice president.
“I don’t think that we’ve achieved as political revolutionists in Uganda. We’ve set our eyes clear to the man who came with nothing but belongs to everything in the country today. The fight is still on. Ugandans should be alerted,” he added.
Mpuuga’s long quest has always been invasion with liberation and freedom of expression for all Ugandans.
To this, he says that the mood has changed. The political arena has been broadened for the youths whom he strongly believes in.
“You cannot succeed when the majority of your cadres are gold guns. The only thing Ugandans should know is that leadership is now lessened in the hands of the young and fresh blood,” he as a rule shared.
Mpuuga says he prefers to work for genuine people with a long thirst to full-fill their dreams.
“Joining the National Unity Platform (NUP) was very timely. I saw a moving group of brilliant youths led by a rare and composed leader in Kyagulanyi. It attracted my political test,” he assuredly noted.
About the future, Mpuuga is not ready to sit home and wait for the future to unfold.
He ponders that they’ve worked for the future and are still working for it.
Away from politics, Mpuuga has used sports to create Unity among the youths.
In 2016, Mpuuga formed Masaka Municipality Football Club (MMFC) pioneer coaches Noah Mugerwa and Simon Mugerwa.
Later, the team re-branded from MMFC to Nkambi Coffee in Katonga Group in Buganda Regional League.
To this; sports development only grew with the teamwork and establishment of required resources.
“When Masaka Local Council collapsed in 2015, I had to rally around and come up with a team in Masaka City because Masaka City needs a formidable team that can employ youths within,” said Mpuuga.
“The team is vastly talented. It has connected me politically and socially in the spheres of life. We need a little motivation and I know we shall reach our dream destination,” he added.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
