President Yoweri Museveni has blasted MPs for taking advantage of the Covid-19 to enrich their pockets.
President Museveni while addressing the nation Tuesday night on Covid-19, disapproved of the Shs20M to MPs. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and MPs moved to approve Shs.10 billion to themselves as facilitation as part of the Shs304Bn supplementary budget.
President Museveni who looked visibly angry with the move, blasted: “It would be morally reprehensible and totally unacceptable to me and the NRM for MPs to give themselves money at this time.”
He stated: “I told the Speaker the best way to get out of that is not to spend that money on yourselves. Take the money and donate to the district task force.”
Museveni charged: “On the MPs’ Shs 20m, it was bad planning because we had planned in a certain way and then you come and change. Secondly, there are also legal issues, thirdly, it is morally irreprehensible for MPs to give themselves money in a crisis.”
He went on: “Apparently there are some local politicians who want to compete with the current MPs. But I told the Prime Minister that the MPs can be made members of the district task force. Therefore take the money [Shs20m] there.”
Museveni said: “I heard that some MPs went and bought things. That is not good enough. You are not the purchasing officer of the state. I have been in statehouse for 34 years, I have never even bought toilet paper. Many Ugandans are angry, please don’t be angry. It will be sorted.”
He urged: “So Ugandans don’t be very angry with the MPs because that issue is going to be handled. But those who took money and bought things on their own, who authorised you? It is bad for those who took the money and spent it on themselves!”
The President assured: “The auditor general will have to come in and audit to for those who became purchasing officers so that we clear this. Ugandans don’t be so angry & be diverted from our war. If they already spent it, they can pay it back.”
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
