“I have got very little personal benefit that I could not get privately, provided there was peace in Uganda… The wealth I have is based on modernized obujajja wealth. This is what I commend to the Ugandans and the Bazzukulu.” Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni said.
General Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for 37 years was responding to his critics following a social media message he posted over the weekend accompanying a picture of him together with his son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, at his farm in Kisozi. With a herd of cows in the background, the head of state posted that whenever possible, he takes the opportunity to check on his wealth creation activities.
While the message behind the president’s post could have been to encourage his social media followers to take wealth creation seriously, a one @BartNsubuga wondered why he (Museveni) still talks about wealth creation, having depended on the national purse for 40 years.
In response, Museveni implied that he and his family do not solely depend on government funds, and as long as there is peace, he can easily get most family requirements like food, from several of his own farms spread across the country.
Bellow is President Museveni’s response to “hostile messages” relating to his wealth.
“I have noted the hostile messages from
@BartNsubuga, @uk_nup, and @PAULKAZIBAC. Nsubuga wondered why I still talk about wealth creation, having depended on the national purse for 40 years. Ndugu Nsubuga, the two pieces of muhogo (otushate), some peas, some kalo, two hundred grammes of meat three times a week and 3 cups of milk coffee in a day, plus the little amounts of food Maama takes each day, can all be easily got from our farms at Ntungamo, Rwakyitura, Kisozi, etc.
Nobody in my family ever worked for the government until 1965, when I worked as a licensed teacher at Bweranyangyi Senior Secondary School, the year it started. In the last 63 years I have been involved in African Resistance, I have got very little personal benefit that I could not get privately, provided there was peace in Uganda.
We are very proud of that heritage and its modernized form. In the world, many countries are crying for food because of the wars in Europe. Here in Uganda, we have our own muhogo, millet, maize, beef, milk, sugar, fruits, etc.
The only issue to address is for the homesteads that are not growing their own food or not having money to buy the food they need.”
The president’s response comes amid concerns about need to reduce government expenditures especially lavish spending by government officials to mitigate effects of a huge public debt and withdrawal of foreign donors.
Also, the World Bank Group – the global lending institution recently threatened to block funding to Uganda.
Museveni’s critics have since pointed to a huge budget allocated to the presidency and the cost of maintaining president Museveni in office, which they now say must be trimmed in order to mitigate the current economic challenges. Kira Municipality MP Hon. Semujju Nganda recently proposed a bill to revise expenditure on presidency.