President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched a fiery rebuke against a group of Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) led by Hon. Muhammad Kivumbi, accusing them of being beneficiaries of foreign funding aimed at undermining Uganda’s sovereignty.
In a public statement he revealed that on UBC last night he watched how opposition Mps hypocritically criticized the an alleged cash dishout.
Museveni questioned the legitimacy of recent claims that each MP had received UGX 100 million through classified expenditures.
The President described the campaign as a “smear job” jointly executed by Opposition politicians and the “anti-Ugandan newspaper known as Monitor.”
“Last night, on UBC, I saw a cluster of Opposition MPs, led by a one Kivumbi, expending a lot of energy on the supposed Shs. 100 million per person given to MPs through classified funds,” Museveni began.
“We, the FRONASA-NRA combatants, fought from 1971 to 1987, i.e., 17 years, without pay. Since 1987 until about three years ago, the UPDF has been fighting but being paid very low salaries. Until 1st July 2022, a General was being paid shs 2,029,152, equivalent to about USD 560,” Museveni said, emphasizing that Uganda’s security forces have historically sacrificed personal gain in pursuit of patriotism and Pan-African ideals.
He continued: “Motivation for contribution with FRONASA-NRA-UPDF is patriotism, Pan-Africanism, etc. Actors in the wider Ugandan society have different perceptions. Those who listen to us, we try to guide them, and they make good contributions when they listen.”
But Museveni’s most scathing words were directed at those he claims are quiet about deeper, foreign-led interference:
“For the Kivumbi group of Opposition MPs and for the Monitor Newspaper, I have one question: ‘Dear Sirs and Madams, have you ever heard of foreign funds being sent into Uganda to influence our politics in favour of the foreigners?’”
He accused them of selective activism:
“If you are the anti-corruption warriors you claim to be, why have you never talked about these foreign funds? Who has been receiving them and for what purpose? When you receive foreign funds, you are not only corrupt but you are a traitor.”
The President then cited recent remarks by U.S. Congressman Andy Barr, who criticized the Biden administration’s stance against Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023. Museveni quoted Barr as having said:
“Let me focus on Uganda… a country that has thousands of soldiers fighting for our counterterrorism interests against Al-Shabaab in Somalia… The Biden administration revoked Uganda’s AGOA eligibility, enacted visa restrictions, and pressured the World Bank to prohibit new public financing. Despite this, USAID has provided a $600,000 grant to empower Uganda’s LGBT community to push back against this legislation. And a $5,400,000 grant to shift public perception and attitudes in Uganda towards LGBT acceptance…”he said
Museveni added, “Did our great ‘anti-corruption’ fighters of the Kivumbi group hear about this? Are you anti-corruption fighters or enemy agents? In time, you will be exposed. Wait.”
He defended the purpose of classified funds:
“They have two purposes: to buy classified equipment and to promote activities that help in defeating the enemy schemes in Uganda and keep the peace of the people of Uganda. Has this helped to keep the peace? Absolutely. Is that not the reason why Uganda is an island of peace in this area?”
In conclusion, he marked the significance of the day:
“Congratulations Ugandans. Today, the 11th of April, 1979, is when the Ugandan freedom fighters and our Tanzanian brothers captured Kampala and Idi Amin fled.”