President Yoweri spent the better part of Tuesday afternoon responding to his Bazukulu on social media over a number of concerns including the infamous iron sheet bonanza involving a section of his cabinet.
In his response the President made clear pronouncements on what should be done to members of his cabinet who received and diverted the iron sheets meant for the needy in the Karamoja sub -region.
He stated that those who diverted the iron sheets to their constituency should make a refund while those that used them for personal use must face criminal charges.
“Those who diverted the mabaati but not for personal use, must pay back the equivalent value in money or return the mabaati for the Karachuna, so that, that programme goes on,” Museveni said on Tuesday afternoon.
Below is his statement
The mabaati story was the work of the whistle-blowers and the State House Anti-corruption Unit. I am considering another Anti-corruption Unit in State House to only deal with Village issues. The present one has got involved, positively, in broader issues.
The problem with the political class is that some of them have not internalized the NRM line on social-economic transformation and they, opportunistically, try to do the cheap popularity of fund-raising, giving mabaati, giving big numbers of bursaries, etc.
They end up with debts and desperate efforts to look for donations, efforts that can lead into mistakes of being tempted to divert what is meant for A to B.
That is a political mistake that can also be subversive as you will see from my letter to the Prime Minister. That mistake, however, is totally different from converting those items to personal use.
That is no longer just a mistake, but theft. Therefore, Kugonza do not worry, all those involved will be handled appropriately.
Those who diverted the mabaati but not for personal use, must pay back the equivalent value in money or return the mabaati for the Karachuna, so that, that programme goes on.
On many occasions, I have told leaders not to try and carry their Constituents on their heads financially (kubetikka) but show the families how to use the NRM programmes (NAADS, OWC, PDM, etc.) and make their own money. Kukulembera, si kwetikka abantu.