President Yoweri Museveni has said it was morally wrong for Members of Parliament to allocate themselves Shs20 million at the time when the country was struggling with the Coronavirus pandemic.
Gen. Museveni said this while addressing the nation on the current situation in the country in regards to the #COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is morally reprehensible for MPs to give themselves money for personal use when the country is in such a crisis; and totally unacceptable to me and to the NRM,” he said. When I met with the Speaker, I told her they should get out of that trap and the best way to do it is by not spending this money on themselves. I agreed with the her to donate that money to the district task forces,” Musevebi said.
The president further said the Auditor General would be invited to probe those Members of Parliament who utilized the Shs20 million by purchase all sort of stuff without the approval of state since the money belongs to the state. He said for those Members of Parliament who have donated the money to the district task forces, no action would be taken against them since they passed on the money to the task forces.
“I heard that some MPs went and bought things, that is not good enough. You are not the purchasing officers of the state. I have been in State House for 34 years, I have never even bought a roll of toilet paper. Many Ugandans are angry but please don’t be angry, it will be sorted” he said.
Museveni also asked why security and police only arrested Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Francis Butebi Zaake when he attempted to distribute relief foods while his only party MPs and Ministers where not apprehended. “Why arrest MP Zaake and then you leave other people including NRM ministers?”
On the issue of truck drivers being left to drive past the border points, the president said it would be suicidal for Uganda to stop cargo trucks coming in at the moment because of lack of alternative means to transport cargo from the sea to Uganda and neighbouring countries.
“So these truck drivers can come and go where they can go. The Ministry of Works is going to designate these places where they stop and rest.Secondly, there are other are other parts of Africa where there is no railway. they are part of us and they consume our products.” he said before adding “Secondly stay away from these truck drivers. I am told our daughters have been depending on those people but i have told our people to get them (daughters) what to do”
