Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Monday mocked political leaders preoccupied with celebrating Arsenal’s English Premier League triumph while people in their constituencies remain poor, warning that he would sack new ministers who fail to supervise government anti-poverty programmes.
Speaking during the opening of Uganda’s 12th Parliament at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Museveni said ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leaders must focus less on foreign football excitement and more on ensuring government wealth creation funds reach ordinary citizens.
During his address, Museveni projected a short clip telling the story of a 64-year-old woman whom he said had never handled Ush1 million before benefiting from revolving Parish Development Model (PDM) funds in recent years.
Immediately after the clip, the veteran leader turned his attention to leaders celebrating Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years, a triumph that sparked celebrations across Uganda, where the London club enjoys one of its largest support bases in Africa.
“Somebody… one of my people… was writing to me that I go and celebrate Arsenal. Me Yoweri Museveni?” he said.
“If I want, I play my football, but I won’t celebrate. How can you be celebrating European clubs when your people do not have money? You can have Arsenal, but first solve poverty if you are a leader,” he added.
But Museveni directed his criticism mainly at political leaders like ministers and MPs whom he accused of neglecting poverty eradication despite billions of shillings already injected into government programmes.
“I will have to be clear to everybody, I have been involved in fighting for Uganda’s future in the last 60-plus years,” he said, before warning that: “In the past, I’ve been polite and I talk and preach as if I’m John the Baptist, but now I will be very, very, very rough with people who want titles but betray or don’t care about the people they lead.”
‘Why are you hugging?’
The president concluded by cautioning lawmakers against ignoring Ebola prevention guidelines after Uganda confirmed two additional cases on Monday, bringing the country’s tally to seven under the May outbreak.
“I was watching all of you shaking hands and… do these people know that there’s Ebola,” Museveni told MPs.
“Ebola doesn’t go through breathing but contact, handshaking and hugging. Why do you hug? Set an example until this Ebola goes away,” he appealed.
