President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to tackle corruption head-on, revealing that he has uncovered evidence of a racket involving Ministry of Finance officials and parliamentarians.
The president said this during the state of the Nation Address at Kololo ceremonial grounds yesterday. “I have been hearing stories that there is a racket from the Ministry of Finance to Parliament. I have been hearing but now I have proof. They work with accounting officers from different ministries to come to parliament to ask for certain funds and then they share the money,”
With his voice laced with determination, Museveni added that, “For sure, the corrupt don’t know how strong we are, we are patient but if you make a mistake, you will see.”
The president also highlighted Uganda’s economic progress revealing that the country is in upward economic growth, “We are now entering the 5th phase where we apply the science of our young people to produce products. These measures have enabled the economy to grow from $1.5 billion in 1986 to $55 billion by the foreign exchange method and $180 billion by the purchasing power parity method.”
He noted that Uganda has achieved middle-income status, but emphasized the need for regional cooperation to overcome trade barriers. “Uganda has just entered tmiddle-incomeome status, we are currently on the lower ground. There are, however, still some trade barriers in the East African Community and these are hindering our development. I urge the community to remove these bottlenecks so as to have one common market. And with this, we can be able to convince other countries to work with us as a continent.”
The opposition boycott did not dampen Museveni’s resolve, as he spoke to a packed audience flanked by government officials and dignitaries who kept on applausing for every statement the president made, signaling a renewed sense of hope for a country long plagued by graft and economic stagnation.
However, The boycott and counter-narratives indicate the deepening political divisions in Uganda, as Museveni’s government faces growing criticism over corruption, human rights abuses, and suppression of political opposition.
Despite the tensions, Museveni remains defiant, vowing to continue his crackdown on corruption and push for economic growth.
The stage is set for a protracted political showdown, with Ugandans eagerly watching to see if the president’s words will translate into tangible action.
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