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Uganda Today: Chronicled Graft Scandals Under 38 Years Ugandan President Watch .
By Amos Ssemalulu
Like I have always alluded to my previous posts, we live in a country where truth is mistaken for bitterness and hate. Where people are afraid to speak their mind thus putting our beautiful Country in a moral dilemma. When one time President Museveni told parasites to go to hell on Heroes day, I kept asking myself who exactly are those people he is referring to. Was he wishing his first family to go to hell? Since the list of parasites include his brothers, relatives and friends. Am happy to be part of history and will proudly live to testify that “I was there” on 26/01/1986 when he captured power in a guerilla war fare that claimed thousands of lives. My family was privileged to have a Radio and Black and white Television where neighbors converged in our home in Lyantonde to listen and watch him on UTV and Radio Uganda. During those days, TV news would be read by Bbaale Francis and Dan Kyazze all deceased. I was there when he promised the fundamental change in simple terms that the populace longed to see.
Conversely, when President Museveni took over power, he became completely diametric of the opposite forgetting his promises thus presiding over a regime that has looted and plundered the once beautiful nation without fear and shame.
The following graft scandals shall always be in our memories to reflect bad governance even after when he is long gone or no more.
a) I was there in 2006 to witness the story of ghost soldiers, teachers and over 20,000 civil servants who were on payroll for over 10 years with a few individuals profiteering from the tax payers money.
b) I was there when CHOGM Scandal worth 500billion Ugx was shared among friends and families in 2007. This also involved the Vice President Gilbert Bukenya and other cabinet Ministers.
c) I was there when Temangalo scandal 2008, Ugx 11billion fraud was un earthed and many people close to the President were exonerated.
d) I was there when Global Fund scandal 2008, Ugx 95.8billion involved Cabinet Ministers Jim Muhwezi and Captain Mike Mukula were forced to resign from cabinet but later on exonerated by the President.
e) I was there when ID scandal 2010, a German Company Ugx 150billion involving ICT Minister Alintuma Nsambu by then and Minister Sam Kuteesa.
f) I was also there when the Bicycle scandal worth 4billion Ugx in 2011 was also investigated.
g) I was also there when money from the Microfinance Support Center worth 60 billion was misappropriated by the former Vice President Dr. Specioza Kazibwe scandal 2011
h) I was there to witness Bassajabalaba receive a compensation worth 149billion from Ministry of Finance in 2011.
i) I was there to witness the Pension fund that went missing worth 169billion Ugx
j) I was there when over 15 billion Ugx went missing from Prime minister’s office 2012 & nothing happened
k) Can I forget the Jet fighter scam worth 1 trillion Ugx that directly involved the younger brother of the President Gen. Salim Saleh?
General Salim Saleh by blood is a paternal uncle to Muhoozi, he presided over a military function yet he is already retired from the army. These and many more bizarre maneuvres point to one thing that has very often been echoed by president Museveni and his son, both severally referring to the national army as “my army”
l) I was there when Irish Aid fund for resettlement program for IDPs in northern Uganda worth Ugx 14billion was shared among the indomitable in 2012.
m) I witnessed Mbale-Soroti road fraud Ugx 90billion, 2015.
n) I was there when Mukono Katosi Road fund Project worth Ugx 27 billions was stolen and shared by UNRA staff and Minister Abraham Byandaala.
o) I was there when President Museveni pulled out all the money from BoU worth 2.4 trillion for his 2016 presidential campaign against Dr. Kiiza Besigye
p) I was also there when President Museveni okayed the award of 6 billion Ugx to a few individuals in 2017 “Presidential Handshake”.
q) I was there when a loan of USD 379m was given to FINASI to build Lubowa hospital in a dubious deal.
r) Can we forget the recent saga of 900 billion that was stolen from bank of Uganda in 2019?
s) Nevertheless can Ugandans forget the 280 billion shillings of Uganda Airlines procurement saga?
t) I was there when NRM privatized Govt Parastatals and robed citizens of their franchise. Banks like UCB, Cooperative Banks, Government Hotels and Government ranches were all shared by themselves.
u) I was there when Government schools and Universities were very functional, they used to charge low fees and could accommodate the peasants, unlike today when they favorably compete with private schools stealing from the poor.
v) Am away but watching how land is being grabbed day and night on orders from Govt officials. They have not spared Forest reserves, Swamps, Nakivubo Stadium, Schools like Kololo High School, Shimon Demo and PTC land were all taken by RELATIVES of the President.
w) I was there when Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa was elected President of UN General Assembly in 2014, As a reward, he got a bribe of $1mIllion dollar and will never return to New York. Shockingly, Museveni thanked him for representing Uganda.
With no doubt, am very confident to say that President Museveni has immensely contributed to corruption, plunder and looting of this beautiful country. Parasites are being fed and nurtured by his party. A lot of dirt is yet to be discovered and will be shared. The rot is just within his confines of the family!
For God and my Country!
*By Amos Ssemalulu*