{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Museveni explains "yellow envelopes"
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Museveni explains "yellow envelopes"
President Yoweri Museveni has today delivered the 2015 state of the nation address at the Kampala Serena Hotel during which he explained the issue of "yellow envelopes". Museveni was reacting to speaker Rebecca Kadaga's concern that MPs were dodging parliamentary sessions to attend funerals and weddings. The president said that the legislators needed not to carry the people but rather show them the way. But the opposition chief whip, also Dokolo district woman MP, Cecilia Ogwal, interjected the president, accusing him of breeding a bad culture by offering yellow envelopes. "Yellow envelopes" refer to cash handouts the president gives to individuals or groups during his visits.
"But I am president; you are not president... This president lives in Kampala, he comes once in a rural area and they won't see a president again for another five years," Museveni shot back, saying it was not good to go empty-handed when one visited after a long time.
He added that the issue would be discussed as a way of handling the pressures the electorate were exerting onto leaders. Acknowledging that Uganda was a young democracy, Museveni also noted that there should be a limit on the "envelopes", adding that he had stopped giving money to the people at his country farm in Kisozi, even when they gathered along the road to welcome him.
At the beginning of his address, Museveni had warned some leaders against concentrating "on peripheral issues and neglecting fundamental issues". Quoting from the book of Matthew 23:23 in the Bible, Museveni said such people had left what they were supposed to do and were doing what they were not supposed to do. He later attacked leaders for sabotaging the Amuru sugar factory project in northern Uganda. However, he praised the people of Atiak, also in northern Uganda, for being mature and not sabotaging a sugar factory project, like their Amuru counterparts.
"The Sugar factory in Amuru has been delayed by some people seated here in this August House," Museveni said. "If you can't be a leader, there should be a way of removing you from the position."
Museveni also promised to institute a commission of inquiry into the construction of the stretch of road between Nebbi and Pakwach which he said had interrupted his sleep as he recently drove from Arua to Kampala. He also praised the new Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) boss, Allen Kagina, whom he hoped would crack down corruption in the roads agency.
"Whoever has eaten roads money will have to regurgitate it, especially after appointing a no- nonsense young lady [Kagina]," he said.
He then attacked parliamentary committees for "mistreating" scientists and civil servants, saying the legislators were abusing power and taking home allowances.
"People talk of abuse of power in your parliamentary committees. You see the civil servants are clapping. When you are handling my scientists, please be humble... I treasure them," he said.
Citing the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID), Museveni said parliamentary committees were asking scientists "economics questions". He added: "You are lucky because I was going to donate that project to other African countries which are interested."
Earlier, Kadaga had reminded legislators to attend sessions even when the electoral period has neared. The speaker then announced the visit of Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta later this month.
Today's state of the nation address is a precursor to the June 11 budget reading session.
skamugisha@observer.ug
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