During his twelfth Presidential Address on COVID-19, President Yoweri Museveni heed to his call and donated half of his monthly salary.
“They pay me Shs3.6 million; NRM takes 20% of it. I am now going to tell Mama Janet to sign for Shs1.4 million and the balance of Shs1.3m goes to the COVID-19 fund,” Museveni said.
Though Museveni’s gesture seemed a tactic to influence other public servants to also voluntarily accept a pay cut, a section of the public have instead questioned the amount he offered. Among these contemplating on Museveni’s donation is four-time Presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye.
Through his official twitter handle, Besigye said Museveni has lots of money at his disposal and would have done better when it came to donation especially in this situation of coronavirus.
“Takes Shs300 billion away from COVID19 fight to State House for ‘Classified Expenditure’- meaning its purpose can’t be disclosed and has no process for audit – then “donates” Shs1.3 million from his salary to COVID-19 Task Force! Try to describe that.
“300 billion of borrowed money to the Official Home of Uganda’s President, as paltry allowances of frontline healthcare workers are still unpaid; we have no ambulances and crucial equipment for health units; still fundraising for food to save lives of millions,” Besigye tweeted.