By Our Reporter
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched a blistering attack on a group of opposition Members of Parliament and the Daily Monitor newspaper, accusing them of hypocrisy, disloyalty, and foreign influence. In a strongly-worded statement released on April 10, Museveni dismissed the uproar surrounding the alleged Shs 100 million per MP reportedly distributed through classified funds, calling the outcry a distraction engineered by what he labeled “anti-Ugandan” actors.
The president singled out MP Muhammad Kivumbi and his group of opposition legislators, whom he described as energetically peddling misinformation during a broadcast on Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). He claimed that these MPs, supported by the Monitor, were feigning concern over corruption while conveniently ignoring what he described as a more insidious threat: foreign funding intended to sway Uganda’s political landscape.
“Dear Sirs and Madams, have you ever heard of foreign funds being sent into Uganda to influence our politics in the favour of the foreigners?” Museveni asked rhetorically.
He went further to equate the receipt of such funds to treason, asserting that accepting foreign support for political activity amounted not only to corruption but to betrayal of the country’s sovereignty.
Defending Classified Expenditures
In his defense of classified funds, Museveni argued that such expenditures are vital for national security. He outlined their purpose: the procurement of classified military equipment and the implementation of covert operations aimed at countering subversive activities within Uganda.
“Has this helped to keep the peace? Absolutely. Is that not the reason why Uganda is an island of peace in this area?” he posed.
Referencing Uganda’s long history of armed struggle—from the FRONASA resistance to the NRA war and the current operations of the UPDF—the president emphasized that patriotism, not financial reward, has been the principal motivation behind Uganda’s military efforts. He contrasted this ethic with what he portrayed as the selfishness and foreign allegiance of opposition politicians.
The Foreign Funding Allegation
A major thrust of Museveni’s message was his renewed warning about the influence of foreign money in Ugandan politics. He quoted U.S. Congressman Andy Barr, who criticized the Biden administration for punishing Uganda over its 2023 anti-homosexuality law while simultaneously funding pro-LGBTQ+ initiatives in the country.
Museveni highlighted this as a prime example of foreign interference:
“When you receive foreign funds, you are not only corrupt but you are a traitor,” he declared.
Barr’s remarks, cited by Museveni, questioned the wisdom of using U.S. taxpayer dollars to “penalize countries like Uganda for making their own internal domestic political decisions,” arguing that such actions only push Uganda closer to geopolitical rivals like China.
A Warning To The Opposition
The president’s statement ends with a veiled but unmistakable threat to those he accuses of siding with foreign interests.
“Are you anti-corruption fighters or enemy agents? In time, you will be exposed. Wait.”
Signed off as “The Old Man with a Hat (Ssaabalwanyi),” Museveni’s message reads as both a political counterstrike and a nationalistic rallying cry, urging Ugandans to stay vigilant against what he views as the encroachment of foreign ideology masked as civic activism.
Reactions Expected
The statement is likely to deepen existing rifts between the ruling party and the opposition especially now that both ends are yearning for victory in 2026 elections.
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