These are certainly challenging times for President Yoweri Museveni.
His decision to meet and dish out money to different youths groups in Kampala and Wakiso with the aim of defuse the growing popularity of Kyadondo East lawmaker, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, has left NRM MPs asking for equal treatment.
The ‘yellow’ MPs are demanding to have youths in their constituencies also rewarded for voting Museveni into office.
This was after Rubaga North, Moses Kasibante, raised the matter on the floor of Parliament, tasking Government to explain the criteria used to select the beneficiaries and the Votes where the money was being drawn from.
But Kasibante’s lamentation was met with mixed reaction from Geoffrey Macho (Busia Municipality) who mocked Kasibante for faking anger towards Museveni’s ‘generous’ gesture instead of thanking him for ‘elevating’ youths around Kampala from poverty.
Kasibante claimed that Museveni’s money had brought a lot of stampede within their constituencies and tasked Government to explain details of the youth cash bonanza especially on whether the beneficiaries were adequately selected and which agency of Government is in charge of the youth bonanza.
It was then that Kadaga asked Government: “Minister of Finance, can you say something about this bonanza for Kampala?”
David Bahati, State Minister for Planning reminded Kasibante of the fact that Parliament appropriated resources under the State House vote and that it is the same funds the President was using these resources.
Bahati also told the NRM MPs that the youth cash bonanza program has started from Kampala but it is going to spread over the country.
“It is very unfortunate that people representing these young people who are being helped can come here to scandalize this matter,” Bahati said.
Beti Kamya, Minister in charge of Presidency could not waste time to throw a barb at her political rival, Kasibante remarking, “I am shocked that instead of the member thanking Government, for bringing this pilot project to Kampala, the member is questioning the President’s good will in Kampala.”
