Uganda’s opposition shadow cabinet has asked members to boycott President Museveni‘s State-of-the-Nation address scheduled for this afternoon, accusing him of wasting billions of shillings on Covid-19 tests every time he attends a public gathering.
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, has stated that testing for Covid-19 before meeting with the president is a waste of public resources that could be channelled into other developmental activities.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an end to Covid-19 as a global health emergency. However, Gen. Museveni continues to waste public resources on specific companies owned by individuals close to the regime on COVID tests whenever he meets people, both at his home and in other parts of the country,” Mpuuga said.
He claims that at least 20,000 people, including politicians, officials in charge of various government departments and agencies, diplomats, security personnel, journalists, and wait staff, are expected to attend this afternoon’s State of the Nation address at Kololo. Approximately Sh3 billion will be spent, according to him, by Ugandan taxpayers.
He also stated that another event of the Budget Speech, which is expected next week, will cost the taxpayer an additional Shs3 billion in Covid-19 tests.
“Whereas this is an abuse of the rights of those subjected to these tests, we are more concerned about the high cost of testing for Covid-19 in billions every year,” said the Nyendo – Mukungwe MP.
To save taxpayers’ money, he suggests that Mr. Museveni and his family take Covid-19 booster doses to boost their immunity, as recommended by the World Health Organisation, to lessen their anxiety about the Covid-19 threat. The Shadow Cabinet has therefore, resolved that subjecting people to the costly Covid-19 tests for the sole purpose of meeting Mr. Museveni is an abuse and must stop.
Accordingly, we advise Members of the Opposition not to take these tests and to stay away from SONA 2023 and the budget speech,” he said.