Ugandan president’s #sackofmoney causes uproar on social media

President Museveni also donated a truck, a minibus and 15 motorcycles to the group, but many on Twitter have complained over the increasing cases of the president dishing out money at public events, with the amount of money this time round proving particularly shocking.

https://twitter.com/search/%23sackofmoney“>#sackofmoney How thrilling! Lecture some young minds about mismanaging money, and then give them 100k from unknown sources

— Ronald Bera (@RonaldBera) https://twitter.com/RonaldBera/status/327029130547851264“>April 24, 2013

The donation even generated a trend – #sackofmoney – where many Twitter users have questioned whether the group can ensure proper accountability of the funds.

Many complain such actions are a display of corruption among the political class in Uganda and how they have constantly manipulated the population.

https://twitter.com/search/%23Sackofmoney“>#Sackofmoney M7 simply spreading his corrupt ways. God knows Busoga youth forum leaders wont need this forum anymore http://t.co/EbMk16ZTWG” title=”http://watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3B1t4EUoq70“>youtu e.com/watch?feature=…

— Rosebell Kagumire (@RosebellK) href=”https://twitter.com/RosebellK/status/326347782162104321“>April 22, 2013

The donation has not escaped the international media either, with Al Jazeera discussing the issue on its daily 30 minutes programme ‘The Stream’, which involves the online community.

Uganda’s href=”https://twitter.com/search/%23sackofmoney”>#sackofmoney
hits a nerve href=”https://twitter.com/search/%23Uganda”>#Uganda
title=”http://aje.me/ZOqpx4″>aje.me/ZOqpx4 via @ href=”https://twitter.com/ajstream”>ajstream

—
Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) href=”https://twitter.com/AJEnglish/status/327035016381100033″>April
24, 2013

However Uganda’s minister for the presidency Frank Tumwebaze defended Museveni in an interview with the BBC, saying the funds are to be used for income generating activities.

“Quite a few times people have requested the president for money and have stolen it. Giving it in broad daylight means that the youth can see who has their money. The president is not taking the money to Las Vegas, he’s supporting income-generating schemes,” said Tumwebaze.