President Yoweri Museveni has hailed the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, for using very innovative ways to solve her people’s problems.

He made the remarks in Bukedea district on Saturday, March 23, while officiating at the opening of Bukedea Teaching Hospital and Bukedea Institute of Health Sciences that are both championed by Among, who also serves as the area Woman MP on the National Resistance Movement ticket.

The President used his speech to explain how he started working with Among who was in opposition and how he interrogated her over her source of money following the re-election of the late Omoro County MP Jacob Oulanyah as Deputy Speaker of Parliament on May 19, 2016.

“When I was interacting with her those times, I told her I don’t want you to be in debts because I could see that she was very ambitious in doing things, thinking a lot about how to help her people. I said be careful. I don’t want you to get into debts and don’t be corrupt,” he recalled.

He said a leader with debts cannot think properly.

“So today, as she was taking me around [the hospital], I interrogated her because I had even forgotten what we had talked before. I said, ‘Where did you get the money to do this? Then she said, ‘You old man, have you forgotten that you helped me with the school?’ I said, ‘How much?’ She mentioned the figure,” he narrated.

He said then the Speaker explained that once she built the school [Bukedea Comprehensive Academy], the school started admitting children and used the school fees to build the hospital.

“You can see this is an innovative, imaginative young person using very innovative ways of solving problems. In her hospital, the pregnant women and children are attended free, but the men are charged. Very clear girl. So, you can see that this is a debt-free operation. So, I really want to congratulate her for that imagination,” Museveni said.

He also said Among is a good planner who has used her money to change the Bukedea landscape and create jobs for many people.

“Among is a good planner because the money she got here is the money she used to build the hospital on the other side and also provide quality health care and training of nurses. She has changed the landscape here and created employment for many,” the President said.

He, however, implored MPs to stop fundraisings for various development programmes in their constituencies, which he has been saying create corruption apart from putting undue pressure on political leaders.

What others said

The hospital also serves people from Mbale to Moroto district, according to Chris Obore, Parliament’s director of communication and public affairs.

“The hospital is the biggest private hospital in the country and the numbers at this hospital are overwhelming. If you go to the maternity ward, women are giving birth for free. It’s the Speaker paying the bills for services,” he said.

Denis Obua, the Government Chief Whip and Ajuri County MP in Alebtong district said they need to credit the Speaker for investing at home.

“This is a clear manifestation that our citizens can invest in homes and bring services near to the people. It is important if God blesses you with some resources, instead of investing out of the country, let’s support our Ugandan economy under the doctrine of Build Uganda Buy Uganda,” he said.

Peter Ogwang, the sports state minister and Ngariam County MP in Katakwi district said the hospital is going to improve the quality of health services in the region.

“As far as development is concerned, a lot of trade is going to be taking place here,” he told the media.