Museveni slams expenditure on foreign travel

One of the most coveted benefits for many individuals with access to the public purse in Uganda is globetrotting, either on benchmarking trips or representing the government in different foras.

It comes with per diem, chance to do some shopping in duty-free shops and an opportunity to see new lands.

However, while launching the inaugural Makerere University annual agricultural show on Wednesday, President Yoweri Museveni lashed out at civil servants with an insatiable appetite for foreign travel describing it as unnecessary.

"I was meant to travel to New York to attend the United Nations general assembly. But I am tired. I have always been here because I love Africa," Museveni said.

President Museveni flanked by Makerere University vice chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe listens to Brian Natwiguica (right) explain different types of animal feeds. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

President Museveni chats with some of the innovators. Photo by Miriam Namutebi

Majority of world leaders, including Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta,  are currently in New York to attend the 74^th UN assembly.

Museveni's comments followed his earlier promise to secure funding for the scientists and innovators whose products were on display.

Museveni has for long described frequent foreign travels as nugatory expenditure in light of the competing priorities which he contends have the capacity to haul millions of Ugandans from poverty.

Since the government started to prioritise expenditure on infrastructure, the finance ministry has always labelled foreign travel, workshops and buying vehicles as consumptive expenditure.

In this regard, the President has always been on a collision course with lawmakers whose docket normally has benchmarking best practices from other countries when drafting bills.

Held under the theme Enhancing Youth Involvement in Agriculture to Mitigate Increasing Food Insecurity and Unemployment, the exhibition showcased the latest indigenous cutting-edge technology and innovations in the agriculture sector.

From acaricides, food processing and preservation technology to hybrid seeds, the exhibitors, mostly students and Makerere University dons wowed Museveni with their latest discoveries.      

John Muyingo, the state minister in charge of higher education, lauded the exhibition saying it has the capacity to make agriculture more attractive to youths majority of whom are unemployed.