Museveni donates sh100m to children of fallen soldiers
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has contributed sh100m towards the establishment of a vocational school and other development projects for children of fallen National Resistance Army (NRA) officers.
By Anthony Bugembe
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has contributed sh100m towards the establishment of a vocational school and other development projects for children of fallen National Resistance Army (NRA) officers.
The President made the offer during a fundraising dinner organised by the Children of NRA Fallen Comrades Association on Tuesday at the Hotel Africana in Kampala.
“Don’t go for alcohol and promiscuity. This (project) will help you remain healthy so that you can do whatever you want without the burden of disease,†Museveni advised the children.
The association, formed in January by Gen. Elly Tumwiine, has 400 members.
“As a result of the liberation war, many of us remained orphans. There are also other soldiers who died after leaving the bush. Such children need to be helped,†Tumwiine said.
He said the association would help children who were ignorant about their benefits by linking them to the pension’s office.
Follow-ups will also be made to ensure that the benefits are taken by the rightful beneficiaries, Tumwiine added.
Mariam Nalubega, a daughter to the late army commander, Ahmed Seguya, asked the President to give them priority when job opportunities emerged.
Museveni responded: “I keep a share for the fighters’ children in the Police force, army and intelligence. Doing the same in public service is not a good idea,†he said.
“Remember, we need to win elections and in elections, everyone, even drunkards, votes. Therefore, we must be careful not to antagonise the majority,†he added.
Nalubega, who is also the chairperson of the association, said: “We want to contribute to the development of our country like our fathers did,†adding that the group already had a piece of land at Luweero given to them by one of the families of a fallen NRA comrade.
Museveni urged the children to take advantage of the revived economy to earn a living. “When the NRM government took over power in 1986, the economy had totally collapsed,†he recalled.
He observed that with an increased tax base, the country could fund development projects without relying on loans and grants.
“Now that taxation has gone up, we no longer rely on donations,†Museveni added.
Some of the other members of the association’s executive committee include Rita Muwanga (Lt. Mule Muwanga’s daughter), Amina Nasur (Col. Nassur Ezaruku’s daughter), Juliet Akanga (Lt. Col Akanga Byaruhanga’s daughter), Denis Magala (Sam Magara’s son) and Ronald Muguta (commander Tadeo Kanyankole’s son).
The event was also attended by the Rwandan ambassador, Karegesa Kamali, a delegation from Korea, Gen. Salim Saleh and other veterans.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has contributed sh100m towards the establishment of a vocational school and other development projects for children of fallen National Resistance Army (NRA) officers.
The President made the offer during a fundraising dinner organised by the Children of NRA Fallen Comrades Association on Tuesday at the Hotel Africana in Kampala.
“Don’t go for alcohol and promiscuity. This (project) will help you remain healthy so that you can do whatever you want without the burden of disease,†Museveni advised the children.
The association, formed in January by Gen. Elly Tumwiine, has 400 members.
“As a result of the liberation war, many of us remained orphans. There are also other soldiers who died after leaving the bush. Such children need to be helped,†Tumwiine said.
He said the association would help children who were ignorant about their benefits by linking them to the pension’s office.
Follow-ups will also be made to ensure that the benefits are taken by the rightful beneficiaries, Tumwiine added.
Mariam Nalubega, a daughter to the late army commander, Ahmed Seguya, asked the President to give them priority when job opportunities emerged.
Museveni responded: “I keep a share for the fighters’ children in the Police force, army and intelligence. Doing the same in public service is not a good idea,†he said.
“Remember, we need to win elections and in elections, everyone, even drunkards, votes. Therefore, we must be careful not to antagonise the majority,†he added.
Nalubega, who is also the chairperson of the association, said: “We want to contribute to the development of our country like our fathers did,†adding that the group already had a piece of land at Luweero given to them by one of the families of a fallen NRA comrade.
Museveni urged the children to take advantage of the revived economy to earn a living. “When the NRM government took over power in 1986, the economy had totally collapsed,†he recalled.
He observed that with an increased tax base, the country could fund development projects without relying on loans and grants.
“Now that taxation has gone up, we no longer rely on donations,†Museveni added.
Some of the other members of the association’s executive committee include Rita Muwanga (Lt. Mule Muwanga’s daughter), Amina Nasur (Col. Nassur Ezaruku’s daughter), Juliet Akanga (Lt. Col Akanga Byaruhanga’s daughter), Denis Magala (Sam Magara’s son) and Ronald Muguta (commander Tadeo Kanyankole’s son).
The event was also attended by the Rwandan ambassador, Karegesa Kamali, a delegation from Korea, Gen. Salim Saleh and other veterans.