By Mulengera Reporters
A significant section of State House employees are unhappy with the conduct of 100s of youth flocking the precincts of Nakasero State Lodge to pick money from the office of State House Comptroller Lucy Nakyobe. For weeks now, crowds of young people from Kampala’s 5 Divisions have been camping out in the small compound outside Nakyobe’s office waiting for their turn to receive the money.
The money is being given to them as facilitation or capital to start their own businesses having undergone rigorous training under a Presidential Program called Skilling the Girl Child. Though meant for females originally, the program was later expanded to cover even male youths. On completing the training in mostly vocational skills, these hitherto-deprived young people have been holding grand graduation ceremonies at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds where Nakyobe brings the President to preside over.
With the training phase completed, its now time for these certified beneficiaries to turn up and pick their startup capital given under the same initiative. That is all okay and perfect for the 2021 vote-hunting President but there is fury the Comptroller isn’t using the most appropriate approach to dish out the money.
“This is a place of honor whose integrity should be preserved at all times. Why does she not trust anybody? Who tells her everyone is a thief? Those young people don’t have to crowd this place. They are served sodas and samosas in kaveera which they dump all over the place and this is unbecoming. The mere sight of disposable soda bottles being littered everywhere is simply very deplorable and it’s stretching all the way from Kampala Club to Okello House,” ranted a senior State House official whose office is situated that same side as the Comptroller’s.
“She can continue entrusting the giving out of the money to her blue-eyed girl Faridah Mayanja but all we are saying is let them do it better. You can call in smaller groups or better go and distribute the money from the community where those beneficiaries live and operate from.” The angry source further added that Comptroller is too big an official to insist on having that assignment executed within the vicinity of her office.
“It’s good to loyally work for the President like Madam Comptroller is doing but the dignity of that place is much paramount. It’s a presidential palace whose prestige shouldn’t be demystified by calling in such groups of rowdy young people,” ranted another source claiming many other workmates operating offices that side are equally appalled by Nakyobe’s decision to bring in such large groups of people as if they are going for a political rally. (For comments, email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
