State Minister for Finance (Privatization & Investments) Evelyn Anite has furiously reacted to social media reports that she had resigned her cabinet position. In a phone interview from the United States where she is (having secured leave for two months to do her graduate school exams), the youthful Minister disclosed to this news website the circumstances surrounding her absence for the next 60 days. “I sought permission and was fully authorized by the President to be away for two months. This was meant to enable me prepare for my exams and I’m preparing for my next paper right now,” Anite said. “I began in January and I’m enrolled at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy [Tufts University] where I’m pursuing a Master’s degree in International Law & Diplomacy. That I have resigned? You are telling me news. Where is that coming from?” she said sounding outraged. “In fact Mzee didn’t only permit me to be away he is the one actually paying for everything. The entire course will cost $90,000 which he willingly paid for me because he wants me to become a more qualified person. He is preparing me for bigger things and that’s something that might be unsettling some people to the extent of originating social media rumors in order to disorganize my exams preparations.”
Taking the exchange rate of $1 going for Shs4,000 as was the case a few days ago, the $90,000 Museveni has sunk into Anite’s education for just two years comes to a whooping Shs360m. The outspoken politician said there was nothing to be ashamed about because quality education is expensive and in any case she isn’t the first (or last) person whose education the President has magnanimously invested in. In the mid-2000s, there was public uproar when the Weekly Observer reported that Shs2.5bn had been spent by the President for ex-Vice President Specioza Kazibwe’s PhD at Harvard. Years earlier, the same President had financed ex-Kampala Mayor Nasser Sebaggala’s education at an academic institution in UK. Then more recently, barely 5 years ago, former State Finance Minister (for Microfinance) Caroline Okao and other elected leaders graduated with MBAs from Aptech where the President paid their tuition. This is why Anite maintains “there is nothing out of character because he is a president who believes in building the capacity of the leaders he serves with in the management of this country.” Anite vowed that despite social media speculation, which she says is meant to antagonize her with the big man, she “will remain a loyal unwavering supporter of the President.” She said according to her schedule, she will be back in the last week of August and put detractors to shame. “I’m able-bodied and can speak for myself: I will consider addressing a press conference whichever will be appropriate as soon as I’m back. That’s enough for today let me resume my reading because I’m preparing for my next paper,” concluded Anite. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755.
