By Our Reporters
During the just concluded CEC retreat, President Museveni sternly warned top NRM bosses against planning to extort money from him under the guise of using it for political mobilization targeting the youths to ensure they don’t fraternize with Bobi Wine’s People Power Movement. During plenary discussions, one of the CEC members asked Museveni to prepare a lot of cash for purposes of 2021 on grounds that it will be dominated by the youths who happen to be money-minded most of the time. “Its true people these days sleep [bebaka kutulo] because of the peace you brought and we have achieved a lot as NRM but these days everything has been monetized Mzee to the extent that even your vote as President will only come if we invest heavily against the opposition,” the influential CEC member (names withheld) told the President during the retreat. Museveni responded by saying he wasn’t going to accept being blackmailed by anymore. “We are not going to go on and on giving youths money for an eternity. That blackmail must stop and stop now. What we must do as leaders is to use our positions to lead by example, inspire and mobilize our children the youths towards work. Their attitude towards work must change and that’s what we must address,” Museveni was quoted as firmly responding to the CEC member. “We as leaders must be exemplary and be seen to be doing some work. That is why I always take off time to go and attend to my cows and generally do some work at my farm. In fact in my house hold its compulsory all children must know how to milk cows and this is what I teach all my grandchildren the moment they become of age. We must teach people how to work and the youths shouldn’t expect money this time round.” He reportedly added: “That culture of accepting to be blackmailed to give them money will breed thieves. Okay you open the taps and give them money during election time and then what happens after 2021? Aren’t we preparing them to become thieves and robbers?”
