By Former Leader of Opposition, Winnie Kiiza has dismissed assertions that Uganda is a poor country, arguing that these portrayals are made by leaders because they are managing the country with a kiosk mentality.
During the opposition’s Alternative budget priorities at parliament on Monday 31st March 2024 Kiiza asserted that Uganda is not a poor state like it’s referred to by many people
“Uganda is not a poor country like many people think or like our leaders want us to believe. Uganda is a nation that has poor managers who manage a nation with a kiosk mentality.
Kizza explained that such a narrative is pushed by the NRM regime who use this as a guise to steal the country’s resources and embezzle public funds. She noted that because corruption has been legalized and is often referred to as a corporation in most government ministries and institutions.
“Corruption is kind of now a way of life in Uganda. Museveni’s government has institutionalized it to the extent that when you are not corrupt, actually the system is likely to weed you out. You look alien when you are not corrupt in Museveni’s government”. Kiiza remarked
According to the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya Turwomwe, the government loses Shs10 trillion annually to corruption, accounting for over 44% of the annual revenue collections.
