By John Okello Lapok
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has celebrated his 81st birthday with a serious castigation against money lenders whom he accuses of exploiting wanainchi mainly Boda bodas.
The celebration was done at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala City and was attended by several people including Mama Janet Kataha Museveni, KCCA Executive Director Hajati Sharifah Buzeki, her deputy Benon Kigenyi, Minister Matia Kasaija among others.
The birthday celebrations were held concurrently with the first-ever Boda Union Festival and Expo.
During his address, the President who was in the company of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, thanked boda boda riders for celebrating his birthday with him.
He also highlighted the government’s efforts to protect boda boda riders from exploitative boda loans and moneylenders.
“My agreement with the Boda Bodas is that it is criminal for someone to give you a rabbit and then demand a cow in return. Moneylenders give you Shs5 million and expect Shs15 million back. That is robbery,” he said, adding that high interest rates have made moneylenders “enemies of progress” across sectors, including agriculture.
He explained that this is why the government introduced the Parish Development Model (PDM), which offers low-interest financing.
“If we give you Shs1 million, you pay back just Shs1,125,000 after two years. We have applied the same arrangement for the ghetto and now for the Boda Bodas,” he said.
The President also announced support to the industry and revealed that the State House Comptroller, Jane Barekye will certify all Boda Boda SACCOs to ensure accountability and prevent selfish individuals from misusing funds.
Maama Janet congratulated the President for reaching his 81st birthday.
She also urged Ugandans to embrace unity as the bedrock of transformation. “Africa was blessed with abundant resources, but we have remained poor because we fight among ourselves. Now, by God’s grace, Uganda has been given the wisdom to form a union — to bring us together. When we unite, we will be unstoppable,” she said.
The First Lady also noted that while unity is key, Ugandans must also “learn to serve what we produce,” so as to build their own banks, wealth, and future.
“God has used the President to lay a firm foundation for the Boda Bodas, the taxis, and for families across Uganda. It is now upon us to build on that foundation and create a nation that is truly unstoppable,” Maama Janet added.
