President Yoweri Museveni says that he does not mind being annoyed by anyone.
Museveni was referring to recent charges of ‘Annoying the President’ that were slapped on former New Vision journalist turned evangelist Joseph Kabuleta.
Last Friday, Kabuleta was arrested and charged with offensive communication against the person of the president, contrary to Section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act, 2011. Kabuleta was released on police bond on Tuesday.
While making his national address on Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) at State House, Nakasero, President Museveni said that he is not offended by anyone who annoys him, but rather the actual substance of the offence.
“I don’t mind being annoyed. I have no problem of being annoyed. That is a colonial charge which I used to hear about. It is these policemen who keep referring it as such. The bigger issue is telling lies, inciting and sedition and those are the areas of substance that police should concentrate on,” Museveni said.
“So it is not about annoying the president, but using the internet to incite, spread lies and hatred.”
Kabuleta who is famous for kissing self-styled Prophet Elvis Mbonye’s shoes in 2017 has of recently published a number of articles attacking the president and his family.
According to the Police, Kabuleta repeatedly posted grossly offensive messages under ‘Joseph Kabuleta Weekly Rant Returns’ and in his last rant titled ‘“MAFIA EMPIRE AND THE TRANSITION” he referred to President Museveni as a “thief, liar and gambler.”
Meanwhile, in his address, Museveni urged Kampala dwellers to embrace commercial farming and promote local content saying that farming is not only for village people, but even those who stay in towns.
“Now that we have good roads, security and other infrastructure, I now appeal to our people to spend more time on creating wealth,” Museveni said.
He urged those farmers who are growing sugarcane to do it in large scale if they are to reap from it. And for those who intend to do profitable farming in small scale, Museveni urged them to concentrate on coffee growing, fruit farming, zero cattle grazing, poultry, piggery and fish farming.
Museveni added that government is going to put more emphasis on promotion of local content to maximize revenue and job creation.
“We spend a lot of money buying neckties, all sorts of hair and yet we can produce these same clothes or sweaters or even leather from our own industries,” Museveni said.
In a bid create wealth, Museveni said that he has identified 16 categories of groups of people who will benefit from a new Fund that has been earmarked. These beneficiaries from the 16 groups will have a Sacco in every district and among the groups includes; media, fishermen, carpenters, sewers, hair-dresser and others. He also promised to set up another fund to benefit elected leaders.
Museveni further blasted Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga accusing him of lying to the people about the pending Coffee Bill. Mayiga yesterday said that the new Bill will surpass the coffee farmers because they will be required to have a license. Museveni refuted Mayiga’s statement as lies.
“This Katikkiro (of Buganda) was lying; he should stop lying. There is no license for coffee farmers but the Bill requires only registering of the farmers for record purposes and to ease exportation,” he said.
