'That is treason and disappointing,' Museveni says on Kayihura's alleged investments in US

President Museveni has said that it would be treason and ‘disappointing” if it was proved that the former Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura possessed properties in the United States of America.

President Museveni made the statement in reply to sanctions by the USA upon Gen Kale Kayihura for his alleged involvement in the violation of human rights and corruption.

The former police boss has also been sanctioned by the Treasury Department of the United States. This treasury ban means that General Kale Kayihura’s US property if he has any, will be confiscated by the US government, and he will also be banned from entering the united states.

Museveni who rebukes the sanctions on Kayihura, however, states that he would be ‘disappointed’ if indeed the former IGP has any properties abroad, and that would be treason.

“What would be disappointing is to hear that Kale had investments in the USA that his children go to see. That would be treason.  Investments in the USA when Uganda needs investments? I do not have and will never have a single investment outside Uganda; possibly, for some sentimental reasons, I could consider investing in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and African countries” Museveni said.

“However, for non- African Countries: “No", “Never". Why? It is the African slave labour during 300 years of slavery, the African resources during the colonial times and the African resources during neo- colonial times that contributed greatly to the prosperity of those countries to the detriment of Africa (How Europe under- developed Africa- Walter Rodney).”

Museveni says that it would inexcusable for an African elite like Gen Kayihura to run to the USA and make investments there while Africa wallows in investment deficits.

“It is, therefore, inexcusable that at a time when Africa is still struggling to stand up, still with deficits in many areas, that the African elite would transfer money, again, to the West.”

“When Africa is strong, she will come to the aid of Europe and the USA. However, that time is not now. On my part, the only time I opened a bank account outside Uganda, was in a Bank in Gothenburg, Sweden, where I deposited the US $ 120,000 that was donated to the NRM by the Late Max Rohrer of Roko. Elizabeth Bagaya also brought the US $ 100,000 from Abiola. I do not remember whether I deposited it there also.  This was in 1985,” Museveni added.

Meanwhile, he has rebuke the sanctions of Gen Kale Kayihura, urging that Africa does not need any favors from the West.

He also took a swipe at Opposition leaders who are jubilating USA sanctions on Kayihura, saying that their excitement over such things shows the poor quality of their spectacles when it comes to issues of Africa and Uganda

“It is most interesting to see how some of the elements of the Opposition are jubilating about some authorities in the USA who have recently declared that General Kale and some members of his family will not be allowed to enter the USA in case they want to travel there.  Before I comment on the action of the USA Govt in the matter of Kale, I should, first of all, say that that excitement among some elements of the Opposition shows the poor quality of their spectacles when it comes to issues of Africa and Uganda.”

“Kale or other Ugandans who are suspected to have made mistakes, they will always be handled in Uganda.  That is why we shall never hand any Ugandan to, for instance, the Court in The Hague- the ICC. Kale is already facing whatever mistakes he is suspected to have committed in our Courts. What value addition is, then, therefrom external actors?” he posed.