Archive for the ‘Current Events’ Category
Day #11: Corruption? No way.
Today I read about some controversy around President Museveni’s “investments”. I think Mr. Museveni is just a little misunderstood, and I’m here to defend him.
I feel you, dog
Come on. Everybody knows that lobbying the other countries for debt forgiveness and foreign aid is a thankless job. But hey, somebody’s gotta do it. And President Museveni does it every day without ever asking for anything.*
*Note: Except the basics.
Strategy: Impress the pants off of ‘em
Look, he is asking Britan for $1.07 billion in aid. What better way to close the deal than to roll up in a brand new $36 million Gulfstream V jet. I mean, the British PM Gordie Brown goes commercial when he travels to Uganda – what a sucker. Perhaps the Gulfstream actually could impress him into sending aid.
Ah ha! You have the cunning of a jungle cat, Mr. Museveni. I like it. It makes total sense: spend lavishly to show them how much you really need the money. You are a genius.
Faking it until he makes it
Which is why I also fully support other recent key investment initiatives like:
- $121 million to host the Commonwealth Heads of Govt Meeting in 2007
- $41 million to refurbish the Presidential Palace in 2007
Its only a $200 million request in total – just 0.3% of Uganda’s GDP (is that a lot?).
You are a visionary. Its true that 1/3 of your country lives on less than $1/day. But ya gotta spend money to make money in this high stakes game of international aid. Everybody knows that, right?
Good luck, sir.
