You know the biggest land grabber in Kampala and he is your partner – Gen. Saleh tells FDC’s Semujju

By George Mangula

The popular Capital Ganga talk show on Capital Radio, moderated by veteran teacher Oscar Semweya Musoke, was at its best on Saturday 14, 2020 as Kiira Municipality MP and Opposition Chief Whip in Parliament, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, exhibited bitter exchanges with the chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Salim Saleh, who is also President Yoweri Museveni’s young brother.

The bitter exchange of words between the two rivals started when Ssemujju accused Saleh, also known as Caleb Akandiwanaho, of illegally being recruited to head OWC, which the controversial MP said was ‘illegal’ as it has no legal framework. “You are there because you are Museveni’s brother,” said Ssemujju.”You are lucky you are not in prison because your brother is a President “

Ssemujju warned the decorated military general that he would in the future pay back the money he obtained as the head of OWC. Ssemujju said OWC had failed to deliver results across the country despite Saleh’s stance that the programme has liberated some sections of poor Ugandans from poverty. “The only person who is satisfied in this operation is you. You are using this as a cover to access money,” said Ssemujju.

Responding to Semujju’s allegations, Saleh said Ssemujju and other he did not mention have always accused him of land grabbing without any evidence. “You know the biggest land grabber in Kampala,” Saleh hit back, saying that one day he would want to be hosted on Capital FM to talk about that matter, saying former minister Idah Nantaba had also in the past accused him of land grabbing.

Saleh said that despite challenges, OWC has made wonders in areas such as Kapeeka and Gulu where farmers have benefited and improved their livelihood. He said OWC was okayed by the presidency and therefore not illegal as Ssemujju suggested.

He went on to say that the Shs700 billion budget for OWC is controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture through NAADS, not by him as alleged by Ssemujju, noting that he only gets money for allowances and delivery of inputs to the farmers. “We do not handle any money. We are just given money for facilitation and allowances.”

Asked by Nancy Nanfuka, a panelist on Capital FM, whether he was qualified to head OWC, Saleh said he was chosen on account of his competence rather than the qualification.

He was bitter that he was asked such a question, saying that he has always been despised by some people for the so-called  lack of education on his side. He said He had to go back to school to attain O’level in 1998 and later A’ level after Parliament rejected him to be the State Minister for Defence.

The Gen. said he has helped create the Agriculture Credit Facility (ACF) and others, despite some people mocking him for lack of education necessary for him to hold certain central government positions in the government of  his brother, Museveni.

OWC was launched by Museveni in 2014 and Gen. Salim Saleh was made the chief Coordinator of this initiative it being spearheaded by the UPDF