Uganda’s Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni Sunday defended the widely-criticised use of his presidential plane to fly his daughter and daughter-in-law to Germany to give birth, saying the decision was based on security considerations.
In comments published in two English-language newspapers, Museveni wrote that he feared that some local doctors with partisan political leanings might harm the two women.
”It is true that I sent the presidential jet to deliver part of my family to Europe so that my daughter and my daughter-in-law could deliver their babies as they were scheduled to do so around the same time,” Museveni said.
”The problem with the medical system in Uganda is that some of the doctors are partisan — mixing their political affiliations with their professional duties — and unethical, but overall Uganda has a deservedly high reputation for its doctors,” he added.
”The question of myself and my family getting medical check-ups or treatment abroad, where necessary, is unavoidable. It is part of our survival strategy … in order to continue to fight for our country,” said Museveni.
He said that he had paid for the trips and hospitalisation of his daughter and daughter-in-law in Germany last month contrary to claims by critics that the decision to have the president’s grandchildren born in Germany had cost Ugandan tax payers 90,000 dollars (77,000 euros).- AFP
