Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has given journalists based in Busoga region Ush100,000,000 (Sh3.5 million).
While speaking on Thursday, the Museveni in a video doing rounds referred to the journalists as 'mercenaries' claiming they are bound to be influenced by people.
"You work for poor radios and you are not well-paid. I want to immunise you with Ush100,000,000 (Sh 3.5 million)," Museveni said.
Museveni was speaking on Thursday in the Busoga sub-region where he held an interactive session with the media persons.
"As with the previous regions, these sessions are to explain to our people the importance of taking part in wealth creation activities through some of the government programs like PDM," Museveni said.
"Although the media has been misused by negative elements against the government, our direct engagement with the public is demonstrating a positive reception of our ideas," the President added.
Museveni said he will continue to interact with the media because of their ability to highlight important issues that require attention and action.
Museveni is the current President of the Republic of Uganda since 1986.
As of 2024, he was the third-longest consecutively serving current non-royal national leader in the world (after Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in Equatorial Guinea and Paul Biya in Cameroon).
Born in Ntungamo, Museveni studied political science at the University of Dar es Salaam where he initiated the University Students' African Revolutionary Front.
In 1972, he participated in the abortive invasion of Uganda against the regime of President Idi Amin.
The next year, Museveni established the Front for National Salvation and fought alongside Tanzanian forces in the Tanzania–Uganda War, which overthrew Amin.
Museveni contested the subsequent 1980 general election on the platform of the Uganda Patriotic Movement.
Museveni unified the opposition under the National Resistance Movement and started the Ugandan Bush War.
In January 1986, after the decisive Battle of Kampala, Museveni was sworn as president.
