While medics will tell you being obese is a sign of an underlying chronic condition, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni thinks being overweight is linked to one’s level of corruption. Museveni, who claimed he had never stolen any public funds, said obesity among some public servants was a sign of graft.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, December 4, while addressing Ugandans in Kampala after participating in a march against corruption, Daily Monitor reported. “I have decided to cut weight. I was 106kgs, now I am now 76kgs. I think obesity is also a sign of corruption,” Museveni said. The president further cautioned government agencies against basing recruitment of staff on academic papers when recruiting them instead of integrity.
“Do not recruit people on basis of papers but look for integrity; that is common in URA, IGG and State House anti-corruption unit,” he said. “Maybe in judiciary, army and civil service. Those ones we need the papers,” he added. According to him, he is rich yet he has never stolen public funds like most wealthy public servants whom he termed as parasites.