“You remember our Pius Bigirimana?” That was President Yoweri Museveni’s question he posed to his Ministers and to millions of viewers who watched his national address on Coronavirus pandemic on Sunday night.
Museveni, sitting at Nakasero State House briefed the nation on the measures Uganda has undertaken to aggressively combat the COVID-19 infection which continues to ravage nations across the globe.
To be able to defeat this virus, the Ugandan leader hastily implemented stringent measures including a 35-day shutdown to avoid social contact of individuals which boosts the spread of the virus.
With his wise undertaking, Uganda is one of the few East African nations that have registered few cases and a high rate of recoveries with zero deaths.
Whereas there is nothing to celebrate so far, it is a big achievement for the country as praises go to Yoweri Museveni’s wise counsel.
Uganda has registered 55 local cases among which 28 have fully recovered and discharged from hospital.
And the President had earlier appealed to Ugandans to donate food, money and cars which would help the vulnerable Ugandans who have been affected by the lockdown. Wealthy Ugandans have since heeded to Museveni’s call.
To appreciate their efforts, Museveni usually recognizes these individuals or their companies after his Presidential address by reading their contributions.
On Sunday as he read hundreds of donations, Museveni paused, for a while as the nation waited anxiously, he then expressed a glittering face and a wide smile and mentioned the next benefactor, “Pius Bigirimana… 5 million shillings.”
But to Museveni that was not enough. He again paused and emphasized: “You remember our Pius Bigirimana? Our Bigirimana.”
To many viewers that was a pregnant statement made by the President in favour of the Judiciary Permanent Secretary.
Singling out Bigirimana’s name among hundreds of contributors is an indication that the Head of State appreciates the undivided efforts of the PS in his quest to serving the country diligently.
Mr. Bigirimana has served Uganda in different capacities but shot to limelight in 2013 when he braved humiliation engineered by a corrupt cabal of government officials when he exposed unscrupulous officers in the top institutions.
At that time, he worked as the Permanent Secretary in the office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
Bigirimana boldly volunteered evidence incriminating the principal accountant Godfrey Kazinda his cohorts in Finance Ministry and Bank of Uganda.
Kazinda would later be convicted by Court over of corruption.
Whereas he angered many who were beneficiaries of Kazinda’s scheme, President Museveni has never stopped appreciating and praising his efforts towards fighting graft and on many occasions likened him to a pumpkin seed which germinates in every environment.