Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has blasted Ugandans who have been demonizing fallen tycoon Apollo Nyegamehe aka Aponye for supplying rotten beans and substandard maize flour as relief food during the Covid19 pandemic.
In April 2020, Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) raised a red flag on the quality of at least 100 tonnes of beans and maize flour which were meant to be supplied to the vulnerable families in Kampala during the lockdown that saw many stay home without working for many months.
Line ministers charged with relief in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) confirmed that Aponye’s contract was reviewed after the food he was supplying was found with foreign bodies and failed to meet the required standards.
But former Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, who represented President Yoweri Museveni at Rubaga Cathedral where politicians and members of the business community joined family and friends of Aponye for a requiem mass on July 10, praised Nyegamehe for supplying food to government on credit and saving it from shame.
“It took a bit of government to pay him but he was in such a strong position that inspite of these delays by government to pay him he continued to operate,” said ex-PM Rugunda.
“I thank Aponye and other suppliers of food during the Covid19 period for having done their work and pulled government out of shame and ensure that Ugandans had at least a bit of food.”
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa blasted Ugandans for criticizing the quality of food supplied by Aponye, saying the businessman bought the same from Ugandan farmers.
“You would hear some say that Apollo supplied rotten maize flour and beans. Did you ever see Apollo growing beans or maize, aren’t these from you people, aren’t you the ones who sold them to him?” he asked.
“We have many people who like talking about other people’s businesses when they have never even sold a single tomato.”
Tayebwa also revealed that Aponye was yet to be paid billions of Shillings in food supplies to South Sudan, but assured the late tycoon’s family members government would follow up on the matter and ensure that the money is paid.
Meanwhile, the late tycoon Aponye’s wife has revealed her husband’s final words in a ‘goodbye phone call’ before the deadly accident. (See Details Here).
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