Museveni reveals humorous reason for rejecting smartphones

• President Museveni says smartphones would distract him from important strategic planning.
• He compares owning one to a military General driving, which diverts attention from leadership.
• Instead, he uses his ‘Katorch’ phone and relies on his granddaughter for online updates.

President Museveni has humorously shared why he doesn’t own a smart phone. The President during an address to the ‘Youngins’ pulled out his famed ‘Katorch’ (kapeesa) also known as a button phone and waved it to them.

He then said that many wonder why he doesn’t own a smart phone. According to the President, he has heard of the smart phone, seen it from a distance but he avoids tinkering with it.

Mr. Museveni likened his situation with a smart phone to that of a military General and driving. He said that a General is not allowed to drive in the army because it takes a lot of his attention. This therefore makes him/her to concentrate on less important things such as swerving corners.

According to the President, his job is to focus on the most important things of strategic planning. A smart phone would therefore take away his focus. He therefore sticks with his Katorch and he uses it when he specifically wants to call someone.

“Many people wonder why I have stuck with my Katorch phone. They wonder if Museveni doesn’t know of the smartphone. I know of it, heard of it and seen it from a distance but I cannot tinker with it. It’s like a General in the army, we don’t allow him to drive because he needs maximum concentration. If he concentrates in driving, he will focus on minor issues and forget about the most important ones of strategic planning,” said Museveni.

The President further said that when he wants to know what’s happening online, he has his smartphone outlet. He funnily called out his granddaughter, Precious Kamwine saying that she’s one who update him on whatever he wants to access from the smartphone world.