The leaders and residents of Rukiga District have expressed significant dissatisfaction regarding President Yoweri Museveni’s unfulfilled promises, particularly the tarmacking of the Muhanga-Kisizi Road. This sentiment was voiced during the Rukiga District Empowerment Program held at Kantaare Playground in Rutengye Parish of Kashambya Sub County yesterday on May 31, 2024.
The event, organized by the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), featured activities such as Talent and Skills Development, Wealth Creation Talks, Exhibitions, a Health Camp, Financial Literacy sessions, Agricultural Talks, and Music performances. Despite the positive aspects of the program, local leaders used the platform to air their grievances.
Leading the charge was Alineo Bandaganiire, the Local Council Three (LC3) for Kashambya Sub County. Bandaganiire highlighted the lack of coffee and milk processing facilities in the Kigezi region and called for the utilization of the Rushebeya-Kisizi swamp, which previously supported farmers’ livelihoods before a presidential directive restricted its use.
“The people of Kashambya Sub County, who voted overwhelmingly for the NRM Government, are deeply disappointed with the unfulfilled promise of tarmacking the Muhanga-Kisizi Road, a pledge made many years ago,” Bandaganiire stated.
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Rukiga District LC5 Chairperson, Robert Mbabazi Kakwerere, echoed these concerns, noting that President Museveni had pledged to tarmac the road in 2006. “Eighteen years later, there has been no progress,” Kakwerere lamented.
He also pointed out the adverse effects of a hiring freeze on local service delivery, highlighting the understaffing of schools in the district. Additionally, Kakwerere called for the establishment of a technical school in Rukiga to prevent students from traveling long distances to Kabale.
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Rukiga District Woman MP, Hon. Kamusiime Caroline Muhwezi, affirmed her commitment to addressing the road issue. “I bring up the Muhanga-Kisizi Road every time I meet the President,” she said, urging the Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, Hajjat Hadijah Uzeiye Namyalo, to amplify her advocacy.
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Responding to these concerns, SPA Hajjat Hadijah Uzeiye Namyalo, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs in the Office of the NRM National Chairman (ONC) revealed she had faced intimidation from individuals in Rukiga District discouraging her visit. She also criticized the implementation of the Parish Development Model, citing the inability of many beneficiaries to read or write the required documents.
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Dr. Silvia Arineitwe Mwanakyi, the chief mobilizer for the Rukiga District Empowerment Program and a parliamentary hopeful, praised President Museveni for his efforts to promote grassroots development, despite the ongoing challenges.
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The collective dissatisfaction of Rukiga District’s residents underscores the pressing need for the government to address these long-standing issues and fulfill the promises made to the community. The event at Kantaare Playground highlighted both the achievements and the unmet needs of the district, calling for renewed attention and action from national leaders.
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