Hashim Mwesige, an NRM stalwart says that Bughednera county has spent the last 12 years pushing for a district status but they wonder why the issue has been ignored.
The National
Resistance-NRM Party members in Bundibugyo District have asked president,
Yoweri Museveni to fulfil the campaign pledges he made to them including those
he made in 2016.
Key
of the pledges include the creation of
Bughendera District, the establishment of a cocoa factory, the construction of bridges
and the expansion of the road network in the mountainous areas.
The
issue of the unfulfilled pledges came to the fore during a meeting of NRM
members from Bughendera County NRM Forum who gathered on Wednesday to assess
the performance of the party in their area and mark seven years since former
Minister Christopher Kibanzanga joined the party from the opposition Forum for
Democratic Change-FDC party.
Kibanzanga later became Bughendera County NRM chairperson, a position he holds to date. Bundibugyo comprises two counties of Bughendera
predominantly dominated by Bakhonzo and Bwamba county dominated by Bamba and
Babwisi tribes. In 2006, Museveni okayed the creation of Bughendera District while on his campaign trail at Burambagira Primary School.
The party members now say they have run out of
patience. Christopher Kibanzanga, the former area member of parliament,
says that the issue of creating Bughendera county is overdue. Kibanzanga
also decried the poor road network, inadequate schools and health centers that
he thinks can be made better by granting the area political autonomy.
//Cue in: “Bughendera District is over...
Cue out: ...people will not drop it.”//
Kibanzanga told URN that the area has for long been
marginalized and missed out on social services.
//Cue in: “Because it's a demand...
Cue out: ...than to grant it,”//
Hashim Mwesige, an NRM stalwart says that Bughednera
county has spent the last 12 years pushing for a district status but they
wonder why the issue has been ignored.
He wants the authorities to compel the president to give them
an explanation why they have failed to get a district status to date despite
approval by Bundibugyo district council in 2016.
//Cue in: “Bughendera County has...
Cue out: ...look into our issues.”//
Ivon Kabugho from Bumate in Harugale Sub County,
says that social services including health, schools and roads remain in a
deplorable state compared to Bwamba County.
Kabugho, a seasoned cocoa farmer also demands that
Museveni delivers on his promise to construct a cocoa factory to better their
business.
//Cue in: “Yoweri Kaguta Museveni...
Cue out: ...ebiri yatulyabinyisya.”//
Muhamood Tubuhaburyayo, who joined NRM in the
1980s, said that Bundibugyo District has not yet benefited from NRM despite
the outstanding support they have given to the party and President Museveni. For
example, he notes that Bughendera as a County has not had any significant
position in the Government since the laying–off of Kibanzanga and the majority of
their children are jobless.
//Cue in: “Tyasomesa abaana tebaina....
Cue out: ...tukimusaba nyo,”//
David Maate Nyamungera, the Chairperson of NRM
Bukhonzo Sub County says the new district will extend service delivery in the
area. The diploma holder in civil engineering, says trained persons
like him have not been able to get jobs because there are few administrative
units in the area.
//Cue in: “Bamakanya kya pledges...
Cue out: ...other administrative units,”//
Christine Muhindo from Ngamba Sub County, says
that the president pledged to tarmac major roads in the area in 2016 but
this has not happened to date. She added that they have consistently
asked for the establishment of government-aided vocation schools in vein.
Umar Muhanguzi, the Bundibigyo Deputy Resident
District Commissioner, says that they recently remained the president about
some of these community pledges including the creation of Bughendera District.
