Ategeka Mugarama, the Bunyangabu District LC V chairperson, says that since the start of the road construction works two years ago, more than 49 people have lost their lives as a result of shoddy work on the bigger part of the road.
Francis Tumuhimbise, the District Secretary for Finance, Planning, and Administration, says the people in the district are struggling to access specialized health care from neighboring districts of Kasese, Mbarara, and Fort Portal City due to costs of transport.
John Manume, the Bunyangabu District LC V Vice-chairperson, says that the government should prioritize roads, arguing that it’s a top factor in realizing any development. He also decried the late remittance of funds to the district accounts, which has contributed to the poor road condition in the district.
Sacco leaders argue that the initial 30 million shillings seed capital is inadequate compared to the number of groups and the members they are serving.
John Manume, the LCV Vice-Chairperson says that the district is losing key development infrastructures due to the ring-fenced procurement process which they have no control on.
Since the financial year 2018/19, the district has been receiving 764 Million Shillings under the Uganda Road Fund-URF to work on the 641.33 Kilometres of road.
LEGs is a USD 43 million project funded by the Islamic Development Bank and implemented in 10 districts to address water for production, agriculture production, infrastructure and food security challenges, under the Ministry of Local Government.
The councillors are accusing both the technical and the political wing of influencing the recruitment process. According to the councillors, they have received several complaints from some of the applicants and members of the public about allegations of bribery and corruption in the recruitment process.
The residents say that most of their health centres including Kibiito Health Centre IV are ill-equipped, lack essential drugs and staff while most of the roads are in a poor condition with potholes, deep gullies and are slippery and muddy.
Robert Mugabe, the Town Clerk Rwimi town council, says they are laboring to find resources to construct a park that can accommodate over 50 taxis and buses.
Erias Byakagaba, the Kakooga Parish LCII Chairperson, says the affected people have now sought refuge in the homes of their neighbors. He calls for government’s intervention to provide the families some food relief and essentials items.
Bunyangabu Resident District Commissioner Jane Asiimwe, who was part of the operation says that the district Covid-19 Rapid Response Team was struggling to do its job due to lack of vehicles. She explains that the district has only two vehicles that were used by a team of over ten members to traverse the whole district in response to alerts in relation to COVID-19.
Defending the proposal, Peter Musinguzi, a member on the District Education Committee observed that the Education department is unable to play its supervisory and monitoring role efficiently due to lack of transport.
Residents argue that the repair is going to cause damages to their plantations, houses and burial sites, and therefore should be compensated before the repairs start.
In a notice of intention to sue through their lawyers of Ahabwe James and Co. Advocates, the five councillors Turyahebwa Remigious, Nkwasibwe Denis, Katuutu Lillian, Arinaitwe Robert, Kasigazi Francis and Matsipa Esther are demanding 7 million shillings as sitting allowances for the nine sessions. The members are also demanding 500,000 shillings as costs used for stationary and additional 3 million shillings incurred in seeking legal guidance.
The residents indicate that contractor’s complete projects with minimal or no supervision at all giving space to the contractors to do substandard works.
