Under the program, a group of 30 members with a common income-generating activity are availed funds by the government. The new fund supplements the already existing government grants and program such as the youth livelihood fund, women empowerment fund among others.
The residents indicate that contractor’s complete projects with minimal or no supervision at all giving space to the contractors to do substandard works.
James Mugarama, the LCV Chairperson says they have resolved to put in place a committee that will assess the educational needs of the two sub-counties and advice on where the seed school should be constructed.
Moses Kisembo, a resident of Rubona Town Council, says a single borehole in the area serves more than 50 families yet it should ideally serve 10 families.
Remegious Turyahabwe, the Rwiimi Sub-county LC V councilor, says Kaija collected money from November 16, 2016 to August 2017 and deposited it on her personal account instead of banking it on the account of Kasunganyanja health center.
John Kisoke, the Kyegegwa District LC V Chairman and Education Secretary, says government should fulfill the policy of having a secondary school at every sub-county.
At Kibiito town council polling station, Deo Gamukama, the Presiding Officer said that 16 people had so far voted. At Rubona A polling station, 25 people had so far voted by 7:30a.m.
Rogers Mulindwa, the NRM Party Communications Officer, says Lumumba will represent President Museveni, the NRM party chairperson at the campaign rallies because he is out of the country attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Muntu acknowledged that party support at the village, parish and Sub County was still low, but promised to revive the support once re-elected. He observed that that without party structures and key representation at various levels, it would be difficult for the party to assume power.
At the launch of their campaigns on Monday, the candidates said that for over a decade, NRM has made various pledges to Bunyangabu it has failed to fulfill.
The first to be nominated at 2:30pm was Peace Mutuuzo, the National Resistance Movement-NRM party flag bearer and State Minister of Gender Labour and Social Development.
James Ategeka defeated Peter Musinguzi with 18,367 votes against 11,976 votes for the district chairpersons ticket. Defence Minister Adolf Mwesige, who is also MP for Bunyangabu County, threw his support behind Byabasaija and Musinguzi. At different fora, Mwesige also requested the electorate in Bunyangabu to vote the two candidates.
The opposition Forum for Democratic Change FDC party has fronted candidates to contest for elective offices in Bunyangabu district. Last week the Electoral Commission announced August 29th as voting day in the newly created districts which started operations in July this year. FDC has often come under criticism from a section of its supporters for lacking grass-root structures especially below the district level.
Dunstan Balaba, the Kabarole Chief Administrative Officer admits the shortage but says the staff transfer is temporary. He explains that the staff will return when Bunyangabu recruits new staff next month.
Following the operationalization of Bunyangabu district, concerns have emerged among a section of residents and opinion leaders that Kabarole could cease to exist. In 2015, Kabarole district council approved annexing the whole of Burahya County to Fort Portal Municipality with the aim of coming up with requirements for the city status. Burahya County is the only remaining county in Kabarole district with 14 sub counties.
Bunyagabu District will comprise of seven sub counties and three town councils. They include of Rwimi, Kabonero, Kibiito, Kisomoro, Rubona, Buheesi and Katebwa sub counties. The town councils are Kyemukube, Rwimi and Kibiito. This leaves Kabarole with only two counties, Burahya and Fort Portal Municipality.
Peace Mutuzo, the State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development and Rose Mary Byabasaija, the Kabarole Deputy Resident District Commissioner, openly expressed their ambitions to represent Bunyangabu district. Bunyangabu County in Kabarole district was last year granted district status, but will begin operating in the 2017/2018 financial year.
