Day

BY SYRIVIA KUGONZA
IN KABAROLE/KISORO—
Kisoro District Leaders have resolved to invest in Tea production as away of generating revenue for the development of the district.

The resolution follows the councilors and technocrats visit of tea plantations and holding meetings with the Kabarole district leaders on Thursday afternoon.

Their tour was aimed at establishing how Kabarole is benefiting from tea production and the strategies applied to improve on the local revenue mobilization.

Abel Bizimana the District Chairperson Kisoro revealed that as leaders their focus is on investing in the tea production and embark on serious mobilization of the masses to embrace the enterprise so as to have increased household income and revenue to the district.

He says he is to start a campaign to lease out the district idle land to the tea investors to increase tea production

He notes that the voters have not benefited a lot for the period they have spent in leadership because of the fights between the politicians and technocrats.

The chairperson said the conflicts between the politicians and the technocrats had affected the development of the district but added that its high time they concentrated-on team work and coordination for better service delivery.

Mr.Bizimana said that president Yoweri Museveni had given open cheque to the districts of Kisoro, Kabale and Kanungu to grow tea but the district leaders didn’t know how to benefited.

He observed that from interacting with the Kabarole leadership, they have learnt to partner with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), solve wrangles through mediation, mobilization of the masses through meetings, annual leaders’ conferences and regular meetings of politicians and technical staff to forge a way forward.

Michael Kisembo the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Kabarole told the delegates that partnership with NGOs and political lobbying has been key in the development of education, health, production sectors, accountability and service delivery.

CPA Robert Nkojo the Chief Finance Officer Kabarole says the district generates shs5m every month from tea companies as local service tax.

He added that the seven (7) tea factories that include Kiko tea Estate, Kyamara, Tooro Kahuna, Kijura tea estate, Rwenzori Commodities among others have promoted out growers and offered employment to over 300 people per factory.

In less than a year, 10 districts including Kisoro, Arua, Koboko, Yumbe, Sironko, Tororo,Pader,Kitgum,Mitoma and Luwero have visited Kabarole to share experiences and best practices that have made the district perform well in areas of education, Health , production, transparence and accountability.

Source:www.mknewslink.com a western Uganda news website.
Email:wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel:+256702680106

By Syrivia Kugonza
in Kabarole—

Fort Portal police has detained a medic over allegations of stealing medical equipment worth millions of shillings.

Godfrey Monday a laboratory assistant attached to Kabende Health Center III, Kabende sub county was netted on Thursday afternoon ferrying the medical equipment in his vehicle out of the clinic.

Monday Godfrey who hails from Kasese was intercepted by the local authorities and officials from the health department.

On searching his car, they were shocked to find five boxes of gloves, two bells (boxes) containing 80 mosquito nets and some drugs.

According to reliable sources the residents of Kabende have been complaining about Monday Godfrey for a habit of stealing drugs leaving hundreds in the area dying.

According to Richard Mugahi, the District Health Officer Kabarole last week four people died of malaria in Kabende saying Kabende has been among the most hit by malaria cases.

He strongly condemned the habit of medical personnel engaging in the theft of drugs and said the campaign is on to have them arrested.

Dr.Mugahi says the stolen mosquito nets are the ones meant to be given to mothers who complete their antenatal care and immunization cycles.

Source:www.mknewslink.com a western Uganda news website.
Email:wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel:+256702680106

BY WILBER MUHWEZI KASIBANTE
IN BUSHENYI—
Results for Igara East by election were declared last night at 11:31pm at Bushenyi district council hall. Micheal Mawanda, Independent won with 16,209 whereas Martial Andrew[NRM] lost with 12,991votes. Other candidates were; Benjamin Katana [independent], Christine Ninsiima Bekunika [FDC] Benards Kananura [Independent] and David Amstrong [independent] followed in the above order.
SO WHY DID ANDREW MARTIAL LOSE?
To begin with, most of the NRM Leaders from the district to village never supported him including the NRM chairman for Ibaale sub-county Mr. Byakwaga Sebastiano Aka Game where he [Martial] is born
Two, NRM members of parliament from Bushenyi district; Magyezi [Igara West], Arinda Cow boy [Bushenyi Ishaka municipality] and Minister Mary Karooro Okurut [Bushenyi district woman MP] never appeared at any of Martial’s rallies neither appeared on any radio station. Cow boy and Karooro only appeared on the last rally by president Museveni Tuesday Dec. 12, 2017.
Martial only depended on MPs outside Bushenyi district like Capt. Donozio Kahonda from Mitooma district, Charles Ngabirano from Rwampara Mbarara and Rosette Kajungu from Mbarara as well.

The media factor has been a big issue. Mawanda has two radio stations in Bushenyi district; Hunter fm and Theo fm and his campaign agent Geofrey Kibeherere also owns World fm. All these three radio stations aired all mawanda’s campaign rallies live whereas Martial’s had none. He would appear once in awhile on Bushenyi FM.
Voters still accused him of running away from the constituency after winning the elections in 2016. For one and half years, martial was too rare in Igara east because he is doing a degree in law at Kampala International University [KIU].
Lastly, president Yoweri Museveni’s rallies in Ruhumuro and kyeizooba sub-counties on Dec. 12, 2017, Instead of Museveni to attack Mawanda that he is NOT NRM. Museveni instead said that both candidates; Mawanda and Martial are NRM members. He at worst attacked Martial for having refused to support removal of age remit of president from the constitution. This greatly worked for Mawanda.
Hon Martial former MP who served for only 16 months also did not have enough funds to run the campaigns. He only depended on Tycoon Basajabalaba and the NRM secretariat. Basajabalaba came to rescue martial only six days to voting day. He found that Mawanda had entrenched the field.
WHAT WERE MAWANDA’S WINNING POINTS?
Mawanda funded many projects in the constituency during his five year term from 2011—2016. Like re-opening schools closed during Amanya Mushega’s tenure and General developmental projects.
He was Support by NRM structures from the grassroots to the district
President Musevenis failure to decampaign Mawanda on his two rallies. He Instead attacked martial.
Media; Out of five radio stations in Bushenyi district, Mawanda used on full time basis three radio stations to broadcast live his rallies.
Financial capacity; Mawanda was able throughout the campaign period to very well fund is campaign.
Sympathy vote; supporters look at him as one whose votes were stolen therefore that was the time when he should be rewarded.
Source:www.mknewslink.com a western Uganda news website.
Email:wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel:+256702680106