RUKIGA RESIDENTS VOW NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS UNLESS GIVEN ELECTRICITY

By ahumuza Grant

www.mknewslink.com

In Rukuiga

Residents of Kakirare and Kahoko villages in Kitanga Parish Rukiga district are protesting the irregular distribution of electricity in their area which has affected development in the villages.

the two villages were left out as power was extended in the area in the 2010 rural electrification program.

Electricity distribution poles and transformers are only seen in the neighbouring villages of Nyamugaza and Rutooma.

The residents wonder why a government program that should target all communities and citizens of the country could exclude them when they also need electricity for the socioeconomical development of their villages.

Within the villages, there are public places like Ntaraga Trading Center, Ntaraga market, Ntaraga Primary school and Ntaraga Catholic church which locals say should have electricity to trigger development in the area.

They add that connecting them to the national electricity grid would promote trade in the area, and create employment to many unemployed youths in the area especially in the welding, carpentry and saloon businesses.

They explain that even after Rukiga was curved out of Kabale and made a district, they have always requested for the distribution of electricity to their villages through their Sub County leaders but the requests have always been given deaf ears.

The locals say that they were most affected with the coming of Covid 19, when schools were closed and learners ordered to study from TVs and radios which TVs are unmanageable in an area without electricity.

The locals vowed not to participate in the forthcoming Presidential and Members of Parliament elections claiming they have no reasons to vote after all their concerns are never a priority to the Politicians they vote for.

Solomon Kiiza, the Rukiga district Manager Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) told our reporter that they have already received the locals’ petition about lack of electricity in the area and are yet to send a team of surveyors to survey the area so that the villages receive electricity.

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