Government has earmarked shillings 2 billion to operationalize Kagadi and Kakumiro districts this financial year. During his 2011 re-election campaign president Yoweri Museveni pledged to split Kibaale district to create Kagadi and Kakumiro districts. He also promised to operationalize both districts in the 2011-2012 financial year, in vain.
Last week, MPs Ignatius Besisira, Buyaga East, Barnabas Tinkasimire Buyaga West and the district Woman MP Robinah Nabbanja convened a meeting of stakeholders over the delayed operationalization of both districts. They also wrote a letter to Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police seeking permission to stage a peaceful demonstration this morning to express their dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to operationalize the districts.
As a result, Adolf Mwesige, the local government minister has written back to the assuring the leaders that both district will begin operating this financial year. Mwesigye says that government has already set aside shillings 1.1 billion shillings as a start up fund for each of the districts, despite the fact that is not reflected in the budget estimates for the mother district.
Despite the assurance by Mwesigye, the MPs claim that they still a move by some cabinet ministers to block Kakumiro district. They single out Henry Muganwa Kajura, the second deputy premier as one of the ministers opposed to the creation of Kakumiro district. Kajura has not yet commented on the accusations as he didn’t pick his phone when URN tried to reach him.
On Thursday councilors from Bugangaizi and Buyaga counties boycotted the Kibaale budget meeting to protest the government’s failure to operationalize the two districts. It is not yet clear, whether or not the MPs will push through with their planned demonstration scheduled for later today.
