The split of Kabarole district to create a new district of Bunyangabu has been received with mixed reactions.
Last week, the Local Government Minister Adolf Mwesige tabled a request before parliament seeking to approve 22 new districts including Bunyangabu. If passed by parliament, the number of districts could rise to 134.
But in Kabarole, the elevation of Bunyangabu County is receiving mixed reactions, with some saying that the creation of the district is good for service delivery, while others argue that the split has left Kabarole a small district.
This is the third time Kabarole has been split after the creation of Kamwenge and Kyenjojo districts in 2000.
The creation of Bunyangabu district leaves Kabarole with only two counties, Burahya and Fort Portal Municipality.
Gertrude Magezi, a resident of Kibiito town council, says that the split of the district will divide communities from the counties of Bunyangabu, Burahya and Fort Portal Municipality that have been living together brothers and sisters. She says the division will appear as though they are different people and yet they speak the same language.
Magezi says that the split will also affect the local revenue that the district has been collecting from the two major markets in Bunyangabu. The markets are Mugusu and Rwimi, which are among the largest in Western Uganda.
Statistics at Kabarole district show that more than 300 million shillings is generated per month from the two markets.
Magezi also says that some of the residents weren’t consulted by leaders on the creation of the district. She says that the new district will benefit only a few people who want to contest for elective posts.
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Prosper Businge, a councilor in Fort Portal municipality, says that the government’s argument that the creation of the district will bring services closer to the people is a hoax. Businge says that instead of creating more administrative units, the government should instead increase funding for social services.
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But Gerald Baguma, a resident of Kibiito town council, says that the creation of Bunyangabu district is overdue. He says that several people face difficulties in the county to process land titles, because they have to travel long distances to the district headquarters to acquire the titles.
Baguma also says that the creation of Bunyangabu district will give chance to residents to exercise their rights of contesting for several elective posts.
