Tayebwa condemns sectarianism in social service delivery

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As Uganda edges closer to the 2026 elections, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has issued a stern warning to his constituents against sectarian tendencies in social service delivery. 

Highlighting a troubling pattern, Tayebwa decried the habit of some constituents deliberately avoiding health facilities affiliated with other faiths in favour of those linked to their own.

The Ruhinda North MP delivered this fiery message on November 22, 2024, during the handover of a newly constructed maternity ward and medical equipment worth over shillings 500 million to Rwoburunga Health Centre III in Mitooma district. 

Present was central bank deputy Governor Dr Micheal Atingi Ego, Mitooma District Woman MP Juliet Bashisha and Benon Karyeija the LC5 chairperson, among others. 

The facility, built by the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade, was bankrolled by the Bank of Uganda (BOU).

Addressing the gathering, Tayebwa lamented that such divisive attitudes, which he thought had been relegated to the past, are now rearing their head. 

A development, he warned is threatening to stall development in the area. 

His ire was directed at residents of Kiyanga sub-county, whom he said have frustrated efforts to construct a health centre.

During this ongoing fiscal year, he revealed that the entity was supposed to receive an allocation to kickstart works. However, to his dismay, he was petitioned by some concerned voters who warned that this was likely to stir more commotion.

"Stop complicating my work. It's as if when someone dies in an Anglican or catholic founded health centre, he or she goes to heaven. As if when someone studies in a school built on Anglican or Catholic Church land, that's when he or she becomes powerful," Tayebwa lamented. 

"I sleep hugging an Anglican and yet I am a Catholic. She has cuddled me for the last 16 years, for you, you are there engaging in religious sectarianism as we chew," he said. 

Fast forward, Tayebwa rallied all and sundry to desist from such, to avoid returning to the dark days. 

"I remember when I first contested here in 2015, we couldn't communicate with each other as there was no phone network. We were getting a little bit of network from Kanungu and Bunyaruguru in Rubirizi district," he narrated. 

"It took me mobilising friends and we got shillings 750 million and we put up a private mast up in that hill called Kalisizo. When I brought equipment, people said 'that can't happen, these are railway scraps'," he added.

Electronic money transactions

Using the same juncture, Tayebwa implored all and sundry to embrace electronic money transactions.

This he said, will curtail robberies that have rocked his constituency and curtail communicable diseases. 

"Recently someone was killed by robbers in Katwe. They suspected that he had stored some money in his house. However, at my place, even if you come, you will clobber me out of frustration like councillors Basinyora. Those days whenever a councillor boarded a car to Ishaka, it was when salary had come. So, thieves waylaid him in Nchweera and to their surprise found that he only had a shillings 5,000 note," Tayebwa alluded.

"To which the robber asked him why he hadn't spared money that he had used to hire the gun. Out of anger, he ordered the councillor to lie down and administered 50 canes," he said. 

Earlier on, BOU Deputy Governor Micheal Atingi Ego had echoed the same, saying going smart would enable the Government to sink more money in social services.

"Bank of Uganda spends a lot of money printing these currency notes that you are using," Atingi Ego stated.

Ruhinda North Farmers SACCO

Tayebwa later left for the commissioning of Ruhinda North Farmers SACCO headquarters in Bitereko.

The entity was founded nine years ago to spur agriculture and finance development. 

Apparently, according to board chairperson Nalongo Otafiire, the SACCO now boasts 4,005 members and shillings 1.67 billion in savings. 

"Tayebwa and wife office equipment at the start. Ceasor Mulenga gave us shillings 100 million, First Lady Mama Janet Museveni gave us 20 million, friends of Tayebwa gave us shillings 174 million. We are so grateful," Nalongo Otafiire said.

Speaking at the function, Tayebwa who was visibly thrilled, narrated how a simple dream has quickly morphed into a powerful financial entity.

"No one believed. People said this is politics, he is looking for votes. But I said I can look for votes but also transform the area," he said. 

Adding that "so I gave them five million, bought for them a computer. Got Justine, she was working in a big SACCO, I told her now you're going to work for me. I paid staff salaries for two years and rent for two years," he further narrated.

Since then, the financial entity has grown in leaps and bounds, thanks to deep-rooted integrity within the community.

Concluding, he announced that with effect from next week, the SACCOs two storeyed headquarters will be fitted with a radio station. 

To deepen financial literacy, Atingi promised to chip in with a 20 million donation.