Nandala Mafabi promises Ntoroko residents share of national cake

NTOROKO - The saying that all people in Western Uganda residents are well-off is working for a few people, according to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s 2024 General Election presidential flag-bearer James Nathan Nandala Mafabi.

Mafabi and his convoy, who drove about nine hours from Njeru in Buikwe district, where he slept after his final rally in Busoga region, held his first rally in Western Uganda at Kagurutu town council, Ntoroko district at 2:00pm where he told his voters that many people in other regions are thinking that the region is blessed and developed and yet it’s the opposite.

The presidential hopeful reminded the people of Ntoroko that he is also from the Elgon mountains in eastern Uganda and knows very well what they are going through, especially access to public services like roads, health services and the poor education sector in such regions.

According to Mafabi, many people from this district have not benefited from Lake Albert, and yet it’s the biggest site that would boost their economy. (All Photos by Alfred Ochwo)

“I have come home. I come from the mountains just like you. I very well know what you are going through because that is life since I was born. The habit of a few western people benefiting and letting people think that you are all well is not visible here; my government will serve all of you not just individuals.

According to Mafabi, many people from this district have not benefited from Lake Albert, and yet it’s the biggest site that would boost their economy.

Despite being blessed with tourism sites like Semuliki National Park, known for its diverse wildlife and birdlife, the Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve for game viewing, and Lake Albert for beach access and fishing, Mafabi said the region is plagued with high rates of poverty.

District GDP

The 2017-released Estimating District GDP in Uganda report ranked Ntoroko among the top ten poorest districts in Uganda.

The report indicates that the distribution of GDP per capita in Uganda is heavily skewed. Only 14 districts have GDP per capita values above the population-weighted national average ($580), and 102 are below the average.  

Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, is a measure of the total goods and services produced in a country annually. GDP has been the most widely used metric of national economic progress for over a half century. Only data measuring national-level GDP and GDP per capita exist for Uganda. 

What residents say

Ryiom Rujumba, a welder from Fort Portal who had come to the rally, decried what he called massive loadshedding, which has crippled businesses reliant on electricity.

“If Nandala goes through, let him fix the problem of power; it's not stable. It's always off. The poor road network, we only used to have the main highway as the best road, but now it's filled with potholes. Let him fix that first,” he told New Vision Online.

 Businesswoman Jovia Tuinemu said she is paying a lot of taxes (mpooza) and making a lot of losses. She asked Nandala to totally stop levying them.

According to the New Vision's latest Citizens manifesto, Ntoroko District faces severe challenges from roads, health, child marriages and land disputes.

 Mafabi’s mini rally on Saturday attracted hundreds.