Bushenyi District should not be split

Apr 29, 2010

I am thrilled by the people challenging the splitting of Bushenyi district in the constitutional court. It means the people of Bushenyi, from where I originate, see beyond the lie that multiple, unviable district units will bring services closer to them.

By Dr Barnabas R. Atwiine

I am thrilled by the people challenging the splitting of Bushenyi district in the constitutional court. It means the people of Bushenyi, from where I originate, see beyond the lie that multiple, unviable district units will bring services closer to them.

What the people of Bushenyi need are better systems for better service delivery, but not new districts. The agitation for districts is being made by, and on behalf of people with selfish interests, who, after failing to influence issues in the greater Bushenyi, want to be “kings” and “kingmakers” in the small units.

The Government is being held at ransom by people who certainly do not have the interests of the people of Bushenyi at heart.

Since news of the proposed split came out, my friends have urged me to apply to become a district health officer in one of the small units. And they are right, because the split is meant to benefit people like me who have duplicated employment opportunities in the numerous units, the benefits of which do not really trickle down to the common man, for whom the split is meant to benefit.

I am not opposed to creation of districts per se, but there needs to be an objective policy for determining the need for districts, which politicians and other misguided, selfish people cannot abuse.

The writer works at
Mbarara University

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