Museveni directs relocation of Kayunga ferry

May 17, 2012

President Museveni has directed the relocation of a sh3b ferry in Kayunga because its scheduled route is not navigable, as assessed by divers

By Steven Candia   and Charles Jjuuko                                  

President Yoweri Museveni Wednesday directed relocation of a sh3b ferry meant to link Nabuganyi landing site in Kayunga district and Mbulamuti in Kamuli district because its scheduled route is not navigable.

The President directed that the ferry which has remained docked at the Nabuganyi landing site for more than three years be taken to Kasana landing site three-and-a-half kilometers away given that the route from Nabuganyi to Mbulamuti on River Nile has protruding rocks that pose a threat to the vessel.

So far some of the propellers of the vessel constructed by engineers from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) have been damaged by rocks.

The engineers Wednesday told the Museveni that the route from Kasana is free of rocks and deep enough to allow the ferry operate.

 Earlier attempts to relocate the ferry which would have long been commissioned had been met with resistance from the local residents and politicians, who argued  that there is no threat posed by rocks and that the vessel was a political pledge to them and therefore should not be relocated.

Local leaders put up a more spirited fight against any planned relocation of the ferry, prompting the President to direct a team of police divers to plunge into the water to establish the truth.

The excursion took the team about 15 minutes and the Museveni sat and waited for them to return . After their assessment report, he issued the directive for the relocation.

"I am now satisfied that there are rocks that will damage the ferry and I appeal to you to accept relocation to Kasana," Museveni said after parading the police frogmen.

He said for the avoidance of doubt, police will return to the same spot with underwater cameras and  film the rocks which will be availed to the local population as evidence. "But in the meantime we will relocate the ferry and maybe in future we will look for a much lighter ferry that can operate from Nabuganyi to Mbulamuti," he said.

Earlier in the day the President addressed a rally in Kayonza and Busaana sub-counties.

In Kayonza where the statesman held his first rally, he cautioned against the illegal eviction of tenants in the district and warned that any district local leader, land lords and investors involved in the vice will be arrested and prosecuted in courts of law.

"Those people who have taken part and those who have helped them in evicting tenants have already bought themselves certificates to Luzira. We will arrest and have them prosecuted," he said adding "all we need is evidence."

Museveni was reacting to complaints by the area Woman Member of Parliament (MP) Aidah Nantaba of massive evictions in the area by landlords and local leaders, allegedly working in cahoots with investors.

She petitioned the president to intervene, saying that the evictions had left a huge number of people who were either poorly compensated or not compensated at all, destitute.

The area MP Suleiman Madada who also doubles as the State minister for the elderly and disabled persons had a tough time trying to explain the evictions as he was heckled and booed on stage, bringing to the fore the glaring political rift and infighting in the NRM party in the district.

 

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