Museveni fires Namutumba RDC

President Yoweri Museveni has announced the withdrawal of the Namutumba district RDC (resident district commissioner), David Ssempa, for failure to apprehend thieves who were involved in the misuse of the Youth Fund.

Museveni, who is currently on a campaign trail in the Busoga sub-region in eastern Uganda, made the announcement on Monday in Busiki County during his address at a presidential campaign rally.

“I am withdrawing the RDC for failing to monitor the youth funds. RDCs are posted to districts to monitor and supervise government services,” he said.

This followed complaints from the area people to the effect that the youth funds were misused.

Museveni greeting Kadaga and other NRM leaders at Kibaale village

Museveni, who is the NRM presidential candidate, strongly criticized Ssempa for not attending to the essential needs of the community in the district and revealed that the thieves involved in stealing government funds would be arrested.

He said that the government officials who are asleep on their jobs would not be spared.

“Individuals are not stronger than the party. That is why I urge you to vote for me, the old man with a hat. Even me, Yoweri Museveni, I am not stronger than the party. It is you the NRM supporters who make me strong,” he emphasized, also urging them to vote for all the NRM flagbearers.

Eight contestants are in the race for the State House as February 18 – the day of the presidential election – draws nearer.

Museveni, who is pursuing another term in office, said the youth, women, NAADS and microfinance funds require no collateral security because those programmes were designed for the low-income group of people.

The main component in accessing the funds is to be trustworthy, he said, pointing out that the rich people have got security and that they should not access the funds meant for the poor ones.

The NRM party chairman was pleased to note that the people of Namutumba district want more seedlings from the Operation Wealth Creation programme. He assured them that the government would increase the NAADS budget to enable all the beneficiaries to access the facilities.

NRM supporters cheer Museveni during a rally at Namayingo Primary school in Namayingo district Monday on his first day of campaigning in Busoga

More resources would be allocated to the youth, women and micro-finance schemes, he said.

Among its priorities, the NRM has all along concentrated on the development of roads, security, education, electricity and health, said the President, adding that a similar arrangement has been put in place to ensure that the Wealth Creation Fund is adequately facilitated.

Turning to the local programmes for the area, he informed his large audience that NRM would build the Namutumba-Butaleja-Mbale road.

Several villages in the district, he observed, have already been provided with electricity and gave assurances that the remaining ones would access the national grid for electricity supply.

President Museveni said that Namutumba Town Council is already enjoying piped water supply as are Bugobi and Kibaale towns. He announced that the Government is fully committed to the provision of three boreholes per village.

Besides, he said the NRM would build secondary schools in the four sub-counties in Namutumba district that do not have those educational facilities. All the parishes in Namutumba district have got primary schools, he said, which is in line with the NRM policy.

Museveni also told the area people of the area that his government has played its role in attracting investments into the country. He observed that both the old and new industries have enabled government to expand the tax base, leading to the provision of more essential services such as the building of schools, among others.