PIC: Bukedea District Woman MP Anita Among handing over President Yoweri Museveni's motorcycle pledge to beneficiaries in Kasese district on Sunday. (Credit: Abou Kisige)

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

KASESE - President Yoweri Museveni has donated sh200m and 10 motorcycles to widows and orphans of the November 2016 clashes in Kasese district.

The money was handed over to various savings and credit corporative associations, including the one for the Rwenzururu Kingdom's Royal Guards' widows and orphans. Other beneficiaries included market women and bodaboda riders' SACCOs.

Bukedea District Woman MP Anita Among handed over the money in the company of Ajuri County MP Dennis Obua; Usuk County MP Peter Ogwang, Mbarara Municipality MP Michael Tusiime and Kasese Municipality MP Robert Centenary.

Among urged the beneficiaries use the donations for the intended purpose.

“We do not expect you to put the money to waste, but to use it for the betterment of yourselves and the communities at large,” Among said.

She explained that the money was not a loan, but a donation from the President to the widows and orphans.

“This is a revolving fund supposed to benefit beneficiary after beneficiary,” Among said.

She asked the people of Kasese to promote and protect the prevailing peace in the district and look beyond their political divide when it comes to national development issues.

Bukedea District Woman MP Anita Among (left) handing over President Yoweri Museveni's Sh200m to widows and orphans of the 2016 military raid on the Rwenzururu palace in Kasese district on Sunday. (Credit: Abou Kisige)

Tusiime said the donation is a well-thought idea aimed at bringing people together regardless of their political affiliation.

"As NRM party, we are grateful the MP for Kasese Municipality for mobilising residents and also following up on the presidential pledges," Tusiime said.

He lauded Centenary for working with the ruling Government to deliver services to his people, despite the fact that he is an Opposition MP.

Centenary on his part thanked President Meseveni for the donation and urged him to speed up the peace negotiations.

"We continue to implore the Government that it is one thing to bring empowerment and support to the people of Kasese district, but without peace of mind this empowerment is likely to be far-fetched," Centenary said.

He said it is his continuous request to the Government to come to the bottom of the matter, especially of the victims that are in prison and the king.

Centenary implored other well-wisher to come to the aid of the victims of the clashes, saying there were about 50 widows and close to 300 orphans in the municipality.

Bukedea District Woman MP Anita Among (left) handing over President Yoweri Museveni's sh200m to widows and orphans of the 2016 military raid on the Rwenzururu palace in Kasese district on Sunday. (Credit: Abou Kisige)

On November 26, security forces attacked the Rwenzururu Palace following various raids and killing of Police officers by people who were suspected to be royal guards.
The Rwenzururu king, Wesley Mumbere and 201 of his subjects, most of them men, including his former premier, Johnson Kitsumbire, were arrested on November 26.

Mumbere and his co-accused subjects, including eight juveniles, are facing various charges, including treason, murder, attempted murder and aggravated robbery in the Jinja Chief Magistrate’s Court.

Beneficiaries of the donations say the support has come in handy.

Grace Biira of Kizungu village says as affected people they are in dire need of help.

“We are finding it hard to sustain ourselves and many of our children have dropped out of school after their fathers were killed and others arrested. Biira lost her husband, Michael Bwambale, who was a teacher. She says up to now, she has not located her husband.

On the part of Margaret Kahuju, a mother of eight from Kihungu village in Kyayumba sub-county, the money will make a good investment to raise money to support her and her family.
 
Peace Kaboyo of Kasese municipality thanked President Museveni for fullfilling the pledges he made to the people of Kasese when they visited him at State House Entebbe.