Museveni grills Kalangala officials
Dec 12, 2009
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni on Thursday grilled Kalangala district officials over sub-standard projects residents had complained to him about.
By Henry Mukasa and Ali Mambule
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni on Thursday grilled Kalangala district officials over sub-standard projects residents had complained to him about.
The President, who is on a tour of the Kalangala islands in Lake Victoria to promote Prosperity for All, was told by residents of Bufumira sub-county that their water purification project had not been functioning for months and that the only primary school has cracked walls and two teachers.
They also complained about a micro-finance institution which passed by, collected money and disappeared with it. The LC 1 chairman, Moses Kazibwe, had listed the problems in a report.
Museveni called the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Hope Nakyanzi, to explain but she passed on the question to the district engineer, Eng. Nobert Baliremwa. “Explain to the President what happened to the water of Kakyanga because I sent you all the money,†a tensed up Nakyanza said.
A shaken Baliremwa explained that the solar power system was a pilot project but the suppliers, Davis and Sharrif, could not get panels to power enough water for the big population.
“The sunshine was also not enough to activate the panels.
However, now the water is flowing,†he said as the residents protested.
An angry area councillor, Saziri Juma, said the engineer deployed technicians to activate the system upon learning that the President would visit.
Museveni rubbished the argument about inadequate sunshine. “He said there is not enough sunshine, what is this? Why am I wearing a hat?†he asked.
He vowed he would wash his hands from a tap supplied by the system before leaving the place.
“If I don’t find water flowing, I am going to interdict the engineer now and all those who were involved in the project will have to defend themselves in a problem.â€
To the relief of the engineer, water was flowing when the President later checked the tap.
However, the residents complained that the water had particles and was not filtered. Museveni walked to the lake shores where Baliremwa admitted that the water was not purified because the project ended at the first stage. “Without clean water, life on an island is dangerous. Lake water has diseases like bilharzias.†He directed the CAO to upgrade the project and said he would telephone the RDC to make impromptu visits to check on the water project.
Museveni took the CAO to task to explain why she paid for shoddy work. In her defense, she said she relied on ‘completion certificates’.
She was also asked how much money the Government sends to Kalangala. She said she thought the Government sends close to sh1b in unconditional grants and close to sh2b in conditional grants. Another sh300m, she said, is sent to the district for water provision. “I am surprised she has spoken with doubt. I will cross-check the figures,†the President said.
The president also walked about two kilometres to check on the primary school which had cracked walls. The CAO could not tell who the contractor was. The President demanded a report on the school project and asked the ministry to lift the ceiling on the number of teachers.
On the micro-finance the President grilled the sub-county chief, Kibuuka Kizito Swaib, the parish chief and the DPC Sam Omara but they claimed they did not know about the incident. The President directed the RDC to investigate how the micro-finance people could come with armed police escorts, collect money and disappear.
Later, at Buwuvu Island, the President told fishermen to embrace commercial farming as an alternative source of income. The President noted that even when Government provides social services to the 84 islands that constitute the district, residents will continue to wallow in poverty if they don’t know how to generate income. “We are struggling to change the culture from subsistence farming to incomes through modern farming. Much of our modern life needs money,†he said.
He called for a change in mindset so that people view their homes as companies. Land, he said should be the capital for the household company. The President visited Sarah Nansubuga’s poultry farm and donated sh2m to boost her venture.
He also donated sh2m to the sub-county to purchase a hybrid bull, sh1m to Tukole bukozi women’s group engaged in pineapple growing, sh1m to Kakyanga District Farmers Association and sh1m to youth of the area to buy balls and improve on their football pitch.
Museveni made history as he is the first president to visit Kakyanga landing site. He landed in an army helicopter and was received by Kalangala RDC Deo Nsereko, Bujumba county MP, Fred Badda (NRM) and former minister Tim Lwanga.
The President was criticizing the residents for electing MP Moses Kabuusu who claims he is independent but does not fight on the NRM side during wars in Parliament.
“I don’t even know him. Next time correct that and elect Tim Lwanga,†Museveni said.
Kabuusu requested the President to create a ministry in his office for the islands because they have unique problems. “Give me an opportunity. I am ready to serve you,†he said.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni on Thursday grilled Kalangala district officials over sub-standard projects residents had complained to him about.
The President, who is on a tour of the Kalangala islands in Lake Victoria to promote Prosperity for All, was told by residents of Bufumira sub-county that their water purification project had not been functioning for months and that the only primary school has cracked walls and two teachers.
They also complained about a micro-finance institution which passed by, collected money and disappeared with it. The LC 1 chairman, Moses Kazibwe, had listed the problems in a report.
Museveni called the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Hope Nakyanzi, to explain but she passed on the question to the district engineer, Eng. Nobert Baliremwa. “Explain to the President what happened to the water of Kakyanga because I sent you all the money,†a tensed up Nakyanza said.
A shaken Baliremwa explained that the solar power system was a pilot project but the suppliers, Davis and Sharrif, could not get panels to power enough water for the big population.
“The sunshine was also not enough to activate the panels.
However, now the water is flowing,†he said as the residents protested.
An angry area councillor, Saziri Juma, said the engineer deployed technicians to activate the system upon learning that the President would visit.
Museveni rubbished the argument about inadequate sunshine. “He said there is not enough sunshine, what is this? Why am I wearing a hat?†he asked.
He vowed he would wash his hands from a tap supplied by the system before leaving the place.
“If I don’t find water flowing, I am going to interdict the engineer now and all those who were involved in the project will have to defend themselves in a problem.â€
To the relief of the engineer, water was flowing when the President later checked the tap.
However, the residents complained that the water had particles and was not filtered. Museveni walked to the lake shores where Baliremwa admitted that the water was not purified because the project ended at the first stage. “Without clean water, life on an island is dangerous. Lake water has diseases like bilharzias.†He directed the CAO to upgrade the project and said he would telephone the RDC to make impromptu visits to check on the water project.
Museveni took the CAO to task to explain why she paid for shoddy work. In her defense, she said she relied on ‘completion certificates’.
She was also asked how much money the Government sends to Kalangala. She said she thought the Government sends close to sh1b in unconditional grants and close to sh2b in conditional grants. Another sh300m, she said, is sent to the district for water provision. “I am surprised she has spoken with doubt. I will cross-check the figures,†the President said.
The president also walked about two kilometres to check on the primary school which had cracked walls. The CAO could not tell who the contractor was. The President demanded a report on the school project and asked the ministry to lift the ceiling on the number of teachers.
On the micro-finance the President grilled the sub-county chief, Kibuuka Kizito Swaib, the parish chief and the DPC Sam Omara but they claimed they did not know about the incident. The President directed the RDC to investigate how the micro-finance people could come with armed police escorts, collect money and disappear.
Later, at Buwuvu Island, the President told fishermen to embrace commercial farming as an alternative source of income. The President noted that even when Government provides social services to the 84 islands that constitute the district, residents will continue to wallow in poverty if they don’t know how to generate income. “We are struggling to change the culture from subsistence farming to incomes through modern farming. Much of our modern life needs money,†he said.
He called for a change in mindset so that people view their homes as companies. Land, he said should be the capital for the household company. The President visited Sarah Nansubuga’s poultry farm and donated sh2m to boost her venture.
He also donated sh2m to the sub-county to purchase a hybrid bull, sh1m to Tukole bukozi women’s group engaged in pineapple growing, sh1m to Kakyanga District Farmers Association and sh1m to youth of the area to buy balls and improve on their football pitch.
Museveni made history as he is the first president to visit Kakyanga landing site. He landed in an army helicopter and was received by Kalangala RDC Deo Nsereko, Bujumba county MP, Fred Badda (NRM) and former minister Tim Lwanga.
The President was criticizing the residents for electing MP Moses Kabuusu who claims he is independent but does not fight on the NRM side during wars in Parliament.
“I don’t even know him. Next time correct that and elect Tim Lwanga,†Museveni said.
Kabuusu requested the President to create a ministry in his office for the islands because they have unique problems. “Give me an opportunity. I am ready to serve you,†he said.