Busembatia residents riot
Jun 21, 2009
RESIDENTS of Busembatia town council in Iganga district last Tuesday rioted and held their leaders hostage, accusing them of corruption, shoddy work and failing government programmes.
By Charles Kakamwa
RESIDENTS of Busembatia town council in Iganga district last Tuesday rioted and held their leaders hostage, accusing them of corruption, shoddy work and failing government programmes.
Over 600 residents had turned up for an afternoon meeting at the town council offices in which they expected the chief administrative officer (CAO), Dunstan Iga Mukasa, to listen to their grievances.
However, Mukasa, who had confirmed attendance, at the last minute said he was unable to make it.
The residents were infuriated by the message and surrounded the council offices vowing not to let any officials out until the CAO addresses them.
The LC3 chairman, Peter Mwanja, town clerk Eria Magumba and engineer Godfrey Mwembe were held–up in their offices.
The demonstrators demanded the immediate transfer of the technical staff.
They poured garbage in the town council compound, banged the doors, while others bought petrol threatening to set the building ablaze.
“The Government has played its part by disbursing funds to the district, but the local leaders are thieves,†Matthias Isembatia, an elder, said.
“A total of sh48m was sent to the district under the Bonna Bagaggawale (Prosperity-for-All programme), but only sh8m has been given out.â€
Isembatia complained that the district engineers allowed road works to be done at night after altering the plans to suit corrupt desires.
“The tender to collect garbage was awarded to a town council official, who uses council workers to do private work,†he complained.
Isembatia explained that garbage was being disposed of within the town instead of the gazetted plot, which is one kilometre away.
He added that the public toilets constructed by the council caved in barely a year after completion because of shoddy work.
The LC1 chairman of Zone 6 in Butandwe village, Stephen Kalinaki, said since Busembatia was granted a town council status, they have not received the 25% remittances for the villages.
The situation was calmed down by the deputy resident district commissioner, Elijah Madoi, who spoke to the people.
The New Vision could not reach Magumba for a comment. Mwanja said he was in a meeting.
The LC5 chairman, Asuman Kyafu said: “I heard of it, but I was in Kampala. I am organising a meeting on Tuesday to resolve the matter.â€
RESIDENTS of Busembatia town council in Iganga district last Tuesday rioted and held their leaders hostage, accusing them of corruption, shoddy work and failing government programmes.
Over 600 residents had turned up for an afternoon meeting at the town council offices in which they expected the chief administrative officer (CAO), Dunstan Iga Mukasa, to listen to their grievances.
However, Mukasa, who had confirmed attendance, at the last minute said he was unable to make it.
The residents were infuriated by the message and surrounded the council offices vowing not to let any officials out until the CAO addresses them.
The LC3 chairman, Peter Mwanja, town clerk Eria Magumba and engineer Godfrey Mwembe were held–up in their offices.
The demonstrators demanded the immediate transfer of the technical staff.
They poured garbage in the town council compound, banged the doors, while others bought petrol threatening to set the building ablaze.
“The Government has played its part by disbursing funds to the district, but the local leaders are thieves,†Matthias Isembatia, an elder, said.
“A total of sh48m was sent to the district under the Bonna Bagaggawale (Prosperity-for-All programme), but only sh8m has been given out.â€
Isembatia complained that the district engineers allowed road works to be done at night after altering the plans to suit corrupt desires.
“The tender to collect garbage was awarded to a town council official, who uses council workers to do private work,†he complained.
Isembatia explained that garbage was being disposed of within the town instead of the gazetted plot, which is one kilometre away.
He added that the public toilets constructed by the council caved in barely a year after completion because of shoddy work.
The LC1 chairman of Zone 6 in Butandwe village, Stephen Kalinaki, said since Busembatia was granted a town council status, they have not received the 25% remittances for the villages.
The situation was calmed down by the deputy resident district commissioner, Elijah Madoi, who spoke to the people.
The New Vision could not reach Magumba for a comment. Mwanja said he was in a meeting.
The LC5 chairman, Asuman Kyafu said: “I heard of it, but I was in Kampala. I am organising a meeting on Tuesday to resolve the matter.â€