By Chris Ahimbisibwe

President Yoweri Museveni has directed three ministers to handle the splitting of Bushenyi district.
The ministers are John Nasasira of works and transport, Beatrice Wabudeya in charge of the presidency and the minister without portfolio, Dorothy Hyuha.

The Buhweju county MP, Deus Bikwasizehi, revealed this at Butare Catholic parish women’s day celebrations on January 1.

Bushenyi district Woman MP Mary Karooro Okurut said the President instructed the three ministers to handle the issue after Ephraim Kamuntu, the planning state minister, raised it in a recent NRM caucus meeting.

Karooro, also the National Resistance Movement spokesperson ,was the chief guest at the ceremony held at Butare Catholic parish headquarters in Bushenyi district.

Bikwasizehi said the ministers would hold meetings with district leaders to settle the matter.

The counties of Sheema, Ruhinda, Buhweju and Bunyaruguru are agitating for independent districts.

The issue of splitting the district has left the leaders divided, with MPs Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, Bikwasizehi, Gaude Tindamanyire and Kamuntu agitating for the split while ministers Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, Richard Nduhura and Tarsis Kabwegyere campaigning against it.

Karooro wants the district divided but not every county granted district status.

Otafiire argued that creating new districts is a burden to tax-payers and increases public expenditure.

“We are tired of young rats taking care of kittens,” Otafiire said at a recent meeting in the district, meaning that they were tired of tax payers providing for the leaders through taxes.

“Do you pay taxes so that we pay civil servants and political leaders or you pay taxes so that we increase on hospitals?” Otafiire asked.

Otafiire said some politicians are agitating for the split of the district so that they can get leadership positions.

He described the creation of a new district as enriching the political leaders and civil servants to enable them to meet their needs.
He explained that 50% of the country’s collections are spent on public service.