Rwenzori district chairpersons to form leaders' forum

District leaders from the seven districts of the Rwenzori region have agreed to form a leaders' forum that will give them a platform to sort their differences and air out their concerns for the peace and development of the area.

The seven districts include Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Ntoroko, Kabarole, Bundibugyo and Kasese.

The forum is among others expected to preach the gospel of peaceful coexistence of all tribes in the Rwenzori region following tribal clashes between the Bamba and Bakonjo that left scores dead early this year.

All the district chairpersons subscribe to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party apart from Sebendire Bigogo the district chairperson for Kasese who subscribes to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party.

The Leaders' Forum which is in its infant stages has not yet elected its chairperson and other members but Richard Rwabuhinga the district chairperson for Kabarole told New Vision that they (district chairpersons) will soon meet to elect a chairperson amongst themselves.

"As district leaders it is relevant that we meet regularly to discuss and share knowledge about government programs in our various districts but more so to share the different experiences that we could be going through as leaders" Rwabuhinga said.

Rwabuhinga stated that "our coming together as district leaders is a commitment that we are determined to work together to bridge the gaps that have in the past caused our people to clash".

Sibendire the Kasese chairperson while commenting about the leaders' Forum stated that "service delivery is what we want for our people regardless of our different political ideologies"

He promised to work closely with the ruling government to rebuild peace in the Rwenzori.

James Kaija the district chairperson for Kyenjojo said that the Leaders' Forum will also promote solidarity amongst the leaders.

"Some of our districts are still young in development, as leaders we must join hands to have a common development strategy for the entire region" Kaija said.

Ronald Mutegeki the district chairperson for Bundibugyo which was at the epicenter of the tribal clashes noted that the instability in one district if not addressed quickly can destabilize all the neighboring districts.

"The people we serve have common problems regardless of the political boundaries that may keep us apart" Mutegeki said.