Sheema leaders want compulsory community service revived

Sheema district LC 5 chairperson, David Kabigumira, has called on government to empower districts to revive the compulsory community service program commonly known as ‘Bulungi Bwansi' if the target of middle income status is to be achieved by 2020.

Speaking in Kigarama Sub County after the launch of the monthly community cleaning exercise organised by his office, Kabigumira said some countries like South Korea have transformed from poor countries to now admirable developed economies through the ‘Bulungi Bwansi' model.

He urged citizens and the government to revive compulsory community work as an indigenous self-help strategy for development.

Recently government through the Office of the Prime Minister set a marathon target to transform Uganda from a subsistence economy to a middle income status by the year 2020.

The program was re-echoed by NRM leaders at a retreat at Kyakwanzi in July by code naming it ‘Kishanja Hakuna Muchezo' literally meaning ‘no playing games'.

"It is important to revive community work. We will not achieve the targets we have set unless compulsory community service is re-introduced. We have to tell our people that transformation begins with them" Kabigumira said.

He explained that sustainable development of any society lies within the commitment by the people through community service and individual efforts to live a better life.

"We need not to forget that for any society to move from one stage to another, it has to embrace the basics of community work. This is the movement that transformed countries like South Korea and China," he said.

South Korea transitioned from a subsistence agriculture-based economy to an industrialized country in a period of only 50 years.

The four hour exercise that started early in the morning, attracted local residents, sub county, and district leaders. They opened roads, drainage channels, cleaned the health centre among other activities.

The chairperson LC 3 Kigarama sub county Lauben Mugarura Kihene said his sub county wants to be a role model for other sub counties of the district in community service.

Four other sub counties that include Shuuku, Kashozi, Kyangyenyi and Rugarama have started a similar program targeting road maintenance especially.