Toro clan head sparks Fort Portal riots over electricity

Mar 21, 2017

Anti-riot Police was deployed at his home for several hours in an attempt to provide him with protection from the angry residents

Residents of Karambi Sub County on Monday morning staged protests over a decision by the Babiito royal clan head Omusuga Charles Kamurasi to deny them access to electricity.

Over 1000 affected residents from the two sub counties of Buhesi and Karambi accuse Kamurasi of denying them access to electricity by blocking electricity poles from passing through his land.

The angry residents blocked the road from Fort Portal Municipality with heavy logs and lit them on fire which forced Police to intervene and disperse the angry residents.

Anti-riot Police was deployed at his home for several hours in an attempt to provide him with protection from the angry residents who were marching towards his home.

"These two sub counties benefited from the rural electrification program but because Kamurasi owns a large piece of land were the poles are supposed to pass he has dictated which villages will benefit from the program and blocked others which he doesn't favour," said Mugisa Banabas a community leader in Rwabuganda village.

He said they have on several occasions engaged Kamurasi to allow people get connected to the electricity grid but he instead wrote to Rural Electrification Agency blocking some villages like Mugasani, Buhesi and Rwabuganda.

Joseph Mashuhuko the councillor representing Karambi Sub County in the district council condemned the action of one person blocking government programs aimed at fostering development in the area.

"As leaders we condemn in the strongest terms the actions of Omusuga Kamurasi because he is not supposed to block people from accessing electricity and yet they have been engaging him," said Mashuhuko.

Gilbert Mwesige another leader said residents had proposed to contribute some money and pay Kamurasi for the electricity poles which were to pass in his land but he refused.

"He is after failing the program because we held a meeting and agreed that we should mobilize ourselves and contribute some money and pay him although he did not attend the meeting," said Mwesige.

Mwesige said the residents want to forcefully evict Kamurasi from the sub county because he is failing the development of the area.

Samson Muyamba the Fort Portal Police Station OC said that they had deployed in the area to ensure that peace and calm is restored.

Kamurasi preferred to remain silent over the matter but by press time Police officers led by Muyamba had gained access to his home in Gweri to engage him in talks.

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