NELSON K
Residents of Kagunga Parish in Bufundi Subcounty, Rubanda District have raised concerns over persistent challenges of electricity scarcity, water shortages, and inadequate health facilities that have left the community lagging behind in development.
Speaking to Boona Radio, Mr. Rifunsi Baryebuza, the Kagunga LC2 Chairperson, said the parish is among the few in Uganda that have never been connected to the national power grid. He noted that the absence of electricity has forced locals to travel long distances within and outside Rubanda District to access services and opportunities dependent on power.
“This has contributed to backwardness and remoteness of our area, limiting creativity and innovation among the population. As a result, many youths remain unemployed, and poverty levels are high,” Rifunsi said.
Although Kagunga lies near Lake Bunyonyi, he added that residents in far-flung cells, particularly in the highlands, continue to grapple with water scarcity, often walking long distances in search of clean water.
Health service delivery also remains a challenge. The only nearby facility, Kagunga Health Centre II, operates with just two midwives and an in-charge. This has compelled many residents to seek medical care in distant parts of Rubanda and neighboring districts.
Rifunsi appealed to government leaders to urgently intervene and provide the much-needed services, urging Rubanda District Vice Chairperson and Parish Councillor Mrs. Prosy Kesafari to follow up on the community’s concerns.
In response, Mrs. Kesafari acknowledged the shortage of essential services in Kagunga, especially electricity. She, however, noted that securing electricity connections would require lobbying at the parliamentary level.
