NELSON K
Residents of Nyakarundi Cell, Kahoko Parish in Nyakagyeme Subcounty, Rukungiri District have today raised concerns about water scarcity and lack of electricity in the area.
With broken hearts and disappointment, they accuse the upper leadership of failing to lobby for services in the area, most especially Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi Katugugu, the area Member of Parliament.
Speaking with Boona Radio, Mr. Kyabandiho Jamadah, the Nyakarundi Cell LC1 chairperson, said that although they participate in elections and choose leaders, it seems useless since the leaders cannot help them in lobbying for services. However, surprisingly, such leaders have the power and influence from the government to steal and rig votes to be declared as victors, like what Jim did in the last NRM elections.
Although they have clean water sources, he expressed concerns about the poor state of roads in the area, electricity scarcity, and the fact that their children travel very long distances to Kahoko and even outside the district to Mitooma seeking education services since they have no nearby school.
He added that they usually contribute funds to buy materials for clearing communal roads. However, even the UEDCL team that was making maps for electricity extension programs never came to their cell, although it visited the nearby Rwenkuba Cell.
Residents, led by Prima Kiconco, a youth from the area, also expressed frustrations and disappointment, saying that although they have clean water sources, residents struggle badly to access education services, with children moving long distances to Greater Kahoko and to Mitooma District to get education. Roads are in a very poor state, and electricity scarcity remains a longstanding challenge in the area.
While calling on the government to take urgent action on their concerns, she expressed heartbreak over segregation and bribery in the Parish Development Model (PDM) service, saying they are excluded from the lists and denied access to the service by responsible officials.
In response, the Nyakagyeme LC3 Chairperson, Godson Mubangizi, confirmed that he went to Nyakarundi with the UEDCL engineer while structuring the extension map program, where the transformer will be in Rwenkuba Cell. He added that they have no powers to support them in getting a school since they neither have any private learning institution nor government land or even a place of worship, therefore they have nowhere to start from.
On PDM challenges, he urged the youths and other residents to form groups and consult the LC1 chairperson to endorse and support them in accessing the service from the CDO’s office.
