VANESSA A
Residents of Ikuniro Cell in Buhunga Subcounty, Rukungiri District, on Sunday morning blocked a vehicle that was ferrying abandoned electricity poles from Ikuniro Primary School playground.
The residents said the vehicle started loading the poles at around 6:00 am, but when they sought clarification from City Harvest Electrical Installation Supply and Repairs Limited, they were told to allow the exercise to proceed. This response angered the community, prompting them to block the roads to stop the vehicle.
The locals accused some leaders of conniving to transfer the poles illegally to other areas. They noted that some of these leaders had previously criticized the existence of the poles, claiming they had been illegally lobbied by former Rujumbura County MP Fred Tumuheirwe Turyamuhweza.
Buhunga Subcounty Chairperson Benon “Aunt” Mugisha condemned the act, saying it was wrong for the company and local leaders to proceed without following proper procedures. He said he had informed the Rukungiri District Internal Security Officer (DISO), who directed him to go to the ground and verify the situation.
By 10:20 am, all the poles had been offloaded after a directive from a senior official in Kampala.
Former MP Fred Turyamuhweza also applauded residents for stopping the transfer and urged current leaders to follow due process and implement projects that benefit the people.
Residents have vowed to hold accountable any leaders they accuse of sabotaging development in Buhunga Subcounty, noting that government promises to light up the area before the 2020 NRM primaries remain unfulfilled.
