NELSON K
The Deputy District Internal Security Officer (DISO) for Rukungiri, Mr. Sam Kamugisha, has rallied parish chiefs to fully embrace and safeguard the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), describing it as a key pillar in improving service delivery to Ugandans.
Speaking at the launch of the Musevenomics program held on Monday evening at Riverside Hotel in Rukungiri Municipality, Mr. Kamugisha, who represented the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), tasked parish chiefs to remain vigilant and ensure transparency in PDM.
“No more complaints about PDM embezzlement should be heard again. Parish chiefs must endorse President Museveni’s programs, love them, sensitize the public, and carefully deliver services to our civilians,” he stressed.
The event brought together parish chiefs, business leaders, and representatives of the local entrepreneurial community, who raised a number of concerns about the state of services and facilities in Rukungiri.
Mr. Crisistom Rwakana, Chairperson of the Rukungiri Business and Entrepreneurs Association, voiced frustrations over what he termed the continued neglect of Rukungiri town and municipality. He cited the absence of a modern central market, the diversion of a planned public university to Buyanja Nyakina, lack of a referral hospital, inadequate street lighting, limited support for entrepreneurs, and persistent power outages, which he blamed on UEDCL.
“These services are vital for the growth of business and the successful implementation of programs like PDM,” Mr. Rwakana emphasized.
Concerns were also raised by a parish chief from Bwambara Subcounty, who highlighted the challenges caused by unreliable water and electricity supply. She noted that the absence of such services has deepened poverty and slowed down development in rural communities.
The Rukungiri District Youth Leader, Mr. Robert, demanded improvements in salaries and refresher trainings for parish chiefs, alongside stronger support for local investors weighed down by high taxes. He also echoed calls for a central market, a referral hospital, and better public institutions in Rukungiri.
In response, the Kigezi Sub-region PDM Chief Mobilizer, Dr. Ngabo, urged parish chiefs to prioritize accurate data collection on service delivery challenges at village level. He explained that such data should be submitted through LC2 chairpersons to town clerks, and later presented at annual PDM consultative meetings to escalate issues from parish to central government level.
Dr. Ngabo further encouraged the business community and newly created parishes to draft clear development demands, including markets and hospitals, and pledged to report salary increment proposals for parish chiefs and other local government workers to the relevant ministries.
The Musevenomics program, now launched in Rukungiri, is expected to strengthen government–community engagement and streamline the delivery of services under PDM and other presidential initiatives.
