By KT Reporter
President Yoweri Museveni has promised compensation to persons who were affected by cattle rustling by the Karamonjongs in Bulambuli district.
Speaking at a campaign rally held at Nabbongo Primary School in Bulambuli district on Thursday, Museveni said that, like it has been in Teso, Acholi, and Lango sub-regions, there is a need for the affected communities in the Busgiu sub-region to be compensated.
While campaigning in Teso, Museveni said it had been discussed that a special restocking program would focus on Teso, Acholi, and Lango regions. At the campaign in Bulambuli, the President included parts of Bugisu. The issue of compensation of he war-affected victims appears like a hot potato for President Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1996.
Some have called for a comprehensive policy to address the matter. They argue that the piecemeal method of handling the matter may not entirely address the matter. They have suggested the need for a national dialogue that focuses on forgiveness, truth-telling telling and reconciliation as part of the solution.
Museveni, however, pledged that the government will ensure that some of the sub-counties in Bulambuli and Kween that were hit hard by the cattle rustling activities would be compensated.
“Like it has been in Acholi, Lango, and Teso regions, where the government has decided to compensate people who were affected by the rustling, I think it won’t be fair to leave out communities in Bugisu. Therefore, I am going to the government to see that each affected person is compensated,” he said.
Museveni was responding to a memo by the district NRM chairperson, Paul Kimamati, who indicated to him that several families were hit hard by the cattle rustlers and so there is a need for them to be compensated, just like it has been done in other parts of the country.
Kimamati also told the President that many parishes and sub-counties in the district have neither a primary nor a secondary school respectively nor health centers.
Kimamati reminded the president of his unfulfilled pledges that he made in the previous election cycle, citing the compensation of people who lost their cattle, the creation of lower local governments, and a van that he promised taxi drivers.
He asked the president to ensure that the Muyembe Health Center IV is upgraded to a district hospital because it serves a big population, including patients from neighbouring districts of Bukedea, Kapchorwa, and Sironko.
He urged the upgrade of a number of health center IIIs to health center IVs.
Museveni acknowledged that there are places in the district that don’t have government schools, which he said they will ensure that they are constructed. H
The president also warned people living landslide landslide-prone areas of Mt Elgon to evacuate before danger befalls them.
He said that the government has already started procuring land using the 50 billion shillings that have been put aside.
Kalvin Echodu, the NRM vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda, said that Bulambuli is one of the districts that was affected by the Karamonjongs and that the district will require affirmative action, just like it has been in Teso and other parts of the country.
The NRM flag bearer for Bulambuli County, Emmanuel Biara, appealed to the President to compensate residents whose cows were stolen by cattle rustlers.
-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
