By John B. Thawite
The main rival
political parties in Kasese district, Western Uganda, have resolved to shelf
their bickering for the sake of rebranding the district and harnessing the huge
investment potential of the area.
They made the
resolution on Saturday at a day-long meeting brokered by the national chief
coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation and
President Yoweri Museveni’s younger brother, Caleb Akandwanaho, aka Salim
Saleh.
It was co-chaired by
Catherine Muhindo, FDC Vice chairperson
and district secretary for production and Fred Businge, the acting chairperson
of the ruling National Resistance Movement(NRM), Fred Businge.
The participants,
numbering more than 250, also included religious and cultural leaders, the
private sector, representatives of the district elder’s forum, and leaders of
various NRM and FDC structures.
Endorse
Shs119.550b investment plan
At the meeting, held at
the district multipurpose hall opposite the Kasese aerodrome, a technical team,
headed by the district planner, Alex Masereka presented a District Investment
Plan, worth Shs119.550b, which they all unanimously endorsed.
The plan, whose goal is
to propel the district into the middle income status by 2021, prioritises
the exploitation of minerals, tourism, the abundant rivers for
irrigation, lakes, crater lakes and the flat agricultural land.
It also aims at
investing in the coffee, cotton, maize, rice, livestock, and fisheries.
The plan also advocates
for a viable investor to revamp the defunct Kilembe Mines Ltd and the Katwe Salt
Lake Industry.
Women youth and the
elderly across the district will also be supported with cottage industries.
The pan also seeks to
harness the hydropower potential and improve roads, markets and address
environmental hazards as well as develop a sports complex.
According to Fred
Businge, the Saturday meeting was a culmination of a series harmonization
meetings chaired by Salim Saleh who has been pitching camp in the district for
several weeks.
“I am happy that I have
achieved this day. You have given me mileage,” Salim Saleh said while closing
the meeting.
He urged the
stakeholders to aspire to market the district investment potential in the
Rwenzori Mountains and in the planes and to develop a communication plan to do
so.
He hailed the Rwenzori
sub-region for having contributed to the country’s liberation but noted that
disunity had made the area lag behind in development.
Funds
guaranteed
Gen Saleh revealed that
the Ministry f finance had processed a certificate of Financial Implication for
the required fund but strongly advised the district to ensure absorption.
He challenged at
stakeholders – the clergy, the clan leaders, government functionaries, civil
society and the private sector to work together.
The acting Prime
Minister and chairperson of the inter-ministerial commission, established to
handle the embattled Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu (OBR) issues, Gad Mbayahi,
described the Saturday meeting as his “long-desired wish.”
He lashed at leaders
who oppose development ideas suggested by those of the opposite political
sides.
“Kasese isn’t a bad
place but it is run by people who want to use it as their selfish business
projects.
“I am glad this has
happened. Today I am not interested whether you are FDC or NRM because we are
here for the common development of the Rwenzori,” said the district LC5,
Geoffrey Sibendire Bigogo.
The district vice chairperson
Gideon Ntabose, (FDC), termed the meeting as historical
“I have never seen
people of different political parties come to the same table in this district,”
said Ntabose, who is also represents the youth on the District Council.
He warned fellow
politicians to desist from resisting developmental ideas from leaders of other
political parties.
“This meeting should
teach us that when a member of the opposite party talks of development and service
delivery, we should be supportive,” he said.
Ntabose also warned
leaders and other residents against utterances and actions that can repulse
tourists and investors.
He implored government
to also invest in the reconstruction of the Rwenzururu palace, burnt in 2016,
release the king and market it as one of the tourist attractions.
The Deputy Resident
District Commissioner, Joshua Kisembo Masereka, revealed that some people had
attempted to fail the meeting.
He blamed the slow pace
of development on the politics of lies and cheap popularity.
“We all made mistakes.
It is time we woke up and stopped lamenting and sitting on ourselves,” Godfrey
Kabyanga, the Mayor Kasese Municipality, advised.
What
others said
The councilor
representing persons with disabilities in the district council, Pelucy
Kabagenyi, called for affirmative interventions for her category to avoid
marginalizing them in the implementation of the multi-billion investment plan.
Lhusenge Thembo, a musician-turned
politician complained that the local artistes were sidelined in the district
and called for a special fund.
Former Kasese woman MP,
Loice Biira Bwambale, asked the planners to mainstream apiary to prevent the
queen Elizabeth national park animals from invading gardens of the neighbouring
communities but also to harvest honey for economic development.
Seddress Masika
Kalengyo, called for interventions to combat plastic waste known, especially as
kavera (polythene bags), saying they were becoming and environmental hazard in
the district.
Retired South Rwenzori
Diocesan Bishop, Zebedee Masereka, cautioned the district to develop an operation
and maintenance plan for the pants and equipment being requested in the plan.
Retired
resident District Commissioner, Barnabas Bamusede Bwambale, called for
technologies to
turn
the maize stalks and into hay and silage.
Maize
is one of the widely grown crops especially in prison farms in the district.
