KISORO: Residents of Birara village, Bukimbiri Sub County in Kisoro district, led by their Chairman Mubiru Benedicto, are demanding a share of the proceeds earned from the sale of Murrum extracted from a sub-county-owned piece of land.
The land in question, rich in Murrum, is situated atop Nturo hill in Birara village, Bukimbiri Sub County, Kisoro district. Extraction activities commenced early in January of this year and lasted for approximately three weeks. The extracted Murrum was transported to Nyakabande by Sino Trucks to facilitate the refurbishment of Nyakabande aerodrome.
On the 15th of January of this year, Vianney Mpungu Luggya, the spokesperson for the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), announced that the ongoing rehabilitation works at the aerodrome were scheduled for completion within 90 days. He identified the contractor responsible for the project as Tetra Technical Services, which had assumed control of the Nyakabande site on November 30th, 2023.
However, Benedicto revealed that initially, residents had resisted the company’s efforts to extract the Murrum. It was only after intervention from district leadership that they reluctantly agreed. He highlighted that residents were assured of various benefits, including financial compensation and the leveling of the Nturo Playground, which is utilized by three primary schools in the vicinity.
Regrettably, none of these promises have materialized, and the Sino Trucks have ceased transporting Murrum, with excavators being withdrawn from the site.
CUE IN MUBIRU…ON LAND….RR/ENG//
Previously, the Bukimbiri LC3 Chairperson, Masheija Enos, had also expressed the intention for the sub-county to share the financial gains with the district. However, he noted the absence of a Memorandum of Understanding between the district and Tetra Technical Services. Masheija proposed utilizing the funds to facilitate the installation of electricity in Kateriteri trading center, an idea contested by Mubiru.
CUE IN BEN…ON LC3 CHAIR…..RR/ENG//
The Member of Parliament for Bukimbiri County, Hon. Eddie Kwizera Wagahungu, stated that excavation activities had been paused to allow for the resolution of ongoing disputes among the involved parties. He assured that upon completion of the excavation, not only would the playground be leveled, but also land would be allocated for the construction of the Bukimbiri Institute for Tourism-Related Studies.
CUE IN KWIZERA….ON THE MATTER…..RR/ENG//
