A section of local leaders and residents in Ndorwa West Constituency, Kabale District have expressed deep frustration over what they describe as continued unfulfilled promises of service delivery, blaming incumbent State Minister for Trade and Cooperatives, David Kwesiga Bahati, for the area’s stagnated development.
According to Tumwesigye Alex, LC1 Chairperson of Rushebeya Village in Buranga Parish, the area lacks a single health center to cater to residents’ medical needs.
He noted that people are often forced to walk long distances to access services at Kasheregyenyi HCIII and Kabale Regional Referral Hospital.
In recent months, residents have been receiving some limited medical support, courtesy of Counsel Eliab Naturinda Mporera, who lobbied assistance from friends in the United Kingdom.
Local leaders, including Tabaziguruka David and Ntwire Wilson Jack of Nyarubira Village, accused Minister Bahati of neglecting the community’s pressing needs. They cited the lack of piped water, persistent power shortages, and poor road infrastructure.
“Most residents rely on solar systems donated by Lillian, a well-wisher and investor from the UK,” Ntwire noted. “We also struggle with poor road networks, especially from Kitumba Sub-county connecting Kamuganguzi to Byakarimira Town Council and Rubaya Sub-county. These roads are in terrible condition, making it costly to transport our goods, beans, sorghum, and Irish potatoes to Kabale Town and other markets.” They said.
Water scarcity is another major concern. Residents report paying between Shs 500 and Shs 1,000 for a single Jerry can of water, which they say is unaffordable given the limited income-generating opportunities in the area.
Muyambi William, Chairperson of Nyabumba SACCO and a former treasurer to Minister Bahati, stated that communities in villages such as Rushebeya, Kikore, Karago, Bugira, and Nyabumba all have empty water pipes with no supply.
“We are tired. These water pipes are just decorations in the villages, they bring no water at all,” Muyambi lamented.
In Bugira Village, LC1 Chairperson Banada Bagambisa highlighted the dangers residents face due to a lack of ferries on Lake Bunyonyi. “People are drowning simply because they don’t have safe and reliable transport across the lake,” he said.
While addressing voters in Bugira on the final day of his campaign trail, Counsel Naturinda Mporera pledged to donate a quality canoe boat to support safer transportation on Lake Bunyonyi. He also promised to lobby for the construction of a three-room teachers’ staff house at Bunagana Primary School in his home village as a way of improving education standards.
Meanwhile, in a dramatic political shift, several supporters of Hon. Bahati—including Mahura Village LC1 Chairperson Bwessigye, longtime supporter Happy Alex, and Milliano, Chairperson of Mugobore Village in Kyasano Parish, crossed camp to join Mporera.
They praised his hands-on support in local communities and pledged their full backing in the upcoming NRM party primaries scheduled for July 17.
