The Rukungiri district production, water and environment offices are on spot for distributing goats to ghost beneficiaries who were evacuated from wetlands in Bwambara and Bugangari Sub Counties respectively.
During the distribution of goats at Bwambara Sub County headquarters on Monday, the Bwambara Sub County leaders and complainants brought up the issue.
The hybrid goats totaling 516 were donated by the government of Uganda under the program “Building Resilient Communities in Restoration of Wetlands in Uganda” to people who were evicted from “Ihimbo Kakindo Mashaku wetland” which stretches in two sub counties of Bugangari and Bwambara
Speaking with our reporter, the leaders questioned names on lists that the Rukungiri district authorities had approved as compensation recipients yet the intended beneficiaries were left out.
In the Bwambara Sub County, area councilors Musimenta James for Kikarara Parish, Rukundo Onesimus for Nyabubare, and Kamugisha Denis for Kyabahanga reported that they had not been consulted when beneficiaries were being registered and that goats were instead given to district officials of their choosing rather than to those who were supposed to receive them.
Cue in………..LEADERS……..
Angry Tumusiime Robert from Rwesigyiro in Bwambara Sub County revealed that he registered 15 members of his group who were meant to receive goats yesterday but none of them were taken into consideration, leaving him to ask why they are being given to individuals who weren’t forced out of the wetland yet the victims are suffering greatly.
In addition to being evicted from his two acres of property, Kakwaya Ephraim, a resident of Garuka in Bwambara Sub County, claimed that he was also expected to get goats yesterday but was pleasantly surprised when he didn’t. He accused district administrators of failing to take care of the victims.
Cue in…….RESIDENTS VOX POPS……..
However, when the people of Rukungiri revolted against the district water officer, Mr. Deus Twekwase, he advised them to charge those who compiled the beneficiary list but not them of being district officials.
Cue in…….WATER ENGINEER………
