During the National Resistance Army gorilla war in the
1980’s, Kasese was one of the main bases that led to the capture of state power
on January 26, 1986. Twenty seven years later, the NRM celebrations are now
coming to Kasese.
The celebrations scheduled for January 26 were postponed to
four days later due to unknown reasons that can only be revealed by the people
inside the NRM main circles. However, our concern in this article is not about
the celebrations but it is on what has NRM done to transform Kasese?
The District NRM chairman Dr. Crispus Kiyonga has been one
of the most outstanding members of the government (Cabinet) since 1986 when NRA
captured. He has a story to tell about the good deeds of the NRM in Kasese. It
is very much known that he has nothing to say about the worst the government
might have done to the district vast with natural resources.
Dr. Kiyounga who is also the Member of Parliament for
Bukonzo West Constituency while speaking on the transformations of the NRM in
the district where he is considered a giant politician and farmer, says many
have been done.
He points out the industrial transformation. One of the
cases in point is the expounding of the Hima Cement Factory. Although this is
not a government entity but Dr. Kiyonga believes that the conducive environment
given by the 27-year regime has given has helped the owners to do its business
well.
Hima Cement now employees hundreds of Ugandans in skilled
and non skilled labour whereby Kasese district is benefiting. From the factory,
the district is getting unspecified millions of royalties including
scholarships to the best performing pupil in Primary Leaving Examinations every
year.
The district’s giant politician also talks of Kasese Cobalt
Company limited a company that is reportedly in its phase out. But it has been
a source of employment to many people in the country including those from
Kasese.
Dr. Kiyonga proudly speaks of the plans to establish an
industrial zone in Kasese Municipality and also the impending re-opening of
mining activities in Kilembe as the upcoming boast in the industrialization of
Kasese district.
Another form of transformation in the district is on
education according to Dr. Kiyonga. The number of people with at least a
bachelor’s degree in Kasese was countable when the current regime captured
power in 1986. But the minister says there has been a great change to the fact
that some now have PHD’s and also education has been boasted with a number of
private institutions that major in skills training.
“When we came to power, the degrees in Kasese were very few
but here we speak on hundreds of people who have achieved in education. We are
now proud of a young man called Kule Balitazale whom I hear has been promoted
from a secondary school headmaster to a level of an assistant commissioner.
This is an achievement”. Dr. Kiyonga told UBC TV’s Matters of Policy talk show.
The minister also points a finger at the agriculture
diversification in the district as another achievement of the NRM government.
Through NAADS and general agriculture improvement has been recorded in Kasese.
The hot culture has been thriving in the district because even a juice called
the RWENZORI juice has been produced and is on sale in supermarkets across the
country. This is from the mangoes in the minister and other people’s farms.
On infrastructure, the minister speaks proudly of the roads
that have been opened in the mountainous areas to help the transportation of
agriculture produce to the markets. He speaks of the “free drive” from Kilembe
road through Mahango, Kitabu to Nyaruzigati joining the Kasese-Bwera road.
Another example given by the minister is the Rugendabara-Kasangali road in
Busongora North.
Other transformations aired out by the minister include,
access to safe drinking water, improvement in the production of coffee and
recognition of the Rwenzururu Kingdom.
To crown it up, the minister believes that it is only the
NRM government that has transformed Kasese district in the matter of security.
He talks of the wars ranging from the Rwenzururu Kingdom movement struggle
geminating from misunderstandings in the Tooro Kingdom in 1962 to the recent
Allied Democratic Forces Rebellion that rocked the district.
But the UPDF is now in charge of security and the border
with the DRC is secure despite reports of ADF remnants regrouping across the
border.
Kasese district is where it is not easy to determine whether
the NRM has the edge over the opposition parties that are led by the Forum for
Democratic Change. NRM has three members of parliament equal the number of FDC.
Dr. Kiyonga describes the recent by-election for the woman MP as a leakage
after NRM lost to the opposition chief whip Ms. Winfred Kiiza Nyabahasa.
He is quoted to have said “Kasese is still so much in our
hands (NRM) because the district council is dominated by NRM. Hon. Winfred
Kiiza just leaked through our hands recently but we have got the medicine”.
Some analysts say that the 37000 difference in the last
year’s by-election determines the re-birth of FDC which has been dominating on
presidential decisions before the recognition of the Rwenzururu Kingdom.
Other achievements of
NRM.
- The tarmacking of Katunguru, Bwera-to Kilembe road by SBI Construction Company.
- Recognizing Obusinga BwaRwenzururu-2009.
- Constructing Bwera Hospital in Mbondwe Lhubiriha town council.
- Fighting the ADF war that terrorized the area in 1996.
- Elevating Kasese town council to the Municipality status.
- Formation of Mbondwe Lhubiriha and Hima town councils.
- Rehabilitation of Mubuku Irrigation scheme-which is still under the rehabilitation process.
- The appointments of Dr. Crispus Kiyonga as Minister ever since NRM government come to power.
- At least seven people from Kasese have worked as RDCs (Aminadab, Isingoma, Bwebale, Bamusede, Muranga, David Masereka and Pulikeria)
Reminder of the 10 point program of
the NRM.
Democracy, Security, Consolidation of National security and elimination of all
forms of sectarianism, Defending and
consolidating National Independence, Building
an independent/ integrated and self-sustaining national economy, Restoration and improvement of Social
services and the rehabilitation of the war ravaged areas, Elimination of corruption and misuse of power, Redressing errors that have resulted in the dislocation of sections
of the population
and improvement of others, Co-operation with other African countries in defending human and
democratic rights of our brothers in other parts of Africa, and Following an economic strategy of mixed
economy
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