‘Hot air’ resolutions leave Kisoro Residents disappointed

By VOM News Team

Resolutions made by the Kisoro district Council, just before Christmas of 2022 are beginning to unravel as residents protest the decisions, claiming leaders have self-seeking interests.

Hard hit of all is the Nyarusiza Sub County LCV Councilor John Mfitumukiza who is accused of presenting his own interests ahead of his voters.

The concerns were raised yesterday by angry residents of Gitenderi parish, Nyarusiza Sub County who protested a district resolution that would see several other villages included as beneficiaries of Revenue sharing from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

The Kisoro district LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana, after a consultative meeting with the District Executive Committee (DEC) on the 21^st of December 2022, resolved to include Bunama and Karambi villages, Gasovu Parish, Nyarusiza Sub County as well as Nyamigenda Cell in Kirimiro ward, Chanika Town Council to be approved by the district council to benefit from Revenue Sharing.

The residents of Gitenderi claim that the resolutions that were unanimously passed by the council do not reflect the wants and needs of the people

Instead, the leaders fronted their own agendas and never consulted the voters.

Gard Mundeli, the Nyarusiza Sub County Speaker says the three villages of Bunama, Karambi and Nyamigenda do not qualify to benefit from Revenue sharing because they are not directly affected by the Human wildlife conflict from the National Park.

Mundeli says several villages including Nzogera have been petitioning the district leadership to be included because they are directly affected but this request has never been granted.

Youth Councilor for Nyarusiza sub-county Arinayo Rodgers says, the Chief Administrative Officer Hajji Badru Mayanja visited Gitenderi on the 21^st of December, 2022 to discuss the same issue but the talks were unproductive.

Badru Mayanja requested that more consultations be made instead of rushing to pass an unpopular resolution.

The residents of Nzogera, Kabande, Mwanjari, bitongo, Rukere, Ndego, Mubuga, mubande,

Butaha villages in Gitenderi parish, Nyarusiza Sub County are now questioning the motives of their elected leaders.

The Government of Uganda, through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is required to pay 20% of the park entry fees collected from Wildlife protected areas to the local Governments.

Since its inception in 2003, total of 36 billion shillings has been paid out to communities with Wildlife protected areas in Uganda.

https://vomuhabura.com/24-drop-in-revenue-sharing-for-bwindi-mgahinga-national-parks/

Nyarusiza Sub County LCV Councilor Johns Mfitumukiza says the inclusion of new villages on the scheme should be seen as an opportunity to bring development to the people.

The former radio turned politician says the spirit of the resolutions are people centered and all those who think otherwise are enemies of development.

In a twit earlier today, the Kisoro district LCV chairperson Abel Bizimana says, “This is the same group campaigned against JKIST, KCU, the Rwereri Coffee demo farm and is now against  people of Nyamigenda whose property gets destroyed by the wild to benefit on Gorilla Revenue Sharing. Two top satanic mobilisers. They fight anything that is not started by them”