The former Cabinet Minister for Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Fisheries Hon. Tress Bucyanayandi has praised Kisoro Municipal Councillors for standing out against the illegal sale of Government Land.
The statements were made on Thursday as the former Minister was addressing councilors after the release of Niwomugisha Anne the Nyamagana Ward Female Councillor who had been arrested on charges thefty and malicious damage of property belonging to Nkunga Adventures Afrika.
Back ground
On 10th June 2021, Central Division and Kisoro Municipal Councilors led by their Speaker Nkurunziza Geofrey stormed Mayors Garden. They demolished structures belonging to Nkunga Adventures Afrika citing Irregularities in the way they acquired permission to start construction work in the mayors garden.
Case filed
According to Information obtained from Kisoro Police Station a case of Malicious damage and theft was filed by a one Munezero Richard the Kisoro district tourism Officer and his colleague.
Summons Issued
As of 12th July 2021, Four councilors had been so far summoned. They are Nlkurunziza Geofrey of Busamba ward LCV Councilor who doubles as speaker, Tumwizere Micheal the Secretary for Education and Health, Anne Niwomugisha and one named after a non-existent name “Kadogo”- Sebitekerezo.
Information obtained by this website indicates that Tumwizere Micheal and Nkurunziza Geoffrey recorded statements and were left to go home as investigations into the matter continue.
Arrests made
It was a different case for Anne, who was detained at a time she went to record a statement.
According to Anne, she was summoned to report to police when she would record a statement. On Wednesday 07th July 2021, in company of other Municipal Councilors, she reported to police ready to record a statement but was chased away by Police claiming that she was with a lot of People.
“We reached Kisoro Central Police station at around 10:00am, I was ready to record a statement, but i was surprised when Police chased me. Of course i had to go back and wait for what would happen next.”Anne narrates.
On the fateful morning of 08th July 2021 Anne was arrested from her home in Kisoro municipality.
According to Anne’s Spouse, at around 06:30 a bang was heard at their gate, the children were awake and they rushed to open the gate to find it was Police.
“Our gate was banged several times, I had to send the children to open, they came back saying it is Police.” Spouse recalls.
The soldiers were late in, he says. On asking them, they said they were looking for Anne who present in the house.
Anne narrates how she was just from bed and therefore needed time to prepare herself, so she had to keep security waiting.
” I was just from bed, i had to first take a shore, from where we left for Police.
What happened at Kisoro central Police Station.
On arrival, I sat and waited for who ever was to record a statement, moreover, I was ready.
Anne says, “I was told to remove my shoes, i removed and entered the cells.”
16 Municipal Councilors, Including the Kisoro district LCV Chairperson Abel Bizimana stormed Kisoro Central Police station demanding for unconditional release of Anne.
Abel Bizimana said that Politics should never be criminalized.
“This case is mere Politics, how comes they (Politicians) are criminalizing this.”Abel Complains.
It is a heated debate, pressure is mounting, the municipal Mayor Ndyana Richard is present not ready to brief the media on what is transpiring.
“Now I am not sure of what to tell the Public, let us first wait for what will come out.” Ndyana Ricahard.
Police briefs Councilors
Minutes later, Police does a briefing, Voice of Muhabura discovers that six People have been sued by Munuzero and his partners on the cases of theft and malicious damage.
The OCCID reveals that they are summoning councilors as a way of proceeding with investigations.
Abel Bizimana demands unconditional release of Anne. He says we need to be treated as leaders not as criminals.
“If leaders who are supposed to be the Voice of the People are the ones being imprisoned, what does that imply- Frustration and intimidation, we shall give up.”
The speaker Nkurunziza Geoffrey calls for quick handling of the case to avoid wasting leaders time, he says they acted in response to a threat that was on government property.
The OCCID, promised to have done all investigations within a week.
Anne’s bond
After recording a statement, at around 12:00pm, she was given a police bond with the sureties being Ndyana Richard and Irankunda Davis his Anne’s spouse.
Merry Making
Councilors jubilated her release from the cells.They gathered for dinner at Bamboo. They were Joined by the Kisoro district Chairperson Abel Bizimana and former Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Tress Bucyanayandi.
In his address, Bucyana said that leaders need to fight for the development of Kisoro Municipality especially the protection of public land. He says availability of government land will enable activation of government projects that require land.
“You need to protect Public land for future government projects.”Bucyana says.
He adds, “I personally advocated for the granting of Kisoro Municipality and therefore seeing it develop would be me my honor.”
Bucyana calls for unity among leaders if Kisoro Municipality and Uganda at large is to develop.
He continues to ask councillors to remain strong despite the hard times saying they will be victors.
“Keep calm, strong but moving you will finally win.”Bucyana
The Kisoro district Chairperson Abel Bizimana revealed the need for Kisoro mayors garden as a breathing space for Kisoro municipality. He asks the Municipal leadership under Mayor Ndyana Richard to develop a better beautification plan for the gardens rather than disposing them off for private use.
Niwomugisha Anne, vowed to do anything in her capacity to protect Public Property in particular Mayors garden.
“Ni wowe utumwe nfungwa, ntuzagende.”Anne says literally meaning that she was imprisoned because Mayors garden and therefore will never let it go.
She adds that the act of Mayor Ndyana Richard standing in for her is mere pretence since he is behind the privatization of Mayors garden.
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