LC5 boss canes locals over community work

The district leader raids homes and bars, forcing people to work on feeder roads and to open up trenches.

Lwengo- Residents of Nakalinzi and Lwentamu villages in Lwengo District had it rough on Monday after the district chairman, Mr George Mutabaazi, caned them for reportedly refusing to participate in voluntary community work commonly known as bulungi bwansi.

Mr Mutabaazi, who was accompanied by police officers, raided several homes and kiosks, beat up residents, and directed them to take up their tools and clear bushes along feeder roads in their areas.

Those caned were found in bars, while others were found working in their gardens together with their children of school-going age.

Motorcycles and bicycles found near bars were also impounded by the chairperson, who accused their owners of drinking very early in the morning.

“For the last four days, we had announcements running on a village mobile public address system and these people were clearly deliberately disobeying our laws,” Mr Mutabaazi told Daily Monitor.

“Even the village chairpersons are to blame. They fear talking to their people about doing community work or constructing latrines and sending their children to school just because they want to get votes,” he added.

Defiant leaders
“I want everybody to get a sense of ownership of the roads and all our wells and that it is our duty to keep them working. I don’t care if they don’t vote for me next time; what I want is work”.

Mr Mutabaazi also criticised the parents for failing the UPE programme by keeping their children at home to work in the gardens.

Mr Michael Katabalwa, a 60-year-old resident of Nakalinzi village, criticised Mr Mutabaazi’s action. “It humiliates people and violates their rights. Instead, he should just talk to them. He will be voted out,” Mr Katabalwa said.

However, several residents applauded the chairperson for restoring “sanity and orderliness” in the villages.
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