President Museveni hands over a bucket of water to area MP Jack Sabiit

President Museveni hands over a bucket of water to area MP Jack Sabiiti after launching Muhanga Town Pipe Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme in Rukiga County yesterday. PHOTO BY ROBERT MUHEREZA

By Robert Muhereza

IN SUMMARY

The FDC strongman also praises the NRM government for developments in his constituency.

Kabale

Former national treasurer for the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Mr Jack Sabiiti, has hailed President Museveni for causing development.

Mr Sabiiti, who is also the MP for Rukiga County in Kabale District, further asked for the President’s support to complete the construction of Muhanga Progressive a secondary school founded by the church. He also asked for the tarmacking of Muhanga Kisizi-Rukungiri road.

Mr Sabiiti was on Wednesday welcoming President Museveni to his constituency at Nyeikunama Primary School playgrounds in Muhanga Town Council. “I want to thank you Mr President for causing development in my constituency especially extending power lines, clean water projects and good feeder roads. I thank you because you have demonstrated good leadership skills. FDC and NRM party supporters in my constituency are working in harmony for development,” Mr Sabiiti said.

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who also hails from Kabale, publicly asked Mr Sabiiti to return to the NRM officially because he is welcome.

President Museveni thanked Mr Sabiiti for appreciating development in his constituency, an achievement of the NRM government and also promised to fund the completion of Muhanga Progressive as requested. “He has used good language. Ariheihi okuhuguka (It seems he is about to return to his home). Now that he has started speaking the language of the men I will fulfill his requests,” President Museveni said.

President Museveni also asked the Bakiga to use modern methods of farming such as growing temperate fruits, Arabic coffee, poultry and tea on their fragmented pieces of land for food security and household incomes. He officially opened the Muhanga town piped water supply and sanitation scheme constructed with funds from the European Union in partnership with the government of Uganda and its targeted to benefit 9,000 people for more than 20 years. A total of Shs2.349 billion has been used for its construction.

President Museveni also presided over the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of modern theatre and maternity ward at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital worth Shs22 billion funded by the Japanese government with support from government of Uganda. He asked the medical personnel in the country to prioritise health education as a means of reducing diseases amongst the local population. He also asked them to be patient as government works on their salary increment issues.

He also commissioned the construction of a 2.4km road section in the middle of Kabale town where residents immediately called off their intended demonstration that was scheduled for today.

The Uganda National Roads Authority communications manager, Mr Dan Allinange, said Shs8 billion has been budgeted for the construction of this road section and it is expected to be complete with in 6 months.

President Museveni also presided over the official closure of a two-day youth conference at Kigezi College Butobere, visited a tea nursery bed owned by Mr Frank Byaruhanga with 17.39 billion seedlings worth Shs2.5b and employes 1500 workers that earn Shs9.2m per day before addressing a public rally at Kabale main stadium.

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