Kabarole district leaders divided over city status

Bridget Kabahenda

A row has erupted between Karambi sub county residents, their sub county councillors and Kabarole district leaders over denial to annex Karambi sub county to Fort Portal Municipality which is up for a city status.

Residents accuse Karambi sub county councillors of being influenced by the Burahya county MP Margret Muhanga to take this stand in exchange for a town council.

The accusations follow Karambi sub county councilors boycotting an extra ordinary council meeting that had been planned to discuss the annexing the sub county to the municipality.

For three hours the councillor's seats were vacant.

Out of 19 councillors that make up the council, only five turned up which raised the anger of the residents who had come to attend the same meeting.

After hours of waiting the angry residents mobilised themselves marched with placards to Kabarole district headquarters where the district leaders were meeting with officials from the ministry of Housing and Urban Development over the city status issue.

They told the meeting that some leaders are fronting their selfish personal interests than representing the majority who voted for them threatening to move a vote of no confidence in the councillors who shunned the council meeting.

Richard Rwabuhinga, the Kabarole district chairperson, told the prompt meeting that leaders with diverse thinking had selected and agreed on the sub counties to be annexed. These include: Ibaale parish in Busoro sub county, Karago town council, Karambi sub county and Bukuku.