Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) Parliamentary aspirant for Ruhaama County, Gerald Karakure Muchureezi, has intensified his campaign through door-to-door mobilisation and practical community engagement aimed at empowering citizens to take responsibility for their own development.
Muchureezi on Tuesday joined residents of Butaare Parish in Mugwanjura Village, Ntungamo Sub County, to clear a blocked drainage channel and repair a collapsing bridge that had become impassable following heavy rains.
He said his campaign approach is anchored in community responsiveness and hands-on involvement.
“I move door to door making people understand what they should do and what their responsibilities should be. From Kahunga to Kitembe we have about seven bridges and they are in a bad state. Because of the rains, the bridge is damaged,” he said.
Muchureezi urged citizens to embrace collective responsibility, stressing that sustainable development begins with local action.
“When I am engaging the people in villages, I call them and engage them to have collective responsibility so that in case anything happens, we should have a quick solution as the people as we wait onto the government to intervene. We have to always educate the people so that they know that it is their responsibility first,” he emphasized.
The ANT aspirant said his political message seeks to shift Uganda’s political culture from one driven by money and handouts to one built on citizen participation and shared problem-solving.
“As ANT, our goal is to establish a political organization that can transform the political culture of this country," Muchureezi said.
"The political culture of this country is based on money, political excitement, and gatherings that are monetary, with people receiving handouts. But my strategy is moving to the people on the ground. I believe when you do so, you get to sit and listen to their issues and challenges as you find solutions."
He added that if elected, he intends to narrow the gap between Parliament and the local people.
“If I become the Member of Parliament, I want to bring the Parliament from Kampala to the people so that they understand how they should be governed,” he stated.
Local leaders welcomed Muchureezi’s initiative but expressed concern over the deteriorating state of the Mugwanjura bridge, which has disrupted transport and trade in the area.
Edward Bankyeneka, the LC1 chairperson of Mugwanjura, said, “We are here working on this Mugwanjura bridge but we ask the authorities to intervene. This bridge will kill us.”
Annette Kyomuhangi, the Mugwanjura village vice chairperson, said the bridge’s condition has severely affected farmers and traders.
“Our people have been affected. This road is used for business and trade since we have so much coffee here. Farmers have nowhere to pass to take their produce to markets. When it rains, the road worsens,” she said.
On the ground, residents armed with pangas, hoes, and slashers joined hands to clear debris and unblock water pathways.
A large hole had already formed in the bridge, raising fears of accidents and prompting calls for urgent intervention by district authorities and engineers.
