Residents of Namisindwa are demanding greater accountability from their Members of Parliament as the district teeters on the brink.
The frustration is mounting as locals grapple with worsening service delivery issues, compounded by the perceived lack of engagement from their elected representatives.
During the 2021 elections, voters in Namisindwa elected Sarah Kayagi Netalisire as Womam MP, alongside two constituency MPs - John Musila and Apolo Masika - all from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
However, residents now express disappointment as they face challenges such as poor road infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, and limited educational facilities without advocacy from their MPs.
“The Woman MP has just disappeared,” said District Chairperson Jackson Wakwayika.
In a nation where the role of MPs has been made to trascend making laws in the national parliament to building pit-latrines and providing tissues to constuents, the bad state of roads and other wanting amenities is put squarely on the shoulders of MPs.
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The four major roles of Your Member of Parliament
- Legislation: MPs debate and pass laws through which the institutions of Government endeavour to guide the country’s development.
- Representation: MPs represent their constituents’ views in Parliament and bring to the attention of relevant Ministers different matters of national concern.
- Budget approval: MPs analyse and pass (approve) the national budget for every financial year and approve loans.
- Oversight: MPs monitor and bring to the attention of Ministers and the public the misuse of Government funds, violations of the rule of law and unlawful activities.
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Area National Unity Platform (NUP) chairperson Fred Wabomba echoed these concerns, speculating that personal matters, including Kayagi’s strained marriage to James Netalisire, may be contributing to her lack of involvement.
Sources say Netalisire played a key role in Kayagi’s political success.
The district's pressing issues include impassable roads, such as the Kufu-Bukhaweka-Magale and Matwa-Bumbo routes, limited access to safe drinking water, and the absence of a Health Center IV, which is critical for healthcare services in the region.
“We expected at least one new seed school every financial year, but we’ve only seen two,” Wakwayika added, underscoring the unmet educational needs.
Residents feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed, with counselor Fred Maena noting that “there’s a real gap in advocacy for our needs because no one is following up.”
Although the absence of service delivery is not solely the MPs’ responsibility, residents expect them to prioritize their role in parliament and pursue government intervention to improve the situation.
But Ms Kayagi questioned why she was being made the scapegoat in the district's woeful amenities. She wondered if the outburst toward her office means she is the capable MP of the three who could and can lobby for the district.
"My absence in the district doesn't stop other MPs from doing their work unless they are saying that without me nobody can do it," she told the Nile Post.
Ms Kayagi said the district chairperson was elected to lobby for his people in the absence of the legislators and questioned why he was deflecting the responsibility on MPs.
"Wakweika, the chairman, behaves like he doesn't know Kampala. It's been a year since he last called me and the best he does is complain like a little child," she said.
"I saw them show the bad roads in the district and I couldn't believe the capacity of his understanding."
MP Kayagi also raised the issue of the Road Fund, which she said makes it difficult to understand why she is being the subject of the criticism for the poor roads when the funds allocated have not been put to effective use.
The government allocated at least Shs1bn to each district per year for roads rehabilitation projects.
"We allocated Shs1 billion to every district and instead of him [Wakweika] doing the roads, they are busy sharing the money," she said, threatening to provide evidence of financial impropriety.
Ms Kayagi told the leaders in her district to leave her personal life out their criticism, saying they should respect the institution of family and not bring peoples families into politics.
She said she will soon check into the district to "start from were we stopped" and challenged "those who are not satisfied with my performance to feel free to get a better option in the near future".
"Our chairman apportioning blame to MPs is a clear manifestation that he has failed in executing his obligations," Ms Kayagi said.
"During his campaign I never had him say that without MPs he wouldn't be able to deliver for the people of Namisindwa .
"He is the head of our local government as the district chairman, if at all he knows his roles and duties, he is supposed to supervise, lobby and monitor all the government programmes in the district."
Can he give accountability to the people who elected him on what he has done and how he has used the monies sent to the district be4 he cries about mps.
State of roads in Namisindwa. A motorist navigates a broken bridge.
Sounding frustrated, MP Kayagi also said the government gives the district over Shs1.5bn under Parish Development Model and other development programmes, wondering how these monies are invested in the livelihood of the people or if they are waiting for her to personally act on the same too.
"The chairman has failed to provide political supervision and we are unable to utilise the money and when you question them they tell you to focus in Kampala and allow them handle district matters," she said.
"Now they are crying."
Meanwhile, NRM’s Director of Information and Publicity, Emmanuel Lumala Dombo, acknowledged the grievances of Namisindwa residents and confirmed that the party would investigate the matter.
He emphasized the importance of MPs maintaining regular contact with their constituencies to ensure effective representation and oversight of service delivery.
“Every member of parliament is facilitated by the government to ensure they spend time in their constituencies each week, addressing the issues that affect the population,” he stated.
Dombo stressed that MPs’ engagement with their communities is crucial for understanding and addressing local challenges, maintaining party mobilization, and preserving the NRM's reputation.
“As a party, we have a responsibility to ensure that we teach our members to respect party regulations and continuously mobilize in their areas. If they fail to do so, the party risks losing support if voters become disillusioned due to an individual’s conduct,” he added.
As the 2026 parliamentary elections approach, new candidates are already emerging, including former MP Grace Namukhula, signaling a potential shift in leadership amid growing discontent.
With critical issues unresolved, Namisindwa residents’ calls for accountability and better representation have reached a breaking point.