Residents in the Bughendera community have renewed calls for the creation of Bughendera District, urging government to fulfill a presidential promise first made in 2016.
They say the unfulfilled pledge has left them struggling with poor service delivery, poor roads, and limited access to social amenities.
The demand for administrative independence from Bundibugyo District has resurfaced with greater urgency, with residents and local leaders arguing that a new district would bring services closer to the people and accelerate development.
“We are tired of walking long distances just to access basic services,” said Bwambale Benjamin Robert, a teacher at Kisongo Secondary School.
“If Bughendera becomes a district, schools, hospitals, and offices will be within reach. Right now, everything is far and difficult to access.”
Residents point to the region’s rugged Rwenzori terrain and poor road network as major obstacles. They cite the collapse of bridges, such as Nkubbangaale River Bridge, which has repeatedly cut off villages, especially during the rainy season.
“The Nkubbangaale River broke its banks, cutting off entire villages,” said Tungu Jeninasi, a stone quarry worker from Kirindi Village.
“Children can’t go to school, and women can’t reach health centers. We risk our lives crossing flooded waters every day.”
A student added, “When it rains, we can’t attend classes.”
Local leaders say the central government has for years ignored their appeals for autonomy.
“We have been lobbying for a district since the 1990s,” said Thomas Jimwindo, LC1 Chairperson of Ngite Parish.
“Our people are committed and ready for self-administration. What is left is for the government to listen to our outcry.”
Veteran politician and former State Minister for Agriculture Christopher Kibazanga said the demand for a district is long overdue.
“If NRM is about liberating suppressed and marginalized communities, then Bughendera should have been a district forty years ago,” Kibazanga said.
Musa Bamuhare, LC3 Chairperson of Mbatya Subcounty, emphasized that the push for district status is not political but a matter of fairness.
“Service delivery is the biggest challenge here,” he said. “Health workers and teachers are demoralized because they work under harsh conditions. A new district would mean a new beginning — with better planning and attention to local needs.”
Other leaders, including Jowasi Karan, noted that residents often lose lives due to limited access to healthcare.
“When someone gets sick, it’s very hard for them to reach medical services,” Karan said.
Community mobilizer Moris Bandaliza called for unity among leaders to strengthen their case.
“If we stand divided, we will continue to suffer,” he said. “Let us speak with one voice so that Kampala understands this is not a luxury — it’s a necessity.”
However, some district councilors cautioned that new administrative units must be accompanied by proper funding and planning.
“We need to ensure that when Bughendera becomes a district, it is fully funded and functional,” said Sunday Jowasi Karan, District Councilor for Alugare Subcounty. “We don’t want a name without the means.”
Asuma Alufa, LC3 Chairperson of Alugare Subcounty, urged government to act quickly.
“Our people are losing hope,” he said. “Government must act now — not next year, not in another election season.”
Former Minister Kibazanga also dismissed claims that the agitation is tribal, insisting the demand is rooted in the need for better services.
“When the President made the announcement, some people trivialized it as a tribal matter. That’s not the case — this is about service delivery,” he said.
The renewed push for Bughendera District underscores a deep desire among the people for dignity, representation, and development.
Whether their call will finally translate into a new administrative unit remains uncertain — but their voices are growing louder each day.
