The arrest of Bugiri municipal council mayor, Ayub Kisubi, and the area National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairperson, Sayyid Kagere, has sparked controversy in Busoga East. The two were detained on Monday following protests against the government’s delay in releasing funds for the rehabilitation of dilapidated roads.
Prior to their arrest, Kisubi emphasized the responsibility entrusted to them by the electorate to ensure efficient service delivery, particularly in transportation, health, and education. He highlighted how poor road conditions negatively impact economic activities, hindering the timely transportation of goods and services.
“Bugiri is one of the strategic towns located near the Uganda-Kenya boarder, but this comparative advantage has not benefited the residents since the poor roads have frustrated bussiness resilience in the area,” he said. Kagere echoed similar sentiments, expressing concern over the adverse effects of poor roads on agribusiness enterprises and the overall revenue generation in the area.
He questioned the government’s decision to approve the creation of a municipality in Bugiri without adequate funds for its development and improvement of services. “Government’s failure to service the needs of the community is frustrating our mobilization efforts, because it is hard to convince the people that their government is good yet it cannot address their needs,” he said.
The peaceful protest escalated into chaos as members of the public joined in to block major roads and disrupt traffic. Police intervened by dispersing the protesters using tear gas and live ammunition, leading to the arrest of Kisubi and Kagere, identified as the leaders of the demonstration.
According to Bugiri district police commander, Godwin Ochaki, the protesters failed to seek police clearance prior to the protest, resulting in disruptions to the operations of others in the area. Ochaki described the protest as non-peaceful, citing chaotic scenes and threats to community members’ well-being and property destruction.
Kisubi and Kagere were detained at Bugiri central police station on charges of organizing an illegal assembly and destruction of property. The incident has raised concerns about the balance between citizens’ rights to peaceful protest and maintaining public order, underscoring the underlying tensions surrounding infrastructure development and governance in the region.
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