Locals in Mbarara have Monday stormed Mbarara municipality offices protesting the poor service delivery and accusing district officials of misusing resources.
The angry locals demanded that the Mayor of Mbarara Municipality, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi steps down since he has failed on his duty of solving issues affecting people within the municipality.
“Mbarara municipality is rotten, we need its leadership to change right from LC,” said a one Justine Asiimwe.
“There are leaders who came to work for their stomachs but not we the people, the entire leadership is all corrupt right from LC,” she added.
According to the locals, the municipality is at the verge of losing the city status due to poor leadership ranging from corruption, land grabbing, in-fights and politicking.
“Garbage is everywhere, there are no modern constructions, we only hear that Mbarara will become a city, but there is nothing to show for such a status. All roads are impassable,” another resident named Hadijah Nyesigyemukama said.
The protesters held placards and chanted outside the municipality offices. Some proposed Herbert Kamugisha, the NRM vice chairperson who lost the LC V seat in 2016, as a suitable successor for Kakyebezi in the coming 2021 elections.
Residents of Katete Division particularly expressed discontent with the state in which their roads are.
“We need change in leadership because the mayor we have has failed to lead the municipality; we hear Kamugisha is interested in vying for the district Chairperson seat, but we want him to be our Mayor, to drive the municipality forward,” said Mustafa Habubu.
The demonstration follows a directive by State Minister for Local Government Jennifer Namuyangu to the municipality leadership to sort out the internal wrangles or else the district loses out on acquiring city status.
She said this last week during a ‘baraza’ (community engagement meeting) held at Nyamitanga division headquarters in Mbarara municipality.
When contacted for a comment, Mbarara municipality, Kakyebezi said the municipality is ready and deserves city status. .
He condemned the individuals responsible for trading accusations, which he says undermines efforts towards development.
“I know these are my haters. I have implemented several programs and no one will deter me from serving the municipality” Kakyebezi said.