The new week starts for Buikwe Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Hawa Ndege Namugenyi to resume the assigned duties as residents continue to demand for her removal from office.
On Thursday, residents from different villages in Buikwe stormed the district headquarters protesting the dubious dealings conducted by the RDC’s office.
Residents were carrying placards with messages “We are tired of the corrupt RDC” among others reading “We need new reasonable RDC”.
Locals complained of misery caused by the office of the RDC. They accused Ndege of soliciting money ranging from two to three million to respond to their concerns. They noted that she always collects money through his deputy and sometimes secretaries.
Babirye Brenda, a local from Kiyindi in Najja Sub County noted that the RDC declined to handle their land concern until payment of two million shillings she had saved to seek employment opportunity abroad, but again the land matter has never been solved.
“The RDC insisted that I should pay for her to intervene in the wrangle which had targeted our land. Even when I raised the two million, she sent me back for an additional and I had to borrow the one million.”
Babirye adds that all officials from RDC’s office have their stake including the secretary to print out a letter; at least one has to pay 15, 000 or 20, 000 shillings.
Sebanakitta Stephen, another resident of Busabaga cell in Lugazi Municipality, Buikwe district reveals that he was asked to pay ten million shillings for his matter to be handled.
“The money was delivered through the RDC’s deputy who identified himself as Isaac, They asked for 10 million promising that once that is paid, I will regain possession of my land.” Ssebanakita notes.
The demonstration came at the time when the family of the Late Alexander Kiwombojjo is counting losses after a group of land dealers sprayed their sugarcane plantation with dangerous chemicals on orders of the RDC.
The family had so far invested over 37 million to establish the sugarcane plantation.
When contacted on a telephone, the RDC denied the accusations, saying the demonstration was politically fuelled by some leaders in the district. When asked about the accusations of dubious dealings, she switched off the telephone.
Recently, the RDC was confronted by the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Nankunda Mutasingwa for conducting an illegal eviction of a resident at Naava Cell in Njeru Municipality of Buikwe District.
The RDC had mobilized a team of security personnel comprising army and police officers to escort a group of self-claimed bailiffs (not registered) to demolish the house of Simon Herbert Alideki without a court order and a district security committee endorsement.
Despite the incident happening, the minister has been criticized by the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Office of the Presidency, Hajji Yunus Kakande for direct confrontation.
Hajji Kakande reasoned that the minister would have reported the RDC to their office for action rather than embarrassing her in the public.
“Once the minister finds out that the RDC is illegally involved in dubious dealings, she should inform us and then place charges against the accused but it is not good to do direct confrontation in the field.” Hajji Kakande noted.
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