Fort Portal Municipality Mayor gives accountability

On 31^st May 2014, the mayor of Fort Portal Municipality Hon Asaba Edson Ruyonga appeared on HITS FM to give accountability to the local citizens. “We are planning to develop trading centers that are around Fort Portal municipality like Kacwamba, Kibimba, Kitumba, Kasusu, Katentebere, Harubaaho, among others. We plan to build stored buildings in such places and we are also liaising with the central government to construct housing estates so as to persuade the local people to leave villages and move to urban centers for quick development”. Hon Asaba was discussing on ToroDev’s supported live radio program called ‘Orukurato Program’ that discusses issues of accountability every Sunday (08:00 – 10:00)pm.

Fort Portal Town

During the program, Hon Asaba went ahead to highlight some of the plans that are being targeted by the municipal council. “As a municipal council, we are planning to build more markets so as to create job opportunities for the youths, get land titles for all district land so as to control encroachment and grabbing of this land, improve agriculture through supporting urban agriculture, lobby for the up grading of Kataraka Health Center IV to a hospital, among others”.

Hon Asaba further highlighted some of the roads to be constructed and opened. “We are planning to construct Rukidi III Road, Kaboyo Road, Mugunu Lorry – Bus Park , among others. We are also planning to tarmac Tibeyalirwa Road in East Division and also construct a marram road at Kitumba Sub County for lorry parking.  Some of the roads that we plan to open include Makole Road, Kibale Road, Kitumba yard Road, Nyakaseke Road, Kabafumu Road, and Kitumba P/s – Mukonomura Road, all in Fort Portal Municipality”.

Meanwhile, the Hon Mayor appealed to the local citizens of Fort Portal Municipality to take part in the national census for easy planning. “We are approaching the national census, all citizens should be responsible and make sure that they take part in this activity so that the municipality lobbies more funds from the central government for easy and effective planning”.

Local citizens also participated in the live radio discussion through call ins to raise their issues and concerns. “I thank the Hon Mayor for giving us that accountability”, said a caller from Kyaruhazi Sub County, “Leaders should first lobby for better roads, health centers, schools, and markets before thinking of constructing buildings”, said a caller from Fort Portal Municipality, “We need road humps along Nyakigumba Trading Center because of the many accidents that have cost people’s lives”, said a caller from Kisomoro Sub County, “We want leaders to tell us what they have done/delivered to the people and not what they are planning to do”, said Ian from Kitumba Sub County.

The live radio discussion was moderated by Mr. Kasigazi Willy Donanto and is supported by SIDA/CIPESA and SPIDER/Stockholm University on a project aimed at using appropriate ICT tools to promote democratic engagement in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.