A dispute has arisen between David Kwesiga Bahati, the State Minister for Trade Industry and Cooperatives, and local leaders in Kabale district regarding the utilization of a 1 billion shilling road fund.
Kabale district was allocated 1 billion shillings for the rehabilitation of roads during the 2023/2024 financial year. However, Minister Bahati has publicly questioned why the funds were released without corresponding work being visible on the ground.
He specifically highlighted the deteriorated state of the Nyombe-rwenkorongo road, which connects Rubaya-Kahungye and Butanda sub-counties.
Bahati blamed district councilors for neglecting their duty to advocate for road rehabilitation and instead focusing on less crucial matters. He threatened to conduct public meetings in communities to demand accountability from district leaders regarding the fund’s whereabouts and the delay in road repairs.
In response, Nelson Nshangabasheija, a local leader in Kabale, countered Bahati’s accusations by citing the delayed release of funds as a major challenge. He suggested that instead of criticizing councilors on the ground, Bahati should advocate for timely fund disbursement from the central government.
Boaz Kakuru, the Kabale District Planning Officer, attributed the delay in starting road works to heavy rains earlier in the year. Despite this setback, Kakuru reassured the public that all planned road projects would proceed as scheduled.
Tensions escalated during a recent council session when Nelson Nshangabasheija, the Kabale District LC5 Chairman, faced criticism from Speaker Flavia Nyinakiiza Kanagyizi. Kanagyizi accused Nshangabasheija of providing misleading information during his state of the district address, particularly regarding the status of road rehabilitations. She asserted that despite his claims, there was no tangible evidence of road improvements on the ground.
