Seven years of political fights crippling development in Mitooma

MITOOMA. Ever since its establishment in July 2010, Mitooma District leaders have been engaged in endless infighting and wrangles that have led to slow development of the area.
Top district leaders such as Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, the district chairperson, Mr Benon Karyeija, and Ruhinda MP (Rtd) Capt Donozio Kahonda are supposed to rally others for development projects and enhance improvement of the social economic status of residents have instead been pre-occupied with politicking.
The jostling has polarised the electorate into political camps that have since paralysed service delivery and other development initiatives.
Having served for a year in his current term, Mr Karyeija was deposed by the district council. He has been the district chairperson for the past seven years.
The council followed recommendations of the report from Justice David Matovu’s tribunal which found Mr Karyeija culpable of failing to implement council resolutions.
Mr Karyeija had been accused of hiring a driver without approval of the District Service Commission and selling mined earth at Rukukuru Prison whose proceeds were not declared to the district finance office. He was also accused of changing work plans for construction of a primary school.
In September last year, his office was allegedly burnt by residents protesting the establishment of a court at Rukukuru, arguing that the place was not convenient for many people in the district. When the council convened to rescind the decision on the location of the court premises, a section of councillors filed allegations of abuse of office against Mr Karyeija.
Local Government minister instituted a tribunal to investigate the claims.
Mr Karyeija appealed against his dismissal and Justice Margaret Oumo Oguli of the Civil Division Court in Kampala on August 2, reinstated him on grounds that the dismissal process did not follow the right procedure.
The Attorney General and district represented by clerk to council whom Mr Karyeija had sued; appealed the Civil Division court ruling.
The deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma then directed that Mr Karyeija vacate his office until August 18 when court would further pronounce itself on the matter.
“The matter was rescheduled to be heard later this month because Justice Kavuma was on August 18 away, so we are waiting,” Mr Karyeija told Daily Monitor on Monday.
Mr Karyeija accused Gen Otafiire of being behind his troubles; influencing some local residents and district council to turn against him, and setting up legal hurdles.
He said their fighting began when he (Karyeija) started championing splitting of Bushenyi in 2006.
“Mbarara had just been split into four and they had about 45 students going on university quota, many jobs had been created. But Gen Otafiire sternly refused, and even influenced my removal from the LC5 vice chairperson seat,” Mr Karyeija said.
Capt Kahonda, who defeated Gen Otafiire in the race for Ruhinda parliamentary seat in the February 2016 general elections is also battling court cases which he claims have been orchestrated by Gen Otafiire.
He was on June 8 convicted of forgery and uttering of false academic documents (when he was joining the army) by Chief Magistrate Court in Jinja and sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
He however, appealed against the ruling in the High Court and was on July 24 granted bail. Speaking to Daily Monitor on Monday, Gen Kahonda said the cases were brought against him when he declared intentions to stand against Gen Otafiire. “The letter to Mr Tanga Odoi (the NRM electoral commission chairman) was copied to Gen Otafiire. Mr Odoi’s response to claims of forged academic papers was also addressed to Gen Otafiire, I have copies,” Capt Kahonda alleged.
Capt Kahonda advised leaders to work together for peace and development of the area.
Gen Otafiire could not be reached on Tuesday to respond to claims of fighting the two leaders.
But he had earlier denied allegations of orchestrating Capt Kahonda’s prosecution.
At the burial of Edward Rurangaranga in Kitagata Sheema District on August 5, Gen Otafiire told mourners: “There are those who say I imprisoned Capt Kahonda, there is the law and courts are there to decide. They will determine whether he committed the offence or not.”