Locals, leaders clash over creation of new villages in Kayabwe town council

A security meeting which was convened on Friday to find solutions to escalating reports of crime in Kayabwe Town Council, Mpigi District resulted into a fist fight between local leaders and residents.

Katonga Regional Police Commander, Bernard Akankwasa, and the Mpigi District Police Commander, Joab Wabwire, who presided over the meeting were forced to intervene and stop the fight that ensued after leaders attempted to stop some residents from expressing their views.

It all started when Mr Isaiah Kimbugwe, the chairperson Kayabwe Parish, attacked Mr Joseph Yiga, a businessman accusing him of raising the issue of creation of new villages which was not part of the agenda.

“That was not part of the agenda,” Mr Kimbugwe roared as he jumped to grab a microphone from Mr Yiga. DPC Wabwire quickly intervened and stopped the fight

Kayabwe town was recently declared among the new town councils and a section of residents together with some leaders headed by Nkozi Sub County Chairperson Paul Lubega suggested that new villages and other lower units should be created from the original five villages. This was opposed by Kimbugwe and a section of other village chairpersons in Kayabwe parish.

Mr Yiga who was supported by some people claimed that since Kayabwe developed from a mere parish to a town board and now a town council with the population growing from only 2000 in 1983 to now over 15, 000, it was obvious to have smaller administrative units for leaders to easily control and monitor the area.

Jandira Village chairperson also in Kayabwe Parish, Mr Emmanuel Nsubuga challenged Mr Yiga and his group saying that the cause of insecurity in Kayabwe town council was not the size of the villages.

“When a man and a woman develop a misunderstanding in their home, it does not call for the intervention of another man,” Mr Nsubuga said.

The meeting was meant to curb the increasing criminal incidents in the heart of the town council including theft of boda-bodas and house break-ins among other cases.

“The police have not done their best to reduce crime, giving a chance to the criminals to terrorise us,” Mr Huzairu Kalule, a boda-boda cyclist said.

He claimed that in the past one year, six cyclists were killed, ten were seriously injured and are now disabled and a total of 50 motorcycles have been stolen.

Mr Akankwasa urged residents to reject new settlers who come to their villages without introduction letters from where they have been residing.

“I also implore all of you to adopt the neighbourhood watch strategy in the fight against crime because the police does not have enough manpower to patrol each and every household at ago,” he said.

Mr Akankwasa requested residents to hand over the list of suspected criminals to police if they have enough evidence to pin them.

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