Masindi leaders renew call to President Museveni on hospital, market

Masindi: Leaders from Masindi district have asked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to construct for them a modern hospital and market, install streetlights in the town, and extend electricity to rural areas, mostly Kijunjubwa and Kimengo subcounties.

While representing the concerns, the Minister State for Youth and Children Affairs, Dr. Balaam Barugahara, stressed that Masindi Hospital is in a pathetic situation and needs urgent intervention.

‘’President, Masindi General Hospital is in a pathetic situation; we are requesting you construct for us a modern hospital to save lives,’’ he stressed, adding, ‘’Shs 500 million was released for the construction of the hospital, but the UPDF brigade said they wouldn’t commence the work since the funds were not enough.’’

He also noted that though the people of Masindi have embraced business, they still lack a modern market and also electricity in subcounties, mostly Kijunjubwa and Kimengo Subcounty, which are cattle corridors.

‘’Our women have received funds from government programs, but the market is congested and in a pathetic situation. Mr. President, the people of Masindi are requesting you construct for them a modern market; the space we have can accommodate over 2,000 business operators.’’ Barugahara said.

The call was made on Friday September 20, 2024 during the president’s meeting with the leaders from the Bunyoro subregion aimed at tackling youth unemployment and promoting community development held at Balaam’s five-star hotel gardens.

Matia Kasaija, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, stressed that after visiting the hospital and discovering that it was congested and mothers giving birth on the floor, they released about one billion for the initial start of the construction project.

‘’About two years ago I visited Masindi General Hospital; pregnant mothers were delivering on the floor, and recently we released one billion shillings to kick-start the construction of structures at Masindi Hospital.’’

Matia, however, assured the people of Masindi that the hospital will be constructed, noting that they are planning with the health ministry, assuring the public that construction will commence.

This commitment comes after concerns were raised about the delay in commencing construction, despite the 50 billion shillings earmarked for the project in 2022.

Victoria Rusoke, the State Minister for Local Government, said that the government is currently constructing markets in the border districts, and thereafter other markets will be considered.

Cosmas Byaruhanga, the LCV chairperson, used this opportunity and reminded the president of the presidential pledges that he hasn’t fulfilled in Masindi.

They included the construction of the Masindi-Rwensororo road, which connects Masindi and Kyankwanzi districts; the construction of the St. Joseph Kikingura Memorial Secondary School in Bwijanga subcounty; and the construction of the Nyantonzi Catholic Church and Nyantonzi Church of Uganda, which were destroyed during the NRA war.

President Museveni, however, urged that demanding roads, electricity, and hospitals may not necessarily solve their household income problems.

“There’s a difference between development and wealth. The government can develop the country by offering better services such as roads, electricity, and hospitals, among other infrastructure, but it cannot put food on your table or create wealth for you; you need to work to kick poverty out of your homes,” he said.

Museveni also pledged the extension of electricity to the subcounties of Kimengo and Kijunjubwa and advised the people of Masindi to engage in productive activities such as poultry and cattle keeping rather than waiting for power and good roads.

‘’When I get back to the office, my people will look into your memoranda and respond accordingly, but these small pledges like shs20 million for boda boda riders, shs.260 million to rehabilitate the historical Kabalega Primary School, and 14 tractors in the SACCOs of religious institutions in the region will be soon fulfilled,’’ he said.

After meeting the leaders, President Museveni had a rally at Golf Grounds, where he rallied and asked the leaders and the public to spread the gospel of wealth creation, saying that the government has rolled out numerous programs to elevate people from poverty.

He reiterated to the youths that the antidote for poverty is wealth, which moves hand in hand with development and the creation of jobs. He urged the people to differentiate between development, which benefits all, and wealth, which benefits an individual or family.

“Wealth enables you to construct yourself a good house. Even if you have electricity in the area, you will not have it in your home if you don’t have money to pay for it. Even if we make the roads, it will not take away the poverty in your home. A tarmac road will pass by your home, and you will remain poor,” H.E. Museveni said, giving an example of the people in many of the areas that have witnessed good roads across the Bunyoro subregion but have remained poor.

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