Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire has blasted President Museveni for splitting original districts to please voters yet the idea has not helped in developing the areas.
Gen Otafiire while using greater Bushenyi district as an example said that those who spearheaded the split Bushenyi did more harm than good.
Speaking at the belated NRM 31st anniversary celebrations, in Bushenyi where he was, chief guest last Friday, Gen Otafiire said that the challenges such as lack of a resident judge and district service commission the district is facing are consequences of the split.
It should be remembered that Gen Otafiire openly opposed the split of greater Bushenyi arguing then, that the district would have developed faster if it remained intact. Five districts of Mitooma, Rubirizi, Buhweju, Sheema and Bushenyi were curved out of greater Bushenyi in 2010 as president Museveni delivered on the promises of giving the respective areas district status.
Currently, the country continues to experience more district splits with recent district to be split being Kabale which gave birth to Rubanda.
Other districts that were knifed include Mbarara which gave birth to Isingiro, Kiruhuura, and Ibanda districts.
The others are Kagadi and Kakumiro which were curved out of Kibaale, Omoro from Guru, and Nabilatuk from Nakapiripirit among others.
“You know I have never believed in splitting up Bushenyi. I refused and now you remember what I told you. When you go to Mitooma, you know what is there. Recently I heard that the chairman was chased away and he ran like an athlete. Here in Bushenyi, I saw your compound which is like a deserted national park,” said Gen Otafiire.
Otafiire added that the districts curved out of Bushenyi continue to grapple with issues.
“In Nsiika (Buhweju), it’s as if they have not yet received a district. In Sheema, they have been in religious wars and Rubirizi is also not safe, and I told you. These problems would have been solved if we were one. I saw people struggling to form districts; I looked at them and laughed.”
Gen Otafiire sent a veiled attack at the president, saying that he should take the example of societies in China and Brazil which have grown as a result of their large populations.
