Mitooma District Headquarters Torched

By Serestino Tusingwire

Angry residents of Mitooma District on Wednesday morning set ablaze the office of the LC5 chairperson, Mr Benon Karyeija.

The greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson Martial Tumusiime, said that unknown residents who were protesting the construction of the prisons and police headquarters in Rukukuuru, are suspected to have been involved in the burning of the office.

He added that no one has been arrested in connection with the incident.

The district council last month passed a resolution permitting the construction of the district prisons and police headquarters on government land in Rukukuuru, a development opposed by a cross section of residents under their group, Mitooma Stakeholders Forum.

The stakeholders petitioned the district speaker, saying the proposed site was far from the district headquarters, which is contrary to the original intention of creation of Mitooma District as a way of bringing services closer to the people of Mitooma.

During a meeting in Mitooma Town Council on August 27, the stakeholders proposed that the offices of both prisons and police be built opposite Mitooma Town Council offices or Ruhinda Market in Ijumo.

“Rukukuuru is located at the extreme border of Mitooma and Bushenyi districts, which becomes unfair for the people living in the sub-counties of Myanga, Rurehe, Kanyabwanga, Kiyanga, etc. In our opinion as stakeholders, the said construction should be put on halt until a consultative meeting with the opinion leaders is held,” the letter reads in parts.

Tumusiime said police has already started investigations into the matter and will be able to give more information soon.