The Entebbe Municipal Council on Tuesday held a community engagement in Central Division to bridge the gap between leaders and residents, with top officials vowing to address concerns on PDM, road construction, health services and job opportunities.
The baraza brought together Entebbe Municipality MP Hon. Shyaka Stephen Gashaija, Mayor Fabrice Rulinda, Town Clerk Emmanuel Mugisha Gakyalo, Deputy RDC Frank Kyazze, division chairpersons, councillors, technical staff and residents.
MP Gashaija said the oversight was meant to ensure government programs reach “the very last person” in Entebbe, a special municipality where the President resides.
“Our mayor, town clerk, and municipal council are conducting oversight to assess their performance. They have called upon the community to see what the challenges are that they are facing in PDM, roads, health sector, and police,” Gashaija said.
He noted that residents raised issues of high hospital costs, X-ray charges, and delays in PDM funds.
“All the issues that are being raised, we are addressing them from here, and we are also taking notes to ensure that at the next consultative meeting we come with viable answers. I can assure you, there is going to be a very big difference in the Entebbe municipality,” Gashaija noted.
The Entebbe Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Frank Kyazze, said the barazas are aimed at fighting misinformation and strengthening service delivery. He announced plans to take the engagements to all 24 villages and 4 parishes in Entebbe.
On PDM, Kyazze was categorical: “PDM as a program is a one-way ticket. It has no return. It is a must-win program. Anybody who thinks that is going to fool around with PDM must look for some other area to go to.”
He also addressed corruption in Emyooga, revealing that arrests have been made. “The biggest problem we had was with Emyooga; 90% were swindled out of money. We have involved anti-corruption, police, and CID. We have made arrests, and the people have been sentenced to prison. We are even going to carry out deportations.”
On security, Kyazze said operations will continue to curb thefts. “Those who want to come and destabilise Entebbe, please be warned because Entebbe has no room for that type of nuisance.”
Town Clerk Emmanuel Mugisha Gakyalo said the baraza is a critical feedback platform for local government.
“For us as public officers, as implementers of government programs, to account to the people, to listen to them, to get feedback. We must interact and engage with the local citizens.”
He acknowledged that PDM funding has been insufficient but expressed optimism after the government pledged to double allocations for urban areas. “There’s a lot of interest in the program. Everyone wants to access the funding.”
Residents used the platform to present long-standing grievances.
Odonkara Jasper Odida, 72, a former Uganda Airlines worker, said the ongoing Kitooro-Nakiwogo road construction is cracking his house. “Caterpillars are coming closer now. It’s almost one and a half meters from my house… We are really worried.”
Mayor Rulinda promised to meet affected residents with the engineer within days.
Odonkara also decried the lack of elderly grants and bias in job recruitment at Entebbe institutions. “Our children studied with the money from our salary at CAA and Uganda Airlines. When they apply, jobs are given to other people.” Rulinda responded: “I have an open-door policy for recommendations for children of Entebbe, so you should ask them to come, and we will give them recommendations.”
Desi Mukamazera raised the poor state of Nabbosa Road. Mayor Rulinda said it is on the “next round of roads to be fixed.
What’s Next
Leaders said the barazas will continue across all divisions. The next engagement is scheduled for Division B.
“We move together. The Entebbe we want should be the Entebbe we build together as a group,” Kyazze concluded.
