By Mununi Paul Kazira
apearlnews.com
The Priest of Kitanga Parish in Kabale Diocese Rev. Fr. Gaetano Batanyenda has scoffed at President Museveni’s call for African Political integration, saying that Uganda is a typical example of a disintegrated African community.
Fr. Gaetano who is also the Vice Chairperson of Kick Corruption Out of Uganda KICK-U was reacting to Museveni’s Inauguration speech in which he repeated his call for African Unity as the most effective way of tackling the social-economic challenges faced by the African race.
While addressing delegates at his sixth swearing in ceremony as president of Uganda, Museveni said, that economic and, where possible, political integration in Africa, is the best alternative, if the leaders are to address the issue of the prosperity and strategic security of Africans.
Whereas Fr. Gaetano agrees that African Political Integration is long overdue, he notes that Museveni should not be the one to call for it because he has supervised disintegration of Uganda into several political districts and constituencies, for the last 35 years.
At independence in 1962, Uganda had only 18 districts. When the National Resistance Movement captured power in 1986, the number had increased to 33. Today, Uganda has 146 districts more than 10 cities and 353 constituencies.
Fr. Gaetano, also downplayed the plan by Rukiga District Council to split Rukiga County into two constituencies.
On 6th May 2021, Rukiga District passed a motion to split Rukiga County into Rukiga North and Rukiga South.
Pauline Mugyenyi Rugyira, the district female councilor for Kashambya sub-county who presented the motion to split the county, said the move was intended to have more representation in parliament for improved lobbying and service delivery.
However, Fr. Gaetano says splitting Rukiga County would only be intended to politically divide the community within Rukiga District.
Rukiga district started its operations in July 2017 after being curved out of Kabale district. Since then, it remained both a county and a district.
