Rukiga youth leaders accused of selling President Museveni’s heifers

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Three out of the 16 heifers donated to Rukiga district youth leaders by President Yoweri Museveni have allegedly been sold by the beneficiaries. The heifers were donated in July 2018 under a drive to improve the livelihood of youth leaders in the district.

The beneficiaries included nine youth council members, two councilors and five members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), party youth league.

However, three of the youth leaders have sold the heifers to Kamwezi Sub County Chairperson Teddyson Niwagaba. Those who have allegedly sold include Youth Chairperson Gibbs Barigayomwe, Female Youth Councilor Barbra Ainebyoona and Secretary for sports Unity Nyeturiize.

According to Rukiga District Youth Chairperson Alexander Kampikaho, investigations indicate that the heifers were sold at various costs ranging between 1 million to 1.5 million Shillings. Kampikaho adds that the act is considered sabotage of government’s poverty eradication programme.

Youth councilor Michael Kwarikunda Mbareeba describes the act as very unfortunate and adds that the three leaders should have reverted to Operation Wealth Creation and other agricultural officials in case they got challenges in maintaining the heifers.

Teddyson Niwagaba, the Kamwezi Sub County Chairperson who is said to have bought all the three heifers declined to comment on the matter and so did the Ainebyoona and Nyeturiize. But Rukiga District Youth Chairperson Gibbs Barigayomwe dismisses reports that he sold the heifer, although he says that caring for the heifers is becoming a challenge because they are prone to diseases.

****

URN