By Peter Mabira
Members of the NRM Bazukkulu for PDM Kigezi Chapter in Kanungu District have appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to intervene over a Shs30 million contribution reportedly pledged during the association’s launch on June 6, 2025, which they say remains unfulfilled
The pledge was reportedly made by the President through Honourable Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi, who represented him at the launch. However, more than a year later, the association says it has neither received the money nor obtained clarification on its status.
The leaders said they had written several letters to Dr Baryomunsi seeking his intervention but had not received a response.
“We have written several letters to the minister seeking clarification on the presidential pledge, but we have not received a response. We are now wondering whether the money was released and, if so, where it went,” one of the leaders said.
The concerns emerged on Sunday, October 25, during a visit to the association’s piggery farm, where leaders discussed the project’s achievements and challenges.
Among the members present included Twesigye Nicholas, the Kinkizi West Constituency Coordinator and Chairperson of Nyamirama Subcounty; Mubangizi Francisco, the Kinkizi East All Subcounty Chairpersons Coordinator; Byamugisha Fenehansi, the Greater Kihihi Coordinator,and Ndamuhaki, the Chairperson of Kanungu Town Council.
According to the leaders, the association established the piggery project through members’ own contributions to improve the livelihoods of youth and young mothers by providing piglets for income-generating activities.
They said the Shs30 million contribution was expected to support an ambitious plan to distribute at least 200 piglets to every subcounty each month.
Despite limited resources, the association has distributed piglets to beneficiaries in nearly every subcounty and town council across Kanungu District, with Kirima Subcounty remaining the only area yet to benefit.
However, the leaders said the number of beneficiaries remained limited because the association lacked sufficient resources to expand the programme.
“We started this project using our own resources, and we have managed to distribute piglets to beneficiaries in several parts of the district. The challenge is that we cannot reach as many people as we planned without additional support,” Nicholas said.
In anticipation of the presidential contribution, members constructed additional pig shelters to accommodate more animals. However, the structures remain underutilised and now in a bad state as the association struggles to maintain its existing livestock.
The leaders also expressed concern about the condition of some pigs, attributing it to inadequate feeding.
“We constructed more shelters because we expected to receive the promised support and increase the number of pigs. Unfortunately they are now in a bad state due to prolonged period underutilized,and we are now struggling to feed the animals we already have, due to financial constraints” Fenehansi said.
Mubangizi Francisco, the Kinkizi East All Subcounty Chairpersons Coordinator, appealed to Baryomunsi, who also serves as the area Member of Parliament, to intervene on behalf of constituents who voted him.
He said the project had already improved the livelihoods of some beneficiaries, particularly young people and young mothers, and deserved support to reach more households.
“We appeal to our area MP to help us follow up on this matter. The project has already helped some of our people, and with adequate support, we can extend these benefits to many more households,” Ms Ndyamuhaki said.
The leaders also called upon President Museveni and other relevant authorities to establish the status of the Shs30 million pledge and help the association resume its planned expansion.
Timely intervention would protect the progress made through members’ personal contributions and enable the project to achieve its goal of promoting household incomes and economic empowerment across the region.
