Bugwere, (UG):- The embattled Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr Monica Musenero Masanza encountered a setback as clan heads in Bugwere shunned a meeting she organized regarding the harmonization of the institution leadership, citing ongoing confusion within the region.
The meeting, convened by purported Chairman Watolya Vincent and Secretary Galandi Paul Emmy on behalf of Dr Monica Musenero Masanza, aimed to address key stakeholders in Bugwere, including Chairpersons of LC V from Pallisa, Kibuku, Budaka, and Butebo districts, District Police Commanders, Resident District Commissioners, Members of Parliament, the Regional Police Commander, and seventy-seven Clan heads of Bugwere.
However, the Minister was met with empty chairs at Three Days Hotel in Butebo as only seven out of over eighty invitees attended.
The absence was attributed to the belief that Dr Monica Musenero Masanza lacked the authority to convene the meeting without the guidance of Bugwere’s Premier Rt. Hon. Moses Joel Mugulusi.
Despite initial attempts to hold the meeting at Butebo district Local government headquarters being thwarted, the organizers relocated to Three Days Hotel near the district.
The District Police Commander initially cancelled the meeting under orders from the Regional Police Commander Bukedi North Region but reinstated it upon the Minister’s arrival.
Dr Musenero defended her actions by stating that she was following instructions from the Minister of Gender Labor and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi.
She emphasized that she did not require permission to hold the meeting and expressed her frustration addressing the empty chairs.
With unresolved issues due to lack of quorum, the Minister rescheduled the meeting for Saturday 30th March 2024 for her political ambitions as the Woman MP for Butebo District in 2026.
However, the Bugwere Community views her sceptically due to past actions such as unfulfilled projects and perceived neglect of Bugwere’s development.
The Bugwere Community is increasingly disillusioned with the Minister, considering her a non-starter due to a series of questionable decisions and actions. Since 2019, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) she entered into with Budaka District to manage the District Agricultural Training and Information Centre – DATIC Pallisa has failed to materialize.
Additionally, initiatives like the Bukedi Development Initiative and the Mushroom Project have shown little progress, despite securing resources and office space in Kibuku District.
Of particular concern is the Minister’s alleged transfer of the Mushroom Project from Budaka District to Butaleja District for personal gain in 2020. This move has raised suspicions within the community about her true intentions and priorities.
Moreover, the Minister’s involvement in the controversy surrounding the Bugwere Cultural Institution has further strained relations with the community. Her reported attempts to influence the Minister of Gender Labor and Social Development to undermine the legitimate Declaration of the 2nd Ikumbania have sparked outrage among Bugwere residents.
Furthermore, despite claiming to support Bugwere’s development, her actions tell a different story. The community feels neglected, especially after missing out on promised special allocations during the COVID-19 lockdown. Additionally, her failure to adhere to the traditional dressing code of the Bugwere Community has not gone unnoticed, further deepening the rift between her and the local population.
Bugwere Cultural Institution faces challenges following the passing of its first Cultural leader, His Highness Dr Bishop John Chrysostom Wayabire who succumbed to Covid-19 on 6th Feb 2021.
The institution continues struggling to appoint a successor amidst competing claims from individuals like Mr Joshua Wilber Musimami, Mr Erick Kasolo, Mr Mubala Kintu Samuku Pangholi, Mr Muhammad Ngobi Nzogi, and Geoffrey Wayabire.
As tensions persist in Bugwere, the future of the Cultural Institution remains uncertain, with a community divided over leadership and development priorities.
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