Bukomansimbi district officials are trading accusations over the food relief dispatched by the Office of the Prime Minister-OPM to aid starving families. On Saturday last week, OPM delivered 20,000kg of maize floor and 12,000kg of beans to Bukomansimbi for distribution to more than 40,000 people in dire need of food relief.
The relief was stored at Bigasa Sub county headquarters. However, residents claim that Bukomansimbi sub county leaders led by the Bukomansimbi North MP, Ruth Katushabe, her husband HB Matovu and South Buganda Regional Police Commander, Maxwell Ogwal broke into the store and made off with the relief food.
Muhammad Kateregga, the Bukomansimbi LC V Chairman accuses the officials of violating the stipulated guidelines for handling relief. According to Kateregga, the guidelines mandate the Chief Administrative Officer to distribute food relief. Kateregga claims that when Katushabe got the relief food she only distributed it to her campaign managers in Bigasa Sub County leaving hundreds of people in other areas starving.
He has also condemned Maxwell Ogwal, the South Buganda Regional Police Commander for leading the mob that broke into the store where the relief was being kept.
Isaac Musoke, a resident of Bigasa says the MP only distributed the food relief to her supporters and campaign managers. Musoke, a father of five children says his family is starving because they were denied food.
He says after serving her supporters, about 400kgs of maize flour was given to Joseph Kakooza, the Bigasa sub county LC3 Chairman who took it to his home.
Musoke also alleges that Issa Sansa, the former Kitanda sub county LC3 Chairman also got 300kg of maize flour. Other residents claim some of the food relief is being sold in the shop of Joseph Kakooza, the Bigasa sub county LC 3 Chairman, claim he has vehemently denied.
Kakooza insists that the relief food was distributed to all those who deserved it. Maxwell Ogwal, the South Buganda Regional Police Commander declined to comment on the matter. Ruth Katushabe, the Bukomansimbi North MP admits breaking into the stores of Bigasa sub county headquarters to retrieve the relief food.
Katushabe explains that although the relief was delivered on Saturday, district officials decided to keep it instead of distributing it to the starving families. She accuses district leaders of plotting to use the relief for political capital yet people were starving.
Katushabe also denies allegations that only her supporters benefited from the food relief. Bukomansimbi district administration estimates that 35,000 people who missed relief food are still starving.