Residents of Lugazi Municipality have asked the government to improve service delivery in the area, citing poor roads, inadequate health services and limited employment opportunities.
The residents made the call during a fundraising ceremony for St Joseph Sub-Parish in Kiteza, where they appealed to their MP, Richard Senteza Salongo, to lobby the government to address the challenges facing the municipality.
Lugazi Municipal Councillor Rebecca Nakibirango said residents appreciated Senteza’s work in Parliament but wanted him to use his position to push for improvements in the area.
“We would like to commend our MP Senteza for his legislative skills. However, we ask him to lobby the government to work on the Lugazi-Kiyindi road, the neonatal ward at Kawolo Hospital and other key challenges in our area,” Nakibirango said.
She also raised concerns about unemployment among young people and women in Lugazi.
Nakibirango said many residents who had secured jobs in local industries were earning low wages and salaries, making it difficult for them to meet their basic needs.
Lawrence Kiragga, a resident of Kamenya II in Kiteza, commended Senteza for using his personal funds to grade some roads in the area.
However, Kiragga asked the MP to lobby the government to expand and upgrade the roads so they can better support the movement of people and goods.
He also raised concerns about shortages of medical supplies at Kawolo Hospital.
Kiragga said improved health services were needed to address the challenges faced by residents who depend on the hospital for medical care.
He also praised Senteza for raising issues affecting residents through Parliament, particularly through the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) and the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, on which he serves.
Ndorwa West MP Eliab Naturinda described Senteza as a colleague who regularly raises issues affecting his constituents.
Naturinda also praised Senteza’s contribution to parliamentary legislative work, particularly in drafting legislation.
In response to the concerns raised by residents, Senteza said the government had agreed to undertake several projects in Lugazi and the wider Buikwe area.
He said the projects include the rehabilitation of the Lugazi-Kiyindi road, renovation of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kawolo Hospital, completion of the Buikwe District headquarters and completion of the Lugazi Municipal Council headquarters.
Senteza said the commitments followed a meeting with the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
He said the meeting was facilitated by Buikwe Woman Member of Parliament and Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Mutasingwa, earlier this year.
Senteza did not provide details on the funding allocated to each project, but said residents would see progress on the commitments.
At the fundraising ceremony, Senteza, fellow legislators and residents raised Shs3.6 million towards the completion of St Joseph Sub-Parish in Kiteza.
Senteza also assured residents and members of the clergy that the construction work could be completed by December this year.
The residents, however, urged the leaders to ensure that the commitments translate into actual projects and improved services in Lugazi.
