Mugarama made this statement while speaking directly to President Museveni during a public event.
He asked the president to remember his promise to support Bunyangabu with funds to repair roads and bridges. Mugarama explained that the roads are in a very bad condition and many bridges are broken.
“We use one road for entering and going out. We are like a supermarket. All our bridges are down,” Mugarama said.
He also said the president had earlier promised to help, but when he followed up with the finance minister, the response shocked him.
“Your Excellency, when I went to the Minister of State for Finance, Henry Musasizi, he told me directly that the president lied to me. That statement disturbed me so much,” Mugarama told Museveni.
The district chairperson added that Bunyangabu is different from other areas because of its land. The district has many rivers and valleys, which makes road construction very expensive.
He said the district needs special help from the government to deal with this challenge.
In his reply, President Museveni agreed that Bunyangabu needs special support.
He promised to give money to fix the bridges but said the request must be written down and made official.
“Now I’m going to get you the money to build the bridges separately,” Museveni said.
“But let Minister Mutuuzo put it in writing clearly because this is now just a verbal request. Put it in a document so I can respond and give you that money.”
The crowd was happy with the president’s answer. Community members, farmers, and local leaders clapped and cheered. Mugarama even knelt to thank the president.
President Museveni also said that he would investigate what Minister Musasizi said.
“I will personally find out from Musasizi how I am a liar,” he said firmly.
Museveni reminded people that there is already Shs 1.3 billion for regular road maintenance.
But he said special areas like Bunyangabu, Karamoja, and Luweero-Rwenzori can get more money if they have extra needs.
“If there is something special about an area, we plan for it separately. That money is there,” the president added.
This is not the first time Minister Musasizi has disagreed with the president. In 2016, during elections in Rubanda District, Musasizi refused to make peace with his political rival in front of the president.
He said, “That’s impossible and it can’t be handled from here.”
Some people also say that Musasizi has not respected church leaders in the past.
The story has brought new attention to the road problems in Bunyangabu and the relationship between government officials.
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