Minister Mateke Intervenes in Kisoro Covid19 Clash

Dr Philemon Mateke, the state minister of regional cooperation has warned Kisoro’s district political and civil leadership to stop bickering and for each one to focus on playing their role.

Dr Mateke says the fight between leaders in the district, with each hurling derogatory comments on the other in the media, is giving Kisoro a bad name

“You are the leaders of the district; when the whole world sees what you are doing, fighting each other while using filthy language, it’s not good. We are giving Kisoro a bad image,” he said.

“Who told you to go to the radio and use such language that is not acceptable? People are calling me asking me what’s happening in Kisoro”

Dr Mateke made the comments on Monday while handing Shs Ugx 20 from parliament to the district Covid19 taskforce.

The money was received by the deputy RDC Moses Nuwagaba and Abel Bizimana the LC5 chairman at the district headquarters.

Kisoro leaders over the past weeks have been fighting over the money that was allocated by government to the district to fight Covid19.

The RDC, Capt Mugisha demanded a portion of the Shs 165Million to be allocated to him, which sparked a bitter clash between him and the District Health Office.

The fight later on sucked in the district chairman Bizimana who threatened to quit the task force, as well as the media which was banned from attending the weekly task force meetings.

Speaking yesterday, Bizimana said his fight with fellow leaders started after he demanded accountability.

“When you talk of accountability of the funds you become the enemy of many in this district. I want to ask the CAO to always give the right technical advice but not to bring divisions among us as leaders,” he said.

Of the five MPs in Kisoro district, only Rose Kabagyenyi the woman MP has returned the Ugx 20m.

The others are Dr James Nsaba Buturo (Bufumbira East), Sam Kwizera Bitangaro (Bufumbira South), Sam Byibesho (Kisoro Municipality) and John Nizeimana Kamara (Bufumbira north).