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Kayunga is not only about land wrangles
Seven years ago, 53 graves in the district were excavated in one night and human remains stolen. Police blamed the act on traditional healers. In the photo is a burnt house of a suspected traditional healer
File photo
Kayunga District was carved out of the greater Mukono District in 2001 after being granted a district status by Parliament on December 1, 2000.
Before it became a district, Kayunga was popularly referred to by many people as the ‘Karamoja of Mukono’ mainly because of its remoteness, which hampered effective service delivery to people in the area.
Kayunga consists of Bbaale and Ntenjeru counties. The semi-arid Bbaale county is part of the cattle corridor while Ntenjeru is where most of the commercial farming takes place because of its fertile soils.
The district has eight sub-counties of Kangulumira, Nazigo, Busaana, Kayunga, Kayonza, Bbaale, Galilaaya, Kitimbwa and one town council of Kayunga town.
Kayunga enjoys a unique location as it lies in the central region of Uganda and is 74km east of Kampala City. The district has a total land area of 1810 square kilometres.
The district is endowed with a rich cultural heritage and diversity in ethnicity and it is because of this that it is referred to as the ‘United Nations of Uganda’.
Unlike other districts, several tribes in Uganda can be found in this district; including the Baganda, Basoga, Baruli, Iteso, Jopadhola, Kuku, Bagwere, Banyolo, Bagisu, Banyala, Banyarwanda, Acholi, Kakwa, Langi, Banyoro, Banyankore and others. These constitute 60 per cent of population in Busaana sub-county. The literacy levels in the district stand at 50 per cent.
360,100: Size of population
Literacy levels: The literacy levels in Kayunga District stand at 50 per cent according to recent reports.
Kayunga has 168 public primary schools and eight public secondary schools
Economic activities: Agriculture is the major economic activity as well as the major source of employment. Ninety-three per cent of the population is employed in subsistence agriculture. Agricultural production mainly involves growing of coffee, bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, beans and ground nuts. Fruits particularly pineapples, melon, passion fruits and mangoes are also grown for commercial purposes. The district is currently the major pineapple growing area in the country.
Resource envelope: The main revenue for the district is from market dues and fees which constitute only about 10 per cent of the district revenue with almost 90 per cent of money that runs the district being got from the central government.
Social services in the district: Kayunga district has one main district hospital called Kayunga hospital and eight health centre III. Constructed in early 70s, Kayunga Hospital has had no major renovation a condition that has made it dilapidated.
The hospital’s sewage and water systems have for long been broken while the hospital beds have become old. Due to the rising population, district leaders led by the district LC5 chairman have been advocating for the elevation of the health to a regional referral hospital to be able to manage the big number of patients from surrounding districts, who seek treatment from the health facility.
The hospital is also ill-equipped, though the staff is said to be enough. The district has a tarmac road that passes trough it from Mukono to Njeru in Buikwe District via Bukolooto Trading Centre. Kayunga has 168 public primary schools and eight public secondary schools
Tourist attractions: The district is not endowed with many tourism resources. The only big tourism resource that would have brought in a lot of revenue would be Kalagala cultural site and the Kalagala falls on River Nile in Kangulimira Sub-county, sand beaches on river Nile, which all remain undeveloped.
The people moving and shaking Kayunga
Idah Nantaba: She is serving her first term as Kayunga Woman MP. The state minister for Lands is known for her fight against land grabbers, a thing that has won her endearment. Nantaba lobbied for a Shs500m soap factory at Bukolooto Trading Centre.
Amos Lugoloobi: He is serving his first term as Ntenjeru North MP. Before joining elective politics, he worked with Uganda Investment Authority. His efforts to enhance agricultural productivity through provision of tractors has made him popular.
Sulaiman Madada: He is the Bbaale County MP and state minister for the elderly. He has through the Madada Foundation equipped residents with skills that would make them job creators. He has established a vocational institute in his area.
Patrick Nsanja: He is the Ntenjeru South MP and serving his first term. He is an advocate for good governance and has initiated many projects for women in his constituency aimed at poverty alleviation.
Sande Njuki Zikusooka: Zikusooka is the speaker of the district traditional healer’s association. He has devoted his energy to fight acts of human sacrifice and quack healers. At his Kiziika shrine, residents every year offer him animals for sacrifice.
Siraje Lwanga: He has been head teacher for Namagabi SS for six years and during this period he has transformed the school into an academic giant. Lwanga is also a disciplinarian and loves sports.
Steven Dagada: Dagada is serving his third term as district chairman. Because of his stand against corruption, he has stepped on many toes, but remains popular. He is keen on infrastructure.
Ntege Kizito: Despite being blind, he has proved that disability is not inability. As a district speaker Kizito has tried to unite councillors. He is an advocate of accountability.
Joseph Ouma: Ouma is the district vice chairman and is serving his first term as a councillor for Wabwoko Sub-county. He is an educationist.
Jamillah Tabizanga: Tabizanga is a business lady who deals in cosmetics. Through her business she trains young girls in hair dressing. She has been an inspiration to many women in the area.
Moses Karangwa: He is a prominent businessman, who also owns big chunks of land in the district. Karangwa, was recently cleared by police of accusations of land grabbing.
Ronald Kazibwe: He is the manager Katikoomu Hotel, the biggest mostly frequented hang-out spot in the district. During his two-year term in office, he has improved services at the facility.
Annet Kabogoza: Kabogoza is the head teacher of Ndeeba SSS and the chairperson of secondary school head teachers in the district. Kabogoza has 23 years of experience in education.
Sazir Mayanja Nsubuga: He is both an opinion leader and a politician. While still an MP for Ntenjeru North, he played big role in convincing fellow MPs and government to grant Kayunga a district status.
Bob Kagarura: This man has been Kayunga DPC for six months but during this period, he has cracked down on acts of witchcraft that was leading to mob action.
Yusuf Bakimpe: He is the executive director Action for Human rights and Civic awareness, an NGO that has fought for the rights of disadvantaged groups like youth, elderly, and women.
Asaph Ssenyonga: He is a retired magistrate who also acted as deputy Mugerere ( Bugerere County chief). He is a key advocate for harmony between Banyala and Baganda in the area.
James NKata: He has been CAO for the district for eight months but during this period, service delivery in the district has improved. Mr Nkata reportedly ensures that all civil servants are at their work place on time.
Oyaa Nahori: He has been RDC in the district for one year and as chairperson of the district security committee Nahori has tried to fight animal theft that were rampant in the area.
Ahmed Galiwango: He has been the district education officer since the district was created in 2001. He has tried to improve academic standards in the area through sensitising parents and teachers on their roles.
Mohammed Ssendyose: He is an opinion leader and elder. Sendyose is the former district Movement chairperson. He is also a veteran motor mechanic.
Margaret Nansubuga: She is the Kayunga Town clerk having served as assistant town clerk for almost three years. She is known for her efforts in sensitising locals on garbage management.
Capt Baker Kimeze: He is the Banyala cultural leader. He has during his five years as Ssabanyala tried to mobilise his subjects to improve food security, embrace education and also avoid acts that expose them to the HIV/Aids scourge. Capt Kimeze in 2010 told President Museveni that his people wanted autonomy from Buganda Kingdom. The Banyala are a minority ethnic group living in Kayunga District, Buganda Kingdom’s old county of Bugerere.
Ntege Kizito: Despite being blind, he has proved that disability is not inability. As a district speaker Kizito has tried to unite councillors. He is an advocate of accountability.
Joseph Ouma: Ouma is the district vice chairman and is serving his first term as a councillor for Wabwoko Sub-county. He is an educationist.
Jamillah Tabizanga: Tabizanga is a business lady who deals in cosmetics. Through her business she trains young girls in hair dressing. She has been an inspiration to many women in the area.
Moses Karangwa: He is a prominent businessman, who also owns big chunks of land in the district. Karangwa, was recently cleared by police of accusations of land grabbing.
