Magara Darious the Managing Editor of Eastafricanwatch.net yesterday cought up with Dr. Akampumuza James Rutanga in a Q&A interview from his office in Kampala. Dr. Akampumuza James Rutanga, is an enrolled practicing Advocate of the Courts of Judicature of Uganda, is past Dean of Faculty of Commerce, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), the largest and most comprehensive business School in Uganda. (2003-2008). He shares his mission for Ndorwa East where he aspires to become the next Member of Parliament(2026 general elections). Read the interview below:
What is your plan for people of Ndorwa East?
Ndorwa East is an agricultural area with potentials in Agriculture.
Our people have to be advised to make viable agricultural practices and to grow income making crops. These crops should at the same time be good at helping to keep soils fertile.
What about Eucalyptus trees?
These trees eucalyptus trees (karitusi) are bad trees, because they suck water from the soil hence making it loose its value and fertility. And in terms of business they not so rewarding for example compared to growing coffee.
So should Ndorwe East people grow coffee?
Oh yes! coffee growing is good it’s profitable. A kilo of coffee now is bought at shs 13000 from the farm and you cannot compare its profits to that which is being made from eucalyptus trees. Besides a coffee farmer can do intercropping which gives him/her chance to grow other food crops.
When I was young I used to see my father growing coffee and intercropping it making it possible for a farmer to have food crops such beans and to also grow income crops such as coffee.
Should people cut down eucalyptus trees?
Yes as earlier said, the eucalyptus trees are bad they suck water from the soil. They have long roots and are detrimental to the soil fertility that is why we have poor sorghum yields and other food crop yields today because they (eucalyptus trees) have spoilt soils. Cut them down, grow coffee, beans and other agricultural enterprises as you will be advised by government agricultural extension workers. You have to remember your primary school science that beans are good they fix nitrogen in the soils hence making it fertile.
How can Ndorwa East achieve social transformation?
Social and economic change does not happen in one day. Rome was not built in one day but change can come if the people have good leadership and are focused. The people need to be advised to grow the right crops and even to strive and give their children good education.
What kind of education do you advise the people to undertake?
Generally taking children to school is good but if possible let most do vocational education. Here we mean going to vocational schools to learn electrical engineering, driving, catering, brick-laying and building (civil engineering), metal fabrication, cookery and catering, hairdressing, tailoring and others. These courses and others such as veterinary and animal husbandry courses can make our youths and people more employable and can also make them job creators by starting small cottage industries and businesses related with their courses. These jobs can give them daily and good income(s).
What then happens when people start to make good income?
They will improve their livelihoods; this means they will improve on hygiene, nutrition by eating well and healthy and to have better livelihoods. They can also afford good education for their children. When that is done the families and communities change socially and economically hence causing social transformation which is the core ideology of the NRM government that is being championed by President Yoweri Museveni.
What problems does Ndorwa East face?
On people still lack key infrastructural services such as clean water, electricity, good roads, health services, and good education yet we have good proximity to the international and main roads such as Ntungamo- Kabale road, Kabale-Katuna road. We are near the Kabale city and our people should have these basic services provided to them by their leaders.
What happened? Why don’t the people of Ndorwa East have rural electrification scheme?
The present MP is an opposition MP, he is denied from accessing social services such as rural electrification. At the same time he is busy in other things we do not see him lobbying and most of the things that our people lack other NRM MPs have brought them in Kigezi. Check in the neighboring Ndorwa West and other constituencies that work with government they have benefited a lot from the NRM government.
What about markets?
We need markets for our agricultural products but we have to make quality products and have sizeable quantities. But locally for our people who are bordering with Rwanda at points such as Kahondo, Kavu,Kafujo and Rwene among others we can sale our products and buy from Rwandans. And those who are near the coming Kabale city we should position ourselves to sale services and goods to that growing market. So the issue of intra trade can be emphasized especially at the border points with Rwanda.
Are there any opportunities in Ndorwa East?
We have minerals such as iron ore at Buhara and it is being extracted already by some investors.
Our people are hardworking and energetic if they chose good leaders and make good choices especially in agriculture the sky is the limit; Ndorwa East can shine again and that is if its under the leadership of NRM leaders who can support and work with the NRM government.
Read;
Who is Dr. Akampumuza James Rutanga, the Ndorwa East MP hopeful?
What did President Museveni ask the people of Ndorwa East over development?.
Particularly Nyakigugwe to Kyanamira road the President asked the locals to vote an NRM candidate and have the road tarmacked. I think our people have missed a lot from government because they have an MP who is not politically connected to government.
Will you contest in the NRM primaries?
I intend to contest in the NRM primaries? I am a senior NRM cadre and I love my party the NRM.
What is your message or appeal to the people of Ndorwa East?
The people should reflect, recast on our aspirations in leadership for the betterment of our people and ourselves.
