Without doubt, History dictates that Transport is vital in the socio-political and economic development of nations. As Sheema, it is only through good transportation that we can easily improve on our access to good markets, collection of products from deep lying areas, developing and availing opportunities for industrial development and in some places such as Kabwohe, expansion of industry and trade, ability to conduct health, education and welfare programs.
Many areas of Sheema District such Kyamanegyere, Irashagye, Kyeihara, Bihanda, Karyango, Katojo, Kyegando … too mention but a few have for long periods suffered substantial economic and social burdens as a consequence of bad roads. These are the simple examples that can be mentioned because they are an indicator of the dire relationship between inadequate transportation and poverty.
Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire, the Independent Woman Representative of Sheema and Chairperson of the District Roads Committee has during her 5 years’ time identified the relation between immobility and poverty. By this fact, Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire has made it a point to ensure that during her tenure, numerous roads have been opened up because transportation is the major component in every activity, man does to supply himself with the necessities of life.
As we prepare to vote on Jan 14th, 2021; please remember that Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru has prioritised the provision of better roads and sought to connect widely all the rural communities across Sheema District with a hope of widening the domestic Market for our products as well as spurring industrialisation and economic growth.
Vote Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru, Vote Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Vote for Continuity of Visible Development to secure our future.
In a bid to rescue Kitagata Hospital with operating table, people of Sheema Community organised themselves with well-wishers under Sheema Development Association (SDA) mobilized pledges and cash of UGX 18m in 24 hours.
Sheema North MP Hon. Naome Kibaaju and Sheema District Woman MP Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru joined the drive each contributing UGX 1m along with other prominent people from Sheema. The drive is spearheaded by Sheema Development Association (SDA) under chairmanship of Mr. Johnson Musinguzi Byarabaha.
The people of Sheema have called on government to upgrade the status of Kitagata Hospital from being a district hospital to a regional hospital as it serves districts of Sheema, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Mitooma, Bunyaruguru, Rukungiri among others.
Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Woman MP Sheema District
They argue that funding via the district isn’t adequate forexample the hospital receives more women from Mitooma and Ntungamo delivering from there than those from Sheema.
Hon. Naome Kibaaju MP Sheema North
It is therefore unfair to fund the hospital at the district level yet it serves the sub region.
Sheema District LC5 chairman Mr. David Kabigumira has called on Sheema district leaders that it’s now or never as Coronavirus (COVID-19) rock the world.
Uganda has now confirmed 9 cases of the deadly virus which started in Wahun, China.
The LC5 chair boss said Corona Virus is real on ground with many coming in Sheema from neighbouring countries and keeping silent in their homes.
He said Regional Serveilence team is supposed to came and pick samples to Regional Centre in Mbarara for testing & confirming.
Mr. Kabigumira said the district Serveilence team need to engage the ground. He said the Technical team has no facilitation from MOH which is making it hard to pick samples and take the victims to isolation centre in Mbarara.
He said the local solution is that each Member of Parliament (MPs) need to raise 2m as emergency fund if they are to curb this crisis.
He said Leading team includes District chairperson, Mayor, CAO, RDC, DPC & DHO and this should be immediate.
He thanked Hon. Naome Kibaaju (Sheema North MP) who has already connected to his office to supply washing facilities and Soap to all Trading Centres in her Constituency.
“Updates will be communicated to you,” Kabigumira said.
Sheema District Woman MP Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru has emphasized the need to economically empower the women in the District as a way of bringing down the rampant gender-based violence.
The MP made these remarks when she hosted the Sub County Women Council executives of the whole District to a one day working luncheon at Hotel Triangle, Mbarara recently.
At the colorful function that was spearheaded by all the Sub County Chairpersons who have been part of well-formed group for self-economic empowerment, the Woman MP noted that it is such unity that will help them achieve the mandate of Women Council if they become leaders by example.
She also highlighted that as is the pattern, the women council should embrace this year’s International Women’s theme of Equality but by tailoring it around promotion of Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment of the local woman of Sheema.
The function was well-attended by all the women executives of the 15 Sub Counties, Town Councils and Divisions who observed that there is need for increased capacity building amongst the local leaders. This was while noting the involvement in solving the increasing gender-based violence cases of which there are laws available but such cases fail to be reported. Some of these cases can be reported to the political leaders although the majority at the lower levels of Government may not be knowledgeable.
Key to note is that the Luncheon was organized to introduce to the Council members at the sub county the purpose as to which the National Women Council was established by the National Women Statute of 1993 to enable women of Uganda to participate in development processes irrespective of the tribe, religion, origin, status and political affiliation.
Hence, it is paramount for these women to mobilise and facilitate their village households to participate in development processes through sensitization, engagement in microcredit schemes and taking up income-generating projects.
The woman MP told the hugely excited crowd that it is their job as women of Sheema to embrace the government programs that will give them enough time to build on their own economic setup. She further noted to them that she will endeavor to always bring on board key programs that are crucial for the improved health and sanitation in the homes e.g. the cooking stoves that save on firewood or charcoal.
She thanked the sub county chairperson for the unending support they have given to her during her term in office. It is from this support that the Woman MP is working with the District Women Council to bring forward a workshop that is focused on Building capacity among selected leaders from the Village to District in the Month of April 2020. She noted that the National Women Structures will be strengthened through this leadership in order to actively monitor government operations and drivers for the long term success.
After the Luncheon, the women leaders asked the Woman MP to join them and take a photo in commemoration of the this year’s theme of ‘An equal world is an enabled world’.
Sheema District Woman Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire teamed up with Bishop Stuart University (BSU) students who hail from Sheema district to clean Kabwohe and Nyamufumura towns.
The garbage had become a problem both towns which promompted the hard working Jacklet and students to intervene.
Through their association Sheema Bishop Stuart University Students Association, they carried out general cleaning in the above towns by sweeping both streets, collecting garbage and burning it.
Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru who is their coordinator had this to say, “This is just a start. Next time we will reach deep in the villages and sensitise people about benefits of living in a clean and conducive environment.”
Annet Natukunda, the Town Clerk Sheema Central, praised the students for what they did and urged other institutions to learn from them, such that they can always do the same.
“If such activities can be done monthly, the Division’s budget will be reduced,” Natukunda said.
The MP has always been an active participant in most activities in the district. She is always there when needed.
Farmers in Sheema District are full of excitement and hope after receiving 15 Metric Tons of Soy Bean Foundation seeds for the beginning farming season.
The new development was launched yesterday with efforts by Sheema Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Jacklet Atuhaire, who has further incorporated Sheema Development Initiatives limited, a company by guarantee that will among other activities provide platforms to determine strategic choice decisions, as a critical investment component in line with post planting agronomic incentives.
Hon Jacklet Delivering Soy bean seeds
Aware of the depleted Mukene-fish in Lake Victoria and other water bodies which has negatively affected the production of quality poultry feeds and inconsideration of the higher nutrient value of soy beans as the best alternative for animal feeds, farmers in Sheema are guaranteed to gain from a very ready market which also will be coordinated by the company.
Based on considerations of a one acre piece of land per household as minimum threshold, availability of labour and good soil test fertility findings carried out earlier, Sheema will receive Mak soy 3N and this will be distributed to farmers especially those ready to plant onto open ploughed gardens for better yields. Besides, the Ministry of Agriculture –Operation Wealth Creation activities/incentives will continue without any interference.
The Mak soy 3N variety has been chosen because it is high yielding up to 700 Kgs per acre, with full maturity of less than 105 days. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests more so soybean rust disease and resistant to lodging and pod shattering; it’s also promiscuous in the formation of active nodules with local rhizobia; its rich in protein over (60%) and oil (20%) contents; having high pod clearance; and having general end-user acceptance in terms of seed appearance and other traits that make it irresistibly good.
The programme therefore, aims at boosting agricultural productivity, through fueling activities that will entail: Lighting up massive agro-production enterprises in a zonal model, Orientation of rural farmers towards commercial soy bean farming, Industrialization of agriculture through cottage processing units and the Integration of various value chain initiatives-from production to value addition levels. The programme will be crowned by marketing of soy bean as a house hold income jump starting prime crop in the District.
This approach will further guarantee quantity in terms of soybean reproduction per acre because the variety is good and the promoters will help in providing good quality of soy-products after processing for a wider market. Farmers will also attain basics of developing a strategic farming framework and on how to share good farming practices alike to cooperatives, leading to the overall success of agro-business in the District.
The role of scientists especially Professor Phenekansi Tukamuhabwa, a renowned Soybean researcher and breeder is important in this programme that will go a long way to change the entire agro-economics in Sheema District.
Finally, besides agricultural extension service providers, that will go up to household level,in consideration of the prevailing production dynamics for improved house hold income more strategic participants in this life changing agricultural programme will be required because it’s an integral approach to human safety (food security) ; for example, whereas matters of national security can be conceived to imply attacking ones safety by a hurting weapon or rebellion etcetera , hunger and poverty are the other more severe forms of insecurity that stakeholders in the core security domain should come out to combat by supporting rural agricultural transformation initiatives; and these all will be involved for this programme to be a success.
The newly elected Woman MP for Sheema District Jacklet Atuhaire has given her public opinion on taxation stand off between Members of Parliament (MPs) and civil society. Below is her say;
Jacklte Atuhaire is the newly elected Woman MP for Sheema District
“The current impasse between civil society on one hand and the MPs on the other regarding income tax exemption…the parliamentary commission should either unbundle or separate taxable income that’s salary from other emoluments such us allowances in which case MPs would pay tax on their statutory income. On the other hand if the parliamentary commission insists on consolidating all emoluments into one pay members should be prepared on that consolidated figure on that income including allowances. I know that the tax payer will shoulder a higher burden when all emoluments are consolidated resulting into a significantly higher gratuity paid into the pension contribution paid for each MP per month. I as Jacklet a young person am looking out for development than a mare pension,” Jacklet said.
Jacklet Atuhaire (in yellow dress ) with friends abroad
Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru defeated incumbent Rosemary Nyakikongoro to win Sheema District woman MP 2016-2012 last week.
Jacklet lost to Nyakikongoro in NRM primaries and came as an independent. She has spoken out after her victory as below;
Jacklet Atuhaire is the new woman MP for Sheema district
I take this wonderful opportunity to extend my sincere and heartfelt gratitude for having walked with me this political and leadership journey until you gave me victory as your Sheema district Woman Member of Parliament 2016 – 2021. This victory is not mine alone but for all people of Sheema.
I call upon all of you to join me and we develop Sheema. I am open to all ideas so that Sheema benefits from the national cake.
I thank all the runners up and call upon them to join me and we take Sheema forward. All my supporters, strategists, campaign agents, support staff and technical advisors am so grateful and humbled.
May God richly bless you. I promise never to let Sheema people down. You made a right decision and I must deliver beyond your expectations. Thank you once again and God Bless you.
YoursJacklet Atuhaire
Woman MP Elect – Sheema District.
Jacklet Atuhaire has promised to put Sheema district on the global map
Jacklet did a Bachelors degree in International Development and Information technology from the University of East London where she was guild president.
She is a holder of a Masters’ of Science in Oil and Gas management from the distinguished Centre for Energy, Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy, University of Dundee, Scotland.
The new MP is a distinguished member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, Africa Chapter. She is also a member of the global Society of Petroleum Engineers, UK chapter.
Many areas of Sheema District such Kyamanegyere, Irashagye, Kyeihara, Bihanda, Karyango, Katojo, Kyegando … too mention but a few have for long periods suffered substantial economic and social burdens as a consequence of bad roads. These are the simple examples that can be mentioned because they are an indicator of the dire relationship between inadequate transportation and poverty.
