BUDUDA– The much publicized fundraising by the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) for the victims of mudslides in Bududa District suffered a setback on Sunday after police blocked a team of party leaders from delivering the collected relief items to Bukalasi Sub-county, the scene of the devastating landslides that have so far claimed 60 lives.
The trucks, which were carrying 800 bags of posho, clothes, shoes and other items met a police road block at Buwangani Town Council, some 27kms to Bukalasi Sub-county. The truck was accompanied by senior party leaders Patrick Amuriat (president), Munyagwa Mubarak (Kawempe MP) and Betty Aol, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, among others.
“Just like they blocked a blood donation campaign organized at our Party headquarters now they are blocking Bududa donations that Ugandans made. How callous can a regime be, hard-bitten and barbaric this is!” the FDC said in statement.
Bududa District Police Commander Adeke Esther said they had blocked the food items for the FDC leaders had refused to follow the agreed procedure of delivering relief that was established by the district disaster committee.
“The district disaster committee and the security committee had agreed that everyone who brings relief aid should bring to the victims through the district and the district will be the one to do the distribution,” Ms Adeke said.
He said if they didn’t want to deliver the items to the district, they should take it back.
The Bududa District Chairperson, Mr. Wilson Watila, said they will not allow any body to use the relief for politics.
“If anyone is to bring the relief, it must be delivered through the district disaster committee and will be given the recipient showing the items delivered and this will help us in proper accountability,” said Mr Watila, who is also acting disaster committee chairperson.
However, FDC insisted that the items will not be delivered to Bududa district.
“We are a hands-on party, we want to deliver these items directly to the people, we want to distribute them to the affected people by all means possible one by one. We shall not give them to the district leadership,” the party added in a statement.
