By
Ronnie Weswa
Rainmakers from remote sub-counties like Mukoto and Tsekululu in Namisindwa district are demanding over 10 million Shillings from the district to intervene to halt rainfall, which is disrupting road repairs.
Namisindwa district received one billion Shillings from the Ministry of Works for road maintenance. However, continuous rain in some hard-to-reach areas has hindered progress on these road projects. During a budget conference for the 2025/26 fiscal year held on Monday, councilors expressed concerns about the incomplete road works, which have negatively impacted the transportation and movement of agricultural produce.
Perize Weswa, the LC V councilor of Bungati Sub County, highlighted that the district had started road maintenance by laying murram on the Tsekululu-Bungati road but failed to complete the work. He mentioned that the heaps of murram left on the road have made transportation even more difficult.
Leonard Kitafuja, the Namisindwa Chief Administrative Officer, acknowledged the delays and stated that every time the district engineer and his team attempt to carry out roadworks, heavy rainfall occurs, disrupting their efforts. Kitafuja noted that local rainmakers have demanded payment from the district to stop the rain temporarily, but the district has not been able to meet these demands.
In October, rainmakers like Peter Makhala, Defasi Kuloba, and Moses Watata from Nasambi parish in Bumali Sub County narrowly escaped being lynched by angry residents. The mob accused them of causing the rains that interfered with road repairs. The rainmakers were detained at the Tsekululu police post but were later released on police bond.