Kapchorwa residents vandalise Gen. Muhoozi signpost in protest

Kapchorwa residents vandalise Gen. Muhoozi signpost in protest
The vandalised signpost

Kapchorwa, Uganda | URN | A street signpost named after Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba in Kapchorwa, eastern Uganda has been vandalized by angry residents.

The direction signage was allegedly removed in protest after it was allegedly erected without following proper procedures or consulting the Sebei community. Frank Chege, a resident of London Bridge cell in Kapchorwa Municipality claims removing the signpost indicates political maturity amongst the local community.

“It means we Sabinys have picked up some sense in political maturity because the signpost never made any sense. We’re supposed to have maybe [gold medalist Joshua] Cheptegei road instead of Muhoozi road. What has Muhoozi done for Sebei?

Me, personally I’m very happy the signpost was removed and our leaders should not even think of putting it back. Because if they put it back it will be removed. We need to see [Jacob] Kiplimo, [Stephen] Kiprotich road instead of Muhoozi. We should change from this way of thinking to appease political individuals because they give our leaders small money. They should think about issues that are going to develop our community,” said Chege. 

Bush Arapta, the Kapchorwa Municipality council speaker says, they learned of the missing street signpost today in the morning.

“Since it’s the first time that the signpost is vandalized, we are going to replace and monitor who will mess it up again,” Arapta said on phone.

Mixed reactions over “Gen. Kainerugaba Road” in Kapchorwa
The mini sign post indicating the road named after Gen. Kainerugaba

Brian Mande, the Chepsukuroi ward Male youth counsellor says that such instances happen as a result of community unhappiness over a forced development in the area, especially if proper procedures are not followed. Allan Mark, another resident says, vandalising the signpost should send a message to those who planted.

“I see no reason why we should even lament about the missing signpost for it was just a money-making event for those who planted it,” he said.

The former commander of Land Forces visited Kapchorwa on January 21 as part of his countrywide tours to popularize his MK project where a street was named after him by a section of the municipal authorities.

The naming of the street brought mixed reactions from the community, saying it was a sign of disrespect and impunity by some of the Kapchorwa Municipality leaders who didn’t follow the procedures. Sebei, asserts that naming roads after a person demands an untainted legacy and great contributions by that person in that respective community.