The “Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundire Group” central executive committee for Rukungiri district has decided to fire the association’s founder, Madam Peace Rugambwa, if she fails to comply with Presidential directive.
The decision was made yesterday Wednesday 6th November 2024 during the “Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundire Group” district executive meeting, held at Okapi Hotel in Western Division, Rukungiri municipality.
Among those who attended the meeting included members of Boda Boda, religious and district central executive Committees.
Our reporter was informed by Topher Karabaya, the chairperson Rukungiri district Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundire Group, that the meeting agreed to write to Ms Peace Rugambwa, the initiator of the association, informing her of seven decision points that should be followed for the benefit of people.
The Rujumbura County Member of Parliament, Hon. Jim Muhwezi, who also serves as the chairperson of NRM Rukungiri district and the office of the RDC, which is in charge of district security, will receive a copy of the letter.
The letter highlights several important points, such as adhering to security protocols while conducting daily businesses, halting the distribution of 200 mattresses and 100 bed sheets that are currently in their store, and stopping all Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundire Group activities, including internet and radio advertisements.
Karabaya went on to say that Ms Peace Rugambwa has been given two weeks to come out and give her stance or else be fired and a new leadership will be formed for the members’ benefit.
As Rukungiri district’s central executive committee, he stated that they will reach out to committees in every Sub County to offer consolation to members of the Boona Bagaigahare Nyakundire Group as they await further action.
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Some of the committee members, who attended the meeting, including Kahigyiriza Julius and Mubanyizi Paul, disclosed that they were directed to work with the district leadership for the benefit of people after meeting with President Museveni at state house earlier this year.
They said that Madam Peace Rugambwa did not respond to this directive, stating that she must act now or risk being fired for the good of association members.
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Gumisiriza Banada and Busingye Silany, other committee members, stated that they must comply with the president’s directive.
They said that if Rugambwa defies the directive, she will no longer be a member of Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundire Group.
In order to ensure adequate accountability and transparency within the association, they also stated that Madam Rugambwa should change the account number from her personal details to the group if Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundire Group belongs to people.
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When asked by our reporter if she is prepared to adhere to these seven important criteria from the executive committee, Madam Peace Rugambwa stated that none of these leaders will fire her because they lack the authority to do so.
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BACKGROUND.
In 2018, former State House comptroller, Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye commenced investigations into the operations of Boona Bageigahare Nyekundiire group which was founded by Peace Rugambwa.
An inquiry by the Office of the President said that an anti-poverty group operating in Rukungiri District was operating as a non-governmental organization and should not benefit from any form of government funding.
Boona Bagaigahare Nyekundire Group which was a subject of investigation by State House over alleged fraud after the group leader, Ms Peace Rugambwa, claimed to have spent about 1.9 billion shillings of her own money to mobilize NRM supporters in Rukungiri on behalf of the directive of President Museveni to fight poverty, which she wants him to refund.
However, after over a month of investigation, a five-member State House probe team led by Mr Francis Batinti presented the findings of the report, indicating that the group does not operate as a mobilization outfit but rather as an NGO since members pay a membership fee of 12,000 shillings.
The report findings also indicated that the group has a membership of 17,198 members and 2,442 of these are elderly persons over 70 years. It also revealed that the unions and mattresses which the group leaders claimed to have supplied to all members were not actually supplied.
For instance, only 42 group members received mattresses and for the onions, the report revealed that they were distributed in 2016 when residents had not registered under this group.
Rugambwa was also accused of ferrying over 282 voters from Rukungiri to Rwakitura in Kiruhura district on September 23rd, 2018 purportedly to meet President Yoweri Museveni without prior notification.
The voters were stranded for two days after being blocked by security on grounds that the president wasn’t aware of their visit.
She, however, escaped from Rwakitura before the group saw the President, angering the entourage. Many were stranded due to lack of transport.
The voters were saved by Hon. Jim Muhwezi who mobilized a bus that picked the people from Rwakitura and returned them to Rukungiri.
The then State House controller said the president was enraged by Rugambwa’s decision to ferry voters to his home without his knowledge.
She also said the president was not happy with Rugambwa’s tactics of extorting money from residents with promises of giving them onion seeds and mattresses on behalf of the government.
According to Nakyobye, Rugambwa convinced her victims to pay Shillings 12,000 each and wait for the items from the government through her.
Nakyobe also said that Rugambwa was assuring residents that the president owes her Shillings 1.9 billion, which she used to distribute onion seeds and mattresses to elderly people in the district before May 31st 2018 Rukungiri District Woman MP by-election but Nakyobye said the president wasn’t aware of the said money.
It’s said that from that background, president Museveni might have thought twice and blocked the release of all that amount to a non trustworthy Rugambwa.
