EASTERN PROVINCE

KIREHE — Hundreds of families who were displaced by heavy rains in the Kirehe District late last year will be resettled soon, the Vice-Mayor in charge of Finance and Economic Development, Benson Muhikira told MPs on Wednesday.

Muhikira, was addressing Senators on the Security Commission who had visited the district to assess the conditions of residents who were affected by the torrential rains. They also wanted to meet the Local Defence personnel and find out their challenges.

Muhikira said that the district has received 9000 iron sheets from the Ministry of Finance to be distributed to families for their reconstruction efforts.

Close to 440 families were displaced by heavy rains coupled with heavy storm in September and October 2008.

Only 195 families were resettled. Also destroyed were hectares of coffee, banana and cassava plantations. Nine schools and churches were also destroyed.

The three-man delegation of lawmakers led by Senator Valens Munyabagisha, the commission President, also met with the affected families in the most affected sector of Nyamugali.

Inspecting their temporary homes constructed using plastic sheets, Munyabagisha, urged them to work together to build and rehabilitate their houses, instead of waiting for assistance.

On challenges of the local defence personnel, Israel Hatungimana, the district force commander, told the lawmakers that they work without pay, which he said has led some elements among them to solicit bribes so as to meet their basic necessities.

Hatungimana, said the constitutional provision requiring local defence personnel to work as volunteers should be reviewed. However, Senator Seth Kamanzi, urged the district to always engage local defence personnel in income generating activities, to help them sustain their families.

Meanwhile, it emerged that the district has fired 364 local defence personnel for alleged indiscipline and accepting bribes. Hatungimana said this aims at having a disciplined and hardworking force.

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