NYAGATARE-Authorities in Gatunda Sector, Nyagatare District have offered a hotline telephone number to residents to volunteer information related to drug trafficking in the sector.

The hotline number: 0788805899, was announced by the Executive Secretary, John Ngoga, during the sector’s general assembly on Wednesday.

"There is a severe influx of illicit drugs entering the sector, mainly through porous borders from Uganda,” he said, petitioning residents to always call the hot-line whenever they have information on illegal drug traffickers entering the sector.

Several sectors in Nyagatare have reported on illegal influx of illicit alcoholic beverages, including a local brew commonly known as Kanyanga, Suzie and Chief Waragi, among others.

"This phone number will help us to work with residents to fight the escalating issue of illicit drugs in the sector,” Ngoga added.

The general assembly that was attended by all residents and local leaders in the sector also assessed the general security situation in the area with women who spend many hours in bars reportedly fuelling domestic violence.

"It’s even shameful to see a housewife spending hours and hours in a bar with men. This should be stopped with immediate effect,” said one of the residents.

On the issue of medical insurance scheme, the assembly resolved that the number of people selected to benefit from the government scheme was too high hence calling for a review.

"We suspect nepotism and corruption to have dominated the selection process to the extent that the number of people on government health sponsorship rose to 26 percent in the sector. We have agreed to review the figures thoroughly,” Ngoga said.

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