The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa has asked government to present the criteria used to gazette hard to reach areas.
He also directed government to present the progress on affirmative action taken for those areas already designated as such.
“If you declare an area a hard to reach, what affirmative action are you doing for that area to be made easy to reach? The status means there are peculiar needs such areas have,” Tayebwa said.
The Deputy Speaker made the directive while chairing the House on Wednesday, 05 April 2023.
Tayebwa’s decision followed a matter of national importance raised by Rubanda West County Representative, Hon. Moses Kamuntu who asked that Rubanda District be designated as hard to reach.
Kamuntu said Rubanda is inaccessible and frustrating basic services such as education, healthcare and trade.
“Naturally, our terrain is harsh and surrounded by steep hills, forests and lakes. It is very hard for our teachers and nurses to move around the district. We have Lake Bunyonyi and its 29 islands which are habitable but without means of transport, schools and health facilities,” Kamuntu said.
Kamuntu added that half of the district is occupied by Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which in addition to Lake Bunyonyi qualifies Rubanda as a hard to reach area.
The Chief Opposition Whip, Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe said government should equally give an update on the implementation of the Hard to Reach Fund of 30 per cent of one’s basic salary as established in 2006.
“Since the 10th Parliament, there has been the 30 per cent Hard to Reach Fund. I suppose the Ministry of Public Service which has the list and criteria, would be here to furnish us with the progress of implementation,” said Nambeshe.
The Minister for Public Service, Hon. Wilson Muruli Mukasa in his pledge to present a progress report on hard to reach areas and the affirmative actions being taken, said government ought to be ready to budget for any new areas.
“I must say that everything really rotates on the Treasury; the Treasury should be prepared to provide the money to effect the hard to reach and hard to stay policy,” Muruli Mukasa said.
