Stay away from opposition candidates-Minister Jim Muhwezi asks residents.

Rukungiri: The minister of security Major general (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi Katugugu has appealed to the people of Rujumbura and Uganda at large to stay away from opposition candidates whom he accused of being incapable of delivering services to the communities.

The minister made the call on Thursday January 1, 2026 while addressing a multitude of spectators who had come to witness a final match of John-Paddy tournament at Kahoko primary school playground in Runyinya Village, Kahoko Parish, Nyakagyeme sub-county, Rukungiri district.

Muhwezi said, while other districts were getting new administrative units in form of parishes, town councils and sub-counties in the 2016-2021 term, Rukungiri missed out because it had opposition representatives whose voices could not be hard in the government system.

He particularly slammed his rival Fred Turyamuhweza for sleeping on job while others were busy lobbing for their counties.

He said Kanungu district which had only 9 sub-counties in 2016 currently has up to 27 sub-counties and town councils attributing it to active leaders in the previous and current terms, while Rukungiri remains at only 16.

Minister Muhwezi who is seeking another term to represent Rujumbura constituency said such a practice has caused imbalance in distribution of national resources.

He noted that a parish in Kanungu with only three cells receives the same 100 million shillings for the Parish Development Model (PDM) as a parish in Rujumbura with up to 21 cells.

The minister further revealed that he is currently pushing for the government takeover of St John Baptist Memorial Secondary School Kahoko asking residents to vote him so that he can finish the process he started.

On his part, John Paddy Owomugisha, who had contested in Rujumbura county but later withdrew from the race to support minister Muhwezi asked the minister to expedite the splitting of Rujumbura county.

He said he left the race because of financial constraints that would not allow him to traverse the 47 parishes of Rujumbura county.

Owomugisha commended the minister for extending services to the people of Kahoko parish and urged him to support them in refurbishing Kahoko Catholic Church and modernizing their playground.

Nyakagyeme sub-county youth chairperson Amon Nayebare asked the youth to actively engage in productive ventures that can change their financial status.

Nayebare commended minister Muhwezi for establishing a learning center at Nyakagyeme sub-county headquarters which he said is already equipping the youth with life skills.

He asked the youths to support minister Muhwezi for sustainable development.

After 90 minutes of the game, Nyakafunjo cell emerged victor after defeating omububare cell with 1-0 scoreline. After being crowned as winners, players were given a trophy and goat.