By Brian Atuhura

The Minister of State for Bunyoro Affairs,Hon.Grace Mary Mugasa,has pledged to fast-track the recruitment of teachers,health workers and agricultural extension officers to address human resource shortages affecting service delivery in Masindi District.

Mugasa said adequate staffing in key sectors is critical to ensuring that government programmes reach communities effectively and improve livelihoods.

She said she would work with relevant authorities to push for the recruitment of more personnel in education,health and agriculture,where staffing gaps continue to affect service delivery.

The Minister also pledged to present to Cabinet concerns raised by leaders over poor road infrastructure and limited access to electricity in Greater Kimengo,an area with significant milk production potential.

She said extending electricity to the area would enable farmers to undertake milk value addition,improve the prices of their produce and promote agro-industrialisation.

She also said she was pushing for the Bunyoro Development Agenda,which is intended to guide development across the Sub-Region and accelerate its transformation towards a middle-income economy.

Mugasa further pledged to work with the Minister responsible for Local Government to fast-track the coding of lower local governments in Masindi that have not yet been coded.

She said resolving the coding challenges would strengthen local administration and improve service delivery in the affected areas.

Mugasa made the remarks while addressing Masindi District and Municipal leaders during a meeting at the District Headquarters.

Masindi District Chairperson Patrick Wobusobozi commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for promoting the four-acre model of farming,urging residents to embrace it to increase household incomes and agricultural productivity.

Wobusobozi particularly encouraged farmers to prioritise coffee production,saying the crop has the potential to improve household incomes when farmers adopt proper production and value-addition practices.

The Mayor of Masindi Municipality,Rogers Amanyire,asked the Minister to lobby for road construction equipment,improved access to water and electricity,more paved roads and additional human resources for the municipality.

Amanyire said addressing the challenges would improve service delivery,infrastructure and the conditions for economic activities in the municipality.

The meeting brought together district and municipal leaders to present their development priorities and challenges,including human resource shortages,infrastructure,electricity,water,agriculture,local government administration and economic transformation.