Rushenyi, Ntungamo District — Several health centre leaders in Rushenyi County are facing backlash after accepting a questionable donation of old, rusted spring beds and mattresses allegedly from MP aspirant Herbert Nyongozi. What was initially presented as a goodwill gesture has now sparked outrage, with claims that the items were taken without the consent of the family of the late Vincent Rutagonya, a respected former educator and community leader from Rushooka I village in Kayonza Subcounty.
Multiple sources told this publication that the beds in question once belonged to Rutagonya, who before his death operated an orphanage; Rushoka Orphans education centre in Rushoka Village and was a known pillar in the education and political circles of the area. He served as the first head teacher of St. Paul’s High School Rushooka and was once the District Speaker under the leadership of former Ntungamo LC5 Chairperson John Wyclif Karazarwe back in 1996. Rutagonya and his wife Dorah Buzaare Rutagonya were both influential figures in Kayonza who shaped the leadership of the area and the district.
While efforts to reach Mr. Nyongozi for comment were unsuccessful, sources close to his campaign claimed the items were purchased from Julius Rutagonya, son of the late Rutagonya and an officer in the Uganda Police Force. “Our candidate bought them. We transported them in four rounds using our campaign vehicle, mostly at night to avoid unnecessary attention,” said a campaign aide who requested anonymity.
However, residents of Rushooka paint a different picture. “They came around midnight and began loading beds onto a truck branded with Nyongozi’s posters. We called one of the children of the late to notify them of the suspicious activity at their home and they were shocked to learn of the the development. But we were surprised seeing the same beds being paraded as donations to our health centres. It was embarrassing,” said one local resident.
The donation has sparked debate, especially after health officials at Rubaare HCIV rejected the beds outright, citing their poor condition. Three were however received at Kayonza HCIII, although the facility’s in-charge reportedly said they lacked space to accommodate them, having already received a new consignment from the Ministry of Health facilitated by area MP Hon. Naome Kabasharira.
“We know for a fact that before his death, the deceased ran a small rental business in his retirement, offering mattresses to individuals hosting guests and occasionally to Rushooka Parish during conferences. It’s absurd that these items are now being used to score political clout,” another local resident said.
Adding to the controversy are reports that some of the candidate’s campaign team may have colluded with the late Rutagonya’s family to repurpose personal property as political capital. “These are people trying to ride on a dead man’s legacy. They’re selling off property under the guise of donations. It’s wrong,” another resident claimed.
Meanwhile, in a recent New Vision poll surveying Western Uganda voters, Hon. Naome Kabasharira remains the top contender for Rushenyi County MP, particularly among voters aged 25–40. Kabasharira, a staunch NRM supporter, is currently serving her first term after defeating long-serving MP Mwesigwa Rukutana in the 2021 elections. Rukutana has since bowed out of elective politics.
As political campaigns intensify ahead of 2026, residents of Rushenyi are calling for transparency, dignity, and respect in how aspiring leaders engage with communities, especially when health and public trust are at stake.
