Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture Peace Rugambwa

By Sulaiman Kauki

Residents of Rukungiri District have demanded that Senior Presidential Advisor on Agriculture Peace Rugambwa refund more than Sh500 million they allege she collected from them in exchange for agricultural inputs and other promised benefits that were never delivered.

The allegations were raised by Moses Tukesiga Rwakacaka, who told journalists in Rukungiri that more than 40,000 residents were each asked to contribute Sh12,000 in 2018, with promises of receiving agricultural supplies, including onion seeds, coffee seedlings, piglets and poultry.

Rwakacaka alleged that despite collecting the money, Rugambwa failed to deliver the promised items. He further claimed that she later became difficult to reach, ignoring calls from residents seeking explanations about the money and the undelivered supplies.

The renewed demands follow Rugambwa’s reported decision to leave Rukungiri, citing resistance from some political leaders whom she accused of frustrating her work as a presidential advisor on agriculture.

However, Rwakacaka insisted that her decision to leave the district would not end their demands for accountability, maintaining that residents still expect their money to be refunded.

He also accused Rugambwa of making promises of State House bursaries to Omubulama Vocational Institute in Rukungiri, allegedly requesting registration fees amounting to Sh150 million from students in anticipation of the support.

According to Rwakacaka, the institution never received the promised bursaries and subsequently collapsed after struggling with bank debts, leaving its proprietor in financial difficulty.

Meanwhile, Collins Mumpe, an NRM mobiliser in Rukungiri, has called on Rugambwa to settle outstanding allowances he claims were promised to party mobilisers across southwestern districts during the 2026 general elections.

Mumpe alleged that the mobilisers were promised a combined Sh200 million for their political mobilisation activities but had not received the payments despite their efforts to campaign for NRM candidates.

He said several mobilisers abandoned their family responsibilities for days to support the party’s activities, including reaching out to voters who were not NRM members.

Mumpe appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to intervene, accusing Rugambwa of ignoring their attempts to seek payment and blocking their telephone calls.

When contacted for comment, Rugambwa reportedly dismissed the allegations before ending the telephone conversation.

The claims regarding the alleged collection of agricultural contributions, bursary registration fees and unpaid mobilisation allowances had not been independently verified by the time of publication.