Buganda Road Chief Magistrate on Tuesday sent two pastors and three bar proprietors on remand after they were arrested and arraigned in court on charges of noise pollution.

 
The two pastors identified as Edward Mukisa and Herman Ssebunje from Nkumba Miracle Centre in Bendegere village in Katabi Town Council, Wakiso District and the proprietors of Hide Out Bar and Lounge in Kololo, Sisay Beruke, Tigsti Melkamu and Steven Ssetumba, appeared in court the on charges of noise pollution and pleaded not guilty.

According to a statement from National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) dated June 29, 2022, the suspects were arrested last week in an ongoing operation against noise pollution in the country triggered by numerous public complaints.

The National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations, 2003 defines noise pollution as “the release of uncontrolled noise that is likely to cause danger to human beings or damage to the environment.”

Prosecution said that since 2019, the two pastors have engaged in Church activities including singing clapping, Yelling and using Loud Speakers that resulted in aggravated disturbance or pollution of the Environment.

The suspect were hence charged with “failure to undertake an environmental and social impact assessment, engaging in activities that result in or aggravate pollution, discharging and emitting pollutants into the environment, failure to implement regulatory measures, orders, notices and environmental easements as required by the National Environment Act, 2019.”

Tony Acidria, the senior public relations officer at NEMA said the suspects were arrested during the latest operations for being notorious noise polluters and some of the loudspeakers were also impounded from the church.

“They are repeat offenders because the noise levels when measured were above the permissible level of 60 decibels during the day and 40 decibels in the night for places of worship in residential areas,” said Acidria.

According to NEMA, the measurements showed that the church was emitting noise levels in the range of 60 and 86 decibels, above the permissible noise levels upon inspection by officials from NEMA led by Isaac Mugabi.
The law defines daytime as running from 6am to 10pm and night hours as running from 10 pm to 6 am.

Acidria said NEMA had severally sensitized the pastors and other church administrators and warned them to control the noise from their church in vain. 

NEMA requires establishments such as places of worship, recreational and production activities either submit project briefs or undertake environmental and social impact assessment to enable relevant authorities to guide their operations to ensure that aspects of the environment including noise, air, and water pollution are not compromised.

If convicted, the suspects face a fine not exceeding fifty thousand currency points, the equivalent of UGX 1 billion, or a maximum jail term of 15 years, or both.     

An 87-year-old identified as Aloise Otieng’ Ominang’ombe from Teso South Constituency in Busia County has bought a new coffin where he would like to be buried after his death.

Prior to this, he bought two others coffins in 2009 and 2012 which he says are now out of fashion and will be turned into pieces of firewood during his funeral, as the new one becomes his final resting place.

While rehearsing inside the brand new coffin for his future burial, Aloise Otieng’ Ng’ombe, a father of 18 revealed that the move is a deliberate effort to teach his community at large that death in inevitable and it is only wise to prepare for such unprecedented times.

“I want this to go as a lesson to my community at large. You may lack basic needs when you are alive. But when you die, people will slaughter bulls, buy you nice clothes and shoes yet you will be long gone. That is why I decided to plan for a send-off befitting my status in society,” said Ominang’ombe.

Ominang’ombe disclosed that his newly purchased coffin is worth Ksh.58,000 (approximately UGX 1.8m) and has been stored at his shop in Obekei area.

The incident has sparkled mixed reactions from members of the public, with some supporting his decision while others are opposed to the old man’s plans as they insist that it is against religion.

Police in Amuria district are holding a 39-year-old man for slapping the State Minister for Works and Transport, Hon. Musa Ecweru.

ASP Ageca Oscar Gregg, the PRO East Kyoga, said the incident happened on Sunday, June 26, 2022 during Sunday service at St. Micheal Catholic church in Wera parish, Wera sub-county in Amuria district.

The suspect identified as Okurut Micheal, 39, is said to have walked to the altar like other congregants, knelt down and got his blessings after which he got up and slapped the minister as he was giving his sermon.

The suspect was immediately arrested and is currently detained at Wera Police station where a case of assault was opened and inquiries and investigation into the matter have since commenced.

Rwanda welcomed more than 5,000 Commonwealth organization delegates to its capital Kigali last week for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held under the theme, ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’, to discuss shared priorities that will shape the work programs of the organization.

The four-day event attracted dignitaries from Commonwealth forums on youth, women, business and civil society, presidents, prime ministers and their representatives from across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Europe who assembled at the Kigali Conference Centre for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic spread globally and delayed the meeting for two years.

Established more than 70 years ago, the Commonwealth organization started with the objective of upholding democracy, rule of law and good governance around the world.

Two years after Uganda became the first country on the African continent to host the CHOGM, Mozambique and Rwanda joined the organization comprised of mainly former British colonies with Rwanda becoming the last country to join the Commonwealth, in 2009.

Speaking during CHOGM on Friday, Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda said; holding the meeting in Rwanda, a new member with no historical connection to the British Empire, expresses the host country’s choice to continue reimagining the Commonwealth for a changing world.

“The Commonwealth we need is on the frontlines of global challenges, not on the peripheries, watching events unfold. Our special strength is to bring issues into focus that might otherwise be overlooked,” said Kagame.

The Prince of Wales, who represented Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth, emphasized the need to “respond to climate change and biodiversity loss that threatens our very existence … as we build back from the pandemic that has devastated so many lives.”

During the same meeting, Patricia Scotland retained her position as the Commonwealth secretary-general after she was re-elected with 27 votes against 24 of Kamina Johnson, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Jamaica.

Scotland who in 2016 became the first woman to hold the Commonwealth secretary-general post said that she is determined that when the role of Secretary-General rotates to Africa, two years from now, she will hand on the baton with a stronger and more effective powerful Commonwealth than ever before.

Other new guidelines launched by HRH, the Duchess of Cornwall for Commonwealth countries include stopping and preventing violence against women and girls.

Globally, one in three women and one in six men have experienced a form of domestic or sexual violence in their lifetime.

“In the strength of our unity, we, the women and men of the Commonwealth, stand with victims and survivors, who, despite the temptation to hide away in silence, speak up so that others know they aren’t alone—whether in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific or the Caribbean and Americas,” The Duchess of Cornwall said on Wednesday, adding, “In so doing, we have the opportunity to end gender-based violence and those laws and practices that discriminate against women.  And each one of us must take personal responsibility not to let this opportunity be lost.”

About the Commonwealth:

Key facts

Full name: Commonwealth of Nations

Member states: 54(+ 2 new)

Head of the Commonwealth: Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)

Secretary-General: Patricia Scotland (since 2016)

Population: 2.5 billion

Area: 30 million square kilometres

Foundation of modern Commonwealth: 1949

Headquarters: Marlborough House, London

Focus: Development, democracy, climate change

Landmark events

1926: Balfour Declaration. Declared the UK and the dominions as equal in status as members of “the British Commonwealth of Nations”.

1931: Statute of Westminster. Established legislative independence for the dominions and set the basis for the relationship between Commonwealth realms and the crown.

1949: London Declaration. Birth of the modern Commonwealth. Allowed republics as members, to allow independent India’s continued membership. “British” dropped from title.

1971: First Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Singapore.

1991: Harare Declaration. Sets out Commonwealth’s core values.

2020: The Maldives becomes the Commonwealth’s 54th member after application for re-admission was approved.

Population, area, GDP 

Countries drawn from: Africa (19 + 2 new), Caribbean and Americas (13), Pacific (11), Asia (8), Europe (3).

Biggest country by population: India (1.4 billion).

Smallest country by population: Tuvalu (11,000).

Biggest country by area: Canada (9,984,670 square kilometres).

The Commonwealth also admitted Gabon and Togo (former French colonies) as its 55th and 56th members respectively. It follows formal expressions of interest by Gabon and Togo and consultation with member countries.

Leaders accepted applications by the two West African countries at the closing session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Samoa was also selected as the host of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that will be held in 2024.

The Commonwealth, which began as eight nations in 1949, has grown to 56.

Police in Butaleja District is holding a 40-year-old teacher at Mabale Primary School in Butaleja Sub–county, Butaleja district on allegations of molesting and sodomizing about 18 male pupils aged between 7 to 12 years.

According to Butaleja territorial police, the teacher who reportedly committed the crime between January-May 2022 was reported by David Nambula Magson, the school head teacher.

Moses Mugwe, the Bukedi South Regional Police Spokesperson said detectives have already recorded statements from the complainant and at least 13 of the victims adding that medical examinations on the victims will be done by the regional police surgeon.

Mugwe noted that the crime scene was visited by police and well documented; adding that they have commenced investigations into a case of sodomy against the primary school teacher under a general enquiry file.

The suspect is currently detained at Butaleja Central Police station and “will be charged accordingly” after police investigation.

Betty Neshiwe, the Butaleja District Senior probation officer noted that such cases have not been common in Ugandan schools but asked that justice should prevail.

Aidah Mugoya Nehole, the district secretary for gender, labour and social development said the suspect should be disqualified from teaching and government should ensure that he is punished. 

Hajira Namagogwe Butaleja, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) also condemned the alleged teacher’s alleged act.

The territorial police at Entebbe has arrested, Nkurunzinza Laurent alias Mulaalo 38, a casual labourer and resident of Bukola village, Nkumba Parish in Katabi Town Council Wakiso District.

Luke Owoyesigire, the deputy police spokesperson Kampala metropolitan said that the suspect was arrested following the disapperance of Twinomujuni Prossy, 28, a resident of Kawafu cell, Nkumba Parish Katabi Town Council in Wakiso District that was registered by Twinomujuni’s husband on 7th December 2021.

After interrogation, the suspect told detectives where the body of the deceased was.

On Thursday June 23, 2022, Nkurunziza led Flying Squad Unit operatives and detectives to his work place in Bukolwa village, Nkumba Parish, Katabi Town Council in Wakiso District where the body was buried.

The suspect had buried the victim in a white polythene bag in the piggery farm where it was found decomposing.

Owoyesigire said the suspect also led the police to the farm house, where a hammer suspected to have been used in the murder and the hoe, which was used to dig the grave were recovered and exhibited.

The body of the deceased was taken to the city mortuary at Mulago for a post mortem.

The suspect has been detained at Nateete Police Station as investigations continue.

Owoyesigire said that the motive of the murder will be communicated in due course.