At least seven people have been confirmed dead and 13 others are nursing injuries at Mandera County Referral Hospital after a matatu they were traveling in ran over an improvised explosive device (IED) in Mandera today morning.

The 14-seater matatu plying the Mandera Arabia road left the Arabia township at about 6am before running over the explosive less than 8 kilometres to Mandera town at around 7am.

Abdi Dube, a survivor and eye witness told the press that gunshots were heard before the Matatu was blown up.

According to the police, the attack was carried out by a gang of six who fled towards the Somali border.

Bunei Rono, North Eastern region police spokesperson says they have arrested one suspect in connection with the explosion and he is being questioned by the detectives.

Abdi Maalim, the Mandera County Director of Health Services said the county referral hospital received a total of seven bodies from the scene and 13 injured patients with four in critical condition.

“We have seven bodies from the scene and thirteen injured patients who are receiving treatment at the moment,” he said.

A similar incident happened in the same location last year in March 2021, after a bus ran over an IED killing several people dead.

The attack comes days after several European countries(including French embassy, German Embassy & Dutch Mission) warned Kenya of the risk of possible attacks and urged their nationals to avoid public places.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the assault.

Police in Soroti have arrested a 63 year old woman for stealing five-day old baby. The baby was on Friday afternoon stolen from Soroti Regional Referral Hospital maternity ward.

The suspect identified as Joyce Aketch was arrested from Kobwin village in Ngora district, just hours after stealing the baby from her mother, Salume Asege, 19.

Alice Grace Epaku, the Principle Nursing officer at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital says that the suspect had been in the hospital premises for three days and was monitoring and scheming for her targets. Epaku added that the suspect posed as an attendant in the ward.

Oscar Gregory Ageca, the East Kyoga Regional Police Spokesman says the suspect was traced and arrested with the help of CCTV cameras. Oscar Ageca, added that the suspect has been charged with the offense of child stealing vide SD REF: 50/28/01/2022 at Soroti Central Police Station.

The baby has been since been recovered and reunited with the mother, a pupil in Tubur Primary School in Tubur sub-county, Soroti district.

Police have arrested one of their senior officers identified as ASP Edward Bua, 38 on allegations of locking up his mother, the Deputy Director Uganda Nurses and Midwife Council, in a house and setting it on fire.

The mother identified Mageret Nyakuni Onzia, 66, is said to have died in a fire at her home in Bugonga, Entebbe Municipality in Wakiso District.

Luke Owoyesigyire; the Police deputy spokesman Kampala Metropolitan said the suspect, an Assistant Superintendent of Police who is a lawyer by profession, was found with a match box and has been detained at Entebbe Police Station on charges of murder.

Owoyesigyire said they are still investigating the motive of the arson.

Onzia’s body has been conveyed to the city mortuary at Mulago for a post mortem.

Barbra Sasha Kiwewesi, the wife to Pastor Isaac Kyobe Kiwewesi, a senior pastor at Kansanga Miracle Centre has asked her husband to give her $3,000 (UGx 10.8M) monthly. Sasha made the request through the Family Division of the High Court which she claims is for healthcare, education, and other needs of the family currently residing in the US.

The couple solemnized their marriage at Rubaga Miracle Center Cathedral on June 30, 2007 under the provisions of the Marriage Act. Their marriage was witnessed by thousands and had the wedding reception at Namboole Stadium that cost about 300m.

Sasha who has been in the marriage for 15 years says that she is also entitled to 50% of their family property. She requested for seven motor vehicles, seven plots of land, shares in several companies, savings on bank accounts and the matrimonial home in Kansanga.

Sasha also seeks an order of joint custody of their three children between 7-12 years of age.

Sasha claims that five years ago, Kiwewesi changed his character and behaviour towards her, resulting into the divorce case.

According to Sasha, her husband abandoned his matrimonial bed on several occasions without any excuse, thus denying her conjugal rights without any reasonable excuse.

Sasha also accuses the pastor of failing to provide her and the children love, care and affection, failing to communicate with her for several days and weeks, an act she says amounts to cruelty and mental torture.

Sasha says due to the pastor’s unexplainable conduct, their marriage has irretrievably broken down despite her numerous attempts to mend the relationship.

The pastor on the other hand accuses his wife of extreme partying behaviours.

The petitioner claims that her husband’s conduct prompted her and the children to relocate temporarily to the US for their own safety and happiness.

In 2019, family members and friends close to the couple initiated mediations to resolve their misunderstandings that have since been futile.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has asked government to permanently give the official residence of the Governor Bank of Uganda to the deceased Governor, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile’s family.

Among made this request during the vigil that was held on Wednesday, at the said residence in Kololo.

“I asked Hon. Thomas Tayebwa (government chief whip) to make sure that the official residence is given to the family in honour of his (Mutebile) integrity,” Among revealed in a tweet.

Deputy Speaker Among says the request was lodged in by Mutebile’s widow, Betty Mutebile, during the vigil in Kololo on Wednesday, January 26th Jan.

Hon. Solomon Silwany; MP Bukooli County has added to Speaker Among’s voice when he moved a motion for the family of late Mutebile to retain their home in Kololo, a gov’t property. He made the suggestion during the tribute session of late Mutebile at parliament today.

The property in question is a 3-storey 8 bedroomed house, with an infirmary, swimming pool , servant quarters located at Summit View Kololo.

According to Among, this should be done in order to honour the integrity of the late Mutebile, the longest serving governor Bank of Uganda.

Over 5 villages in Bwayegamba Parish in Kigarama sub-county, Sheema district are reportedly infested with jiggers.

The most affected villages are Kikuuto 1& 3 , Omukabati, Nyamikona, Kiyungu west all found in Bwayegamba Parish.

Perez kakyenga, Getrude Baziraake and Enoth Kahafu all residents of Bwayegamba say that over 80 families have been affected by jiggers calling for urgent assistance from government to fight the outbreak.

Gemmimah Buhanda, the district Chairman LCV advises the public to ensure proper sanitation because such illnesses originate from poor sanitation and lack of collaboration within the community.

Jiggers are a tropical skin disease caused female sand fleas, Tunga penetrans, which burrow into the skin of the host usually through the feet and hands which when untreated can result into deformation of the affected body parts.