Police in Ntungamo have arrested a 34-year-old man alleged to have killed his older brother’s child by chopping him into pieces.

The suspect identified as Nelson Akandwanaho was arrested on Sunday afternoon by residents of Kanyanzira village, Nyanga parish, Rubaare Sub-County in Rushenyi County, Ntungamo district where the incident happened and handed over to police at Omungyenyi police post.

According to the victim’s mother, the suspect chopped the victim into pieces and handed the meat to his brother’s wife (victim’s mother) for cooking in a saucepan.

After finding the chopped parts of a child in the saucepan, she made an alarm and reported to the suspect’s father. The parts were later identified to be those of Ariiho Patrick, the 9-year-old son of his elder brother.

John Kabeho, the Rubaare sub-county District councilor said the suspect, who is presumed to be mentally ill was left at home with the victim, while his mother and sibling went to church.

When contacted, the Ntungamo district police commander, Hannington Bushaija confirmed the incident saying his team has visited the crime scene, documented the evidence and recorded statements from witnesses.

Akandwanaho is in police custody while the remains of the dead child were buried at their home on Monday.

Residents of Kimondo II cell in Sheema district were over the weekend gripped with fear and shock after lightning killed four children of the same family.

According to Nyamwija Lilian, a survivor, the incident happened at about 5:50 pm on Saturday during evening downpour at Kimondo 11 cell, Kitagata ward, in Kitagata town.

Nyamwija revealed that she was shocked when the thunder struck, she reached out to the children only to find them dead. She identified the deceased as Mujuni Trevor, 11, Akankunda Shanitah,9, Nahabwe Comfort,10, and Ainembabazi,7, who were all in the kitchen when the tragic incident happened.

She said the four died on the spot and identified the two survivors as Armstrong and Akampwera Shivan.

Benon Bintabara, the Grandfather to the deceased told our reporter that at the time the incident happened he and his wife had gone to attend an introduction party of one of their relative’s homes.

By press time, police had not issued any statement regarding the incident.

The bodies of the deceased were taken to Kitagata hospital for Postmortem examination.

Ibanda Grade One magistrate Court has sentenced a 30-year-old herdsman to two and ahalf years at Nyabuhikye Prison for burglary and theft.

Court presided over by her worship Esther Murungi sentenced Boaz Kaburemba, from Karangra ward in Bisheshe Division, Ibanda Municipality, on his own plea of guilt to two crimes.

According to prosecution, the convict together with two others still at large, broke into the house of Felix Ayebazibwe on December 30^th, 2023 and stole three bags of dry coffee, 70 kilograms millet as well as 50 kilos of dry beans, a handbag and clothes all valued at UGX 1.28m.

Prosecution led by Tian Emmanuel, said Kaburemba was arrested by the LC I defence secretary while carrying the stolen red handbag and an empty sack, suspected to have been stolen from Ayebazibwe’s home.

The convict confessed to the crimes and an iron bar and a broken padlock were found at the scene of crime.

While handing over the sentence of 15 months in prison on each count, on January 9^th, her worship Murungi said the sentences will run one after the other.

She said the convict was not remorseful, adding that the crimes were premeditated, requiring a deterrent punishment. However the sentence will be less the time (one week and one day) that Kaburemba had spent on remand. He was advised to appeal both sentences if he was not satisfied.

Theft, which contravenes section 254(i) and 261 of the Penal Code Act, carries a 10-year sentence upon conviction, while one is liable to up to seven years behind bars if proven guilty for housebreaking.

The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Monday handed over 340 iron sheets to Rutooma secondary school and Buyenje primary school all in Kashari North constituency in Mbarara district.

This was in response to the outcry of Rutooma secondary school head teacher, Angela Kabarungi who wrote to the district authorities for support after fire gutted one of the dormitories and left several students counting losses in July 2023. The school received 166 iron sheets which will be used to roof some dormitories.

Relatedly, at Buyenje primary school, learners were left stranded with no classrooms after a heavy downpour left several classrooms with no roof in 2023. The school received 174 irons to be used in roofing classrooms.

While handing over the iron sheets to the school authorities, Emmy Katera Turyabagyenyi, the Mbarara Resident District Commissioner said the support follows a letter by parents seeking support from government through the disaster preparedness ministry under the office of the prime minister.

Didas Tabaro Tumwesigye, the Mbarara LCV Chairperson urged the school authorities to put the iron sheets to proper use. 

Margaret Rwebyambu, the District woman Member of Parliament appreciated the government for rendering support to the schools.

Bushenyi district LC V chairperson, Jafari Bassajabalaba has called for more funding for the police institution and office of the director of public prosecution (DPP).

While addressing stakeholders on Monday at the opening of the 40-day’s High Court session at Bushenyi High Court, Bassajabalaba noted that poor remuneration of these offices has affected the process of investigating and prosecuting the cases on time and conclusively.

He noted that most of the criminal cases are dismissed because of lack of substantial evidence due to limited funds needed to go further and investigate. This he said has denied justice to the victims.

During the meeting, the Bushenyi resident judge, Justice Amos Kwizera also noted with concern that the number of youths involved in crime was escalating, attributing this escalation to poverty.

Kwizera appealed to the leaders to mobilize young people into money-making activities so that they don’t get time for committing offenses. 

Over 700 women and youth from 11 sub-counties in Rubirizi are set to benefit from a training in shoe-making.

The shoe-making project was on Thursday launched by Rubirizi District woman Member of Parliament, Kesande Grace Bataringaya in Busonga village, Butoha parish in Magambo sub-county in Rubirizi district targeting the youth and women.

PWD’s and unemployed women who have no exposure to business, skilling, trainings, Financial literacy and mindset change will also benefit from the Rubirizi district informal vocational education 2030 project.

Kesande asked the youth and women in the district to embrace the program noting that the trainees in shoe-making will ably generate improve incomes for their families, help the community to get out of poverty, domestic violence and hunger in their families.

Meanwhile, Kyohirwe Marry a resident of Butoha village and one of the trainees hailed MP Kesande for bringing the initiative saying this will help them in fighting poverty and create wealth in their families.