Authorities in Kazo district have presided over the inauguration of the first Board of Governors for Kazo Vocational training institute at Rwanyamuzira in Kazo town council, Kazo district.

The inauguration saw Dr Mugume James elected as the first chairperson replacing zirimenya Nsubuga, the Kazo district Chief Administrative Officer who has been working as the interim chairperson steering committee.

The members of the New Board of Governors were nominated by different stakeholders of the school, foundation body, parents, teachers and government before they were approved by the education ministry as per the education act 2008.

Nsubuga, who has been working as the chairperson steering committee since January 2023 revealed that there is no politics in this institution noting that it has started officially and it is open to the public for use.

Rev Samuel Mugisha Katugunda, the Kazo district LCV chairperson pledged to support the institute where necessary to see that the people of Kazo district benefit.

Eddy Turyatemba, the Assistant commissioner for Vocational and training at the Ministry of Education and Sports asked the board to support the institute to grow high in order to solve unemployment noting that Vocational training is the way to go.

Nkurunziza Obadiah, the principal Kazo vocational training institute revealed that although he has been working, with support from the Board they are going to add value to the institution.

The other members inaugurated include; Natukunda Leah Munene, the councilor representing Kazo sub-county, Nuwagaba Wilson Kajuga, the head teacher Engari Secondary School and other 9.

In a bid to increase the revenue through cross-border trade for Uganda and Rwanda, immigration officials of both countries have presided over the official opening of the Rwempasha -Kizinga border.

The opening of Rwempasha -Kizinga border which separates Uganda and Rwanda in Ntungamo district at Ngoma follows a three-year closure.

While addressing the public, Maj Gen Apollo Kasita Gowa, the director citizenship and immigration control in Uganda said the essence of doing this is to facilitate trade between Rwanda and Uganda.

Immigration Chiefs pose for a photo at the official inauguration of the Kizinga-Rwempasha border post. (Courtesy photo)

The Director General of Immigration and emigration from Rwanda, Lynder Nkuranga has advised both Rwanda and Ugandan citizens to always use legal crossing and avoid the idea of smuggling.

In her remarks, the Ntungamo District woman MP, Hon Joselyn Kamatenesi Bata appreciated both countries for reaching this agreement, noting that she is hopeful that it will boast revenue.

A section of residents from both Countries who graced the official opening expressed their happiness and requested that both countries should enable border crossing at any time. 

Rwempasha -Kizinga border is an addition to the three other border crossing points including; Katuna border in Kabale district, Mirama-Katigumba in Ntungamo and Cyanika border in Kisoro district.

Authorities in Mitooma district have given a one-week ultimatum to all parish chiefs who have not dispatched Parish Development Model funds to do the needful or risk losing their jobs.

Mitooma district RDC, Francis Kibuka Amooti issued the ultimatum during a meeting between office of the RDC and all PDM stakeholders in the district that was held at Mitooma church of Uganda.

The meeting followed the public’s outcry that some parish chiefs are using their powers to delay the money disbursement with intentions of extorting money from the beneficiaries.

RDC Kibuka gave the parish chiefs one week to dispatch all the remaining funds and also vowed to deal with any of them who will be found sabotaging government programs.

The Mitooma district deputy RDC, Merishent Ariyo noted that some parish chiefs especially males are using their powers to seduce women before giving them money which she says is against their moral ethics of work. 

Monday Swaibu Lwanga, the Mitooma district PDM focal person noted that the dispatch exercise of PDM funds in Mitooma stands at 54% with 46% of funds not distributed, attributing the delay to limited computer access. 

Relatedly, Thomas Tayebwa the Deputy Speaker of parliament who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Ruhinda North County in Mitooma noted that despite some implementation challenges, the community is overwhelmingly appreciative of this government programme.

Thomas Tayebwa, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament also MP Ruhinda North County in Mitooma district addressing his constituents.

“PDM is going to change the fortunes of my constituents,” said Tayebwa.

Tayebwa revealed that he gathered this feedback from both beneficiaries and yet to be beneficiaries during meetings he convened during a two-day monitoring visit to his constituency where he covered Rutokye Town Council and Kigyende Sub-county and Kanyabwanga Sub-County.

Councilors in Bisheshe Division, Ibanda district have today suspended council indefinitely in protest over the Ibanda Municipality leaders’ failure to secure government land from illegal occupants.

During the aborted council meeting on Thursday, Perez Tukwatanise, the division council speaker, said the councilors are not happy with the municipality leadership for never implementing the division’s resolutions on the land grabbers.

While moving the motion to suspend council sitting, Anna Tumuhairwe, the councilor representing Karangara ward, said they wanted to send a clear message to the “municipal leaders so they act on the issue of land grabber. The motion was seconded by Sylvia Twongyeirwe, the councilor representing Bugarama North ward.

When the division speaker put the question to the council, it received unanimous support from the councilors.

Earlier, division chairman Johnson Kanyomozi, said council has been allocating money for titling the lands in the division since 2018, noting that none of its 23 pieces of land is titled.

Kanyomozi threaten to mobilize LC one and two leaders in the division to join councilors in a protest against the land grabbers and municipality leadership, if they continue ignoring their concerns on the issue.

The contested land includes land that hosts Bisheshe trading centre, for which the occupants pay ground rent to the division.

However, some of the encroachers have put up schools and others planted eucalyptus forests on the land.

Fish vendors in Mbarara central market have vowed not to vacate or pay rent despite the city council’s one week ultimatum.

These fish vendors, who typically pay a monthly rental fee of UGX 100,000, have refused to pay for the past twelve months, arguing that the amount is too high given their low income status.

It’s worth noting that last week, Assy Abireebe Tumwesigire, the Mbarara city clerk emphasized that non-compliant vendors will be required to vacate the market within one week with the option of paying all rent arrears owed to the council or face legal action.

In response, the vendors have declared their intention to remain in the market and have threatened to carry out peaceful protests.

According to Abireebe, the council calculated the rental fees based on the expenses required for market maintenance, amounting to UGX 30 million monthly.

Quraish Rugemwa, a fish vendor who doubles as the Publicity Secretary for Mbarara Central Market Vendors Association, explained their reluctance to pay the fee of UGX 100,000 monthly.

He noted that there are other additional expenses such as electricity bills of UGX 300,000 for deep freezers, water bills of UGX 22,000, and the rent, totaling UGX 422,000 monthly, which they consider exorbitant compared to the other vendors in the market.

Kazo district has launched the distribution of 153,440 treated long-lasting mosquito nets received from Ministry of Health in the campaign against malaria.

Ndyaguma Laban, the district health inspector also the malaria focal person Kazo district said the Village health team and village chairperson have already began the door-to-door distribution of the mosquito nets.

He also asked the residents to embrace the exercise in the fight against malaria in the district.

Bahemuka Keith, the deputy chief administrative officer, commended the ministry of health for the serious intervention saying malaria remains a top killer disease in the country.

Ainebyoona Emmanuel, the ministry of health spokesperson said as part of the campaign to end malaria, government of Uganda through the ministry of health launched the distribution of mosquito nets across the country.

He added that this exercise which started in May is expected to end in November and is aimed at the distribution of 28m treated mosquito nets in 18 districts in western and central Uganda.

Ainebyoona noted that reports from the western region indicate that there has been massive turn-up of residents and urged those receiving the nets not to misuse them in poultry and fishing activities.

In addition to Kazo district , this distribution phase will also cover the districts of; Bukwo, Bulambuli, Buyende, Ibanda, Iganga, Jinja City, Jinja, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kapchorwa,Rwampara, Kyegegwa, Luuka, Mbarara, Mbarara City, Namayingo and Ntungamo.

Police in Rubirizi district are investigating the circumstances under which a 28-year-old woman and her 3 children were murdered in cold blood.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified the suspect as Owoyesigyire Denis alias boy aged 40 while the deceased are Musimenta Asanansi, a housewife, Akandwanaho Andrew, 4,  Akanyijuka Javira,3 and Atwijukire Davis aged 2 months, all residents of Munyonyi 11 A Cell, Munyonyi Parish, Katanda Sub-county in Rubirizi District. 

It is reported that on Saturday night while at Munyonyi 11 A Cell, Munyonyi Parish, Katanda sub county in Rubirizi District, the suspect arrived at his home from his drinking spree, he started quarreling with his wife and ended up killing the wife and the 3 children mentioned above by stabbing them one by one.

After confirming them dead, he escaped, run to his Father’s home where he was arrested from.

Tumusiime added that police established that the suspect is a drug addict and has been drinking too much alcohol.

The bodies of the deceased were retrieved and taken to Rugazi Health center IV for postmortem examination.

Residents of Bushenyi town were engulfed in shock and grief after finding the dead body of a 67-year-old man in his rented room.

Eye witness identified as the deceased as Ibrahim Katumba, working as a driver at Presidential Initiative on banana industrial development (PIBID) and a resident of Ggango in Wakiso district.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the incident adding that preliminary investigations suggest that the deceased succumbed to suffocation because there was a charcoal stove burning with food inside the house.

The residents revealed that the deceased was last seen on Thursday around 8pm preparing food for super and they were shocked to find him dead in morning.

Police removed the body of the deceased from the scene and conveyed it to Kampala International hospital for postmortem examination.

Police in Sheema district are holding a one Bainomugisha on allegations of stabbing a 21-year-old man to death following a disagreement over the match between Arsenal and Manchester United on Sunday evening.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Aineruhanga Jackson  and suspect as Bainomugisha Vincent all residents of Rwanyinakahire cell, Rwamujojo ward, Sheema Central Division, Sheema Municipality, Sheema District.

It is reported that on 3/9/2023 in the evening hours, the victim and the deceased developed a misunderstanding in the video hall while watching football.

After the match, the two went to the bar of Coleb, who chased them out of his bar because they were quarreling then the suspect ran after the victim and stabbed him in the chest with a sharp stick which led to his death.

Tumusiime added that police were informed in time and rushed to the crime scene where they found the body of the deceased on it’s back with blood oozing from the injured left side of the chest.

They also found a stick with blood stains, which they picked and exhibited.

The body of the deceased was conveyed to Kabwohe Health Centre IV for Postmortem examination and investigations into the matter continue.

Police in Bushenyi are investigating circumstances under which a 23-year-old man was murdered by mob on Sunday night.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed incident and identified the deceased as Sendaula James, a Business Man at Kitwe Trading Centre, Rwentuha Town Council, Bushenyi District.

Tumusiime said that deceased left his mother’s home after lunch on 3/9/2023 and went to his work place at Kitwe trading centre where he had a music library, but did not as usual return after work, only for his body to be found on Monday morning lying dead in a pool of blood by the road at Kancucu village in Kitwe ward, Rwentuha town council Bushenyi District.

He added passers-by informed the Giso Rwentuha town council who later reported the matter to police at Rwentuha.

Tumusiime said that a Canine dog was introduced to the scene but could not go far as the scene seemed to have already been tampered with by the many people, however, three sandals were recovered from the scene with blood stains.

The body of the deceased was conveyed to KIU Hospital in Ishaka for Postmortem examination as investigations into the matter continue.