Police in Mitooma are investigating circumstances under which a 55-year-old man hanged himself to death.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Marisiyari Turyagyenda, a resident of Ndurumo cell, Ndurumo Parish, Rwoburunga sub-county in Mitooma District.

Jackson Mupenda, the LC 1 chairperson Ndurumo cell who reported the matter to police said the body of the deceased was found hanging on an avocado tree on Sunday, 28/05/2023 at around 8:00am.

Akanyijuka Promise, an eye witness said she saw the body of Turyagyenda hanging on an Avocado tree in a banana plantation and she alerted the residents.

Tumusiime said police was notified and rushed to the scene of crime.

It is said that the deceased has been having an on and off mental illness, and on the 26th May 2023, the deceased told his wife in the presence of his children that he was going to do something strange that would attract the local councils to gather at his place.

Tumusiime said postmortem was conducted at the crime scene by Dr Oloya of Mitooma Health Center IV and the body was handed over to the family for burial.

Police in Rwampara district have arrested a Parish Chief and PDM Sacco Chairman for allegedly extorting money from individuals registering for Parish Development Model (PDM) program.

The suspects are APollo Kwotazariirwe, the Parish Chief of Kamomo Parish, and Salapio Bitwaraabaabo, the PDM Sacco Chairman of Kamomo Fishers Sacco.

It’s alleged that the two extorted money amounting to UGX 130.000 from a one Steven Muzahura, a resident of Buranga cell, Kamomo Parish in Bugamba Sub-County under the guise of registering him for Parish Development Model (PDM) program.

Steven Kamar, the DPC Rwampara district confirmed the arrest of the two adding that the case is under investigation and they are currently detained at Nyeihanga police station.

The RDC Rwampara district, Jane Asiimwe Muhindo warned all parish chiefs to avoid extorting money from beneficiaries of PDM and urged members of the public with the same issue to run to her office.

Muhindo also cautioned the beneficiaries of parish development modal to utilize money responsibly and fight poverty in their families not buying mattress, beds, drinking alcohol and among others

Members of parliament representing Rwampara district have expressed disappointment in the district technical team over the poor state of roads when the funds are available.

During a roads committee meeting chaired by area Woman MP Molly Asiimwe, MPS tasked the Chief Administrative officer, Rose Nalumansi and staff engineers to explain why the roads are in a very sorry state when the funds are available.

The roads in question include Katereza-Nyakabare 7 kms that was budgeted for UGX 24M,  15 Km of Kanyampiha-Rweibogo- Bugamba-Kalangala, Rukandagye road budgeted for UGX 400 Million, and Byanamira-Nyamukana Kibare-Kamomo road which are all unfinished yet all the money was released.

The legislators were left shocked after receiving the report from CAO and engineers that roads were worked on and money was all spent.

Julius Tusiime Karuhanga, the Rwampara East MP called in for police investigation citing misuse of government funds.

Molly Asiimwe noted that they have given CAO up to Wednesday to bring a comprehensive report if not the anti-corruption unit will be called in for further investigation.

Our reporter learnt that engineers Topher Muhwezi and Gilbert Muhangi were interdicted last week.

Police in Buhweju have arrested a woman and her daughter over the alleged murder of the head of the family.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the arrest and identified the deceased as Caleb Kakuru, 62, while the suspects are Concila Nyandagazi, 50, (wife to the deceased) and Medius Nayebare,27, (step daughter to the deceased), all residents of Rubengye parish, Rubengye  sub-county in Buhweju district.

Tumusiime said that police from Rubengye Police Station responded to the incident after receiving a report of murder of a one Kakuru, they found his naked body lying on the floor facing down in a pool of blood and preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was hit with a sharp object on the back of his head.

The wife to the deceased denied the accusations alleging that they were attacked by two unknown men who reportedly tied her with a rope and a cloth on the mouth to stop her from shouting then assaulted the husband to death and she was unable to identify the assailants.

It said that the deceased has been having long-term misunderstandings with the wife over the children she got from her previous marriage who had been coming to stay with their mother but the deceased has been chasing them away which created conflict between him and the wife.

Tumusiime also added that the body of deceased was conveyed to Nsiika Health Center IV for Postmortem examination and investigations into the matter continue.

Ntungamo district LC V Chairperson, Sam Muchunguzi Rwakigoba has called upon contractors in the district to always be extra careful while executing government projects and always ensure value for money.

Muchunguzi who was yesterday  speaking at the launch and hand over of the Micro scale irrigation program sites to contractors held at Rwoho town council offices in Ntungamo district revealed that the government projects will only bring impact to benefiting communities once the contractors avoid shoddy work.

Ntungamo Chief Administrative Officer, Mathias Ndifuna revealed that irrigation is very vital since it enables the farmers to plant throughout the year without being interrupted by changes in weather.

Ndifuna revealed that once irrigation is taken seriously, it will supplement nutrition since the farmers will have the capacity to grow crops during the time of less or no rains at all.

Ntungamo deputy resident district commissioner, Robert Niwamanya Kamuntu called upon the locals and leaders in the district to focus on enhancing revenue collection to enable them meet their needs and supplement government efforts.

Bwino Daniel, the senior Agricultural Engineer who also doubles as the project coordinator revealed that the Micro scale irrigation program is being implemented under the Uganda inter-governmental fiscal transfer (UgIFT) reform program supported by the World Bank.

Under this program, a total of 28 solar powered irrigation systems with be installed to beneficiaries in the district to the tune of UGX 530 million.

Authorities in Ntungamo district have moved towards improving meat safety and quality.

Dr.Yaake Basulira, the Ntungamo district veterinary officer said the quality of meat, especially beef, which is consumed in large quantities, can only be guaranteed when the authorities and veterinary workers work together.

Basulira, who was on Tuesday speaking at the handover of meat inspection kits to veterinary officers at the district headquarters, revealed that the district has acquired modern vital equipment that will enable the vets to test and ascertain the quality and safety of meat before it is put up for sale and human consumption.

Basulira revealed that the district has received six meat inspection kits and laboratory equipment, among others, from the ministry of agriculture to support them in ensuring quality meat.

Sam Muchunguzi Rwakigoba, the LC V chairperson Ntungamo district urged the veterinary workers to ensure that the equipment is put to good use since it is vital and expensive.

Muchunguzi added that acquiring modern equipment will help ensure that people eat safe meat and address the challenges of consuming contaminated meat.

The Government of Uganda through the Office of the Prime Minister has delivered relief items to 400 households that were affected after River Rushaya in Bwambara sub-county, Rukungiri district, burst its banks, killing three people and displacing many others on April 29, 2023.

Security minister, also the Rujumbura County MP, Maj Gen (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi, delivered the relief items which included 20,000kg of maize flour and 10,000kg of beans as well as 100 tarpaulins for those who lost their houses.

An assortment of relief items for the 400 households affected by floods in Rukungiri district.

Muhwezi said each of the families that lost a loved one will also receive UGX 5m on top of other relief items. He said each of the 400 families will receive 50kgs of maize flour and 25kgs of beans. 

Muhwezi warned residents against destroying the environment, something he said resulted in such calamities. 

He said the government has also set aside some money to upgrade the roads in places where the disaster wreaked havoc.