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Tragic Accident Claims Life on Kazo-Ibanda Road

Written by kazofm.admin on September 13, 2024. Posted in Local, News.

A tragic accident this morning on the Kazo-Ibanda road in Kazo District resulted in the death of one individual and left another critically injured.

The collision involved a Toyota Premio (registration number UAP 149J) and a Fuso Fighter Truck (registration number UBA 312W) in a head-on crash near Katanganya Trading Centre.

The deceased has been identified as Nuwagira Sayid Kamoomo, a resident of Rwakahaya Village in Kanoni Sub County, Kazo District. Kamoomo died at the scene, while his driver, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, sustained critical injuries.

In contrast, the three occupants of the Fuso Fighter Truck were reported to have escaped unharmed.

Witnesses at the scene indicated that Kamoomo was traveling from the Ibanda side, while the Fuso Fighter Truck was on its way from Kampala at the time of the accident.

In response to the incident, Kazo District LCV Chairman Rev. Samuel Mugisha Katugunda spoke with Kazo FM, highlighting his ongoing concerns regarding road safety in the area.

He mentioned that he has been advocating for the installation of speed humps along the Kazo-Ibanda road, a request he claims has yet to be addressed by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). Rev. Katugunda pledged to continue pursuing measures that could help reduce the occurrence of such tragic accidents in the future.

By the time of reporting, police from Kazo Police Station had arrived at the scene to conduct their investigations into the accident.

Igara Accused of Violating Tea Farmers’ Rights in Court

Written by kazofm.admin on September 13, 2024. Posted in Local, News.

The Igara Tea Growers Factory has filed a lawsuit against a group of tea farmers from Buhweju, alleging that they are disrupting the operations of the Buhweju factory, which is part of the Igara-Buhweju Growers Tea Company.

This legal battle stems from ongoing tensions that began a few years ago when Buhweju tea farmers sought autonomy for their factory, a request that Igara management has consistently rejected.

The situation intensified when representatives from the Buhweju farmers formed a steering committee aimed at facilitating the separation of their factory from Igara.

According to Nicholas Abenaitwe, the lawyer representing the accused farmers, the committee’s purpose was to expedite the process of independence from the Igara factory, which they claim has been obstructing their efforts.

In response to these developments, the Igara Tea Growers Factory sought a court injunction to prevent the Buhweju farmers from disrupting factory activities. During a court appearance today, both the complainants and the defendants presented their cases to Deputy Registrar Arinaitwe Gorreti.

The court ruled in favor of the Buhweju farmers, granting them permission to hold meetings but explicitly prohibiting them from interfering with the factory’s operations.

The court has adjourned the case until October 18 for further mention of the main suit, leaving both sides awaiting clarification on the future of their ongoing conflict.

Haruna Ssewaya, the lead lawyer for the petitioners, emphasized the seriousness of the situation and the need for a resolution as the conflict continues to impact the tea-growing community in the region.

Rwampara SACCOs Default on Emyooga Funds

Written by kazofm.admin on September 11, 2024. Posted in News.

In January 2021, Rwampara District received Shs 1.4 billion for 36 Emyooga SACCOs across two constituencies, with each SACCO allocated an initial capital of Shs 30 million. However, as of now, none of these SACCOs have managed to repay their borrowed funds.

Nationally, the Emyooga initiative, launched in 2020, aimed to provide financial support to various community groups, with a total budget of Shs 265 billion earmarked for 1,000 SACCOs throughout Uganda. To date, approximately Shs 125 billion has been disbursed, but reports indicate that many SACCOs across the country are struggling with repayment, raising concerns about the program’s effectiveness.

During a parliamentary finance committee oversight meeting yesterday, several chairpersons from the Emyooga SACCOs in Rwampara attributed the poor recovery of funds to political interference and local governance challenges. They claimed that external pressures and influences have hindered their ability to collect repayments from members.

Amos Kankunda, the legislator for Rwampara County and chairperson of the parliamentary finance committee, addressed these concerns, stating that the committee has instructed the Resident District Commissioner’s office to initiate arrest proceedings against beneficiaries who have failed to repay the funds.

Kankunda emphasized the need for accountability, noting that if the situation persists, it could undermine the credibility of the Emyooga initiative and jeopardize future funding for community development projects.

Body of Missing Mbarara Nurse Found in River

Written by kazofm.admin on September 11, 2024. Posted in News.

Police in Mbarara have recovered the body of Kyarisiima Judith, a nursing officer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, who went missing from her marital home on September 2, 2024.

Judith, age 50, was married to Nkwasiibwe Justus, the head teacher at Bugashe One Primary School, located in Nyakayojo, Mbarara South Division. Her body was discovered in River Rwizi and has been sent to the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Harrison Kagure, the public relations officer for Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, stated that there have been no prior complaints regarding gender-based violence related to Judith’s marriage.

The Regional Police Public Relations Officer for the Rwizi region, Samson Kasasira, confirmed the details regarding Judith’s death, which was reported at approximately 9:00 AM in the Lugazi area along the banks of River Rwizi.

Kasasira indicated that police investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of death, considering the possibility of murder or suicide. Samples have been collected from the body, and detectives are interviewing individuals who had contact with Judith prior to her death in order to ensure justice is served.

Four people, including Judith’s husband, are currently being investigated as key suspects in the case surrounding her disappearance and subsequent death.

Storm Wrecks Homes and Crops in Nyanga Ward, Bushenyi District

Written by kazofm.admin on September 10, 2024. Posted in News, Regional.

Over 21 homesteads and one school in Nyanga ward Bitooma Town Council Bushenyi district are counting losses following heavy downpour that ravaged the area and destroyed crops and houses.

The heavy downpour characterized by strong wind, a storm started yesterday evening at around 4:00pm and lasted for one hour destroying houses and food crops, including banana plantations, cassava gardens, and beans, among others. Nyamishundo primary school, a government aided school was also ravaged by the heavy down pour.

James Atukwatse the LCIII Chairperson Bitooma Town Council said that the heavy downpour submerged the house of the chairman LCI, Nyanga village, only known as Januarioleaving him in a critical condition.He was rushed to Comboni Mission Hospital-Kyamuhunga while family members were rushed to a nearby clinic for treatment.

Atukwatse said that the destruction of crops may result into famine and added that he has already asked the agricultural department to visit the area and ascertain the magnitude of the damage in order to make a report to the Ministry of Disaster for intervention.

Parliament Holds Funeral Service in Honour of Hon. Sarah Mateke

Written by kazofm.admin on September 9, 2024. Posted in National, News.

Members of Parliament have convened this afternoon at Parliament for the first funeral service in honour of Hon. Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, who served as the Kisoro Woman Member of Parliament and State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs. Mateke passed away from a heart attack on Saturday morning at the age of 50.

Parliament has organized the program in consultation with the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Mateke’s family, the national organizing committee, and other stakeholders.

In a statement yesterday, Speaker Anita Among announced a slight amendment to the send-off program. The funeral service, originally scheduled for 3:00 PM in Nsangi, was moved to the Parliament parking lot starting at 2:00 PM. After the service, the body will be taken to her residence in Nsangi. The rest of the program will proceed as previously communicated.

The Archbishop, Church of Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba who led the funeral service, expressed concern over allegations of poison among leaders, saying the topic has become so trendy to the extent that when MPs attend church functions, they run away and do not eat the food served, for fear of being poisoned. “When we lose our people, yes we can cry, but that isn’t the end of it all. Only that when some people cry, they utter some bad words, this one has been bewitched, this one has been poisoned. I think poison has become a common language. And that is why, when we have you (MPs) visiting at church, many people when it comes to lunch time, they disappear, they fear to be poisoned even at church,” Kazimba said.

James Nsaba Buturo (Bufumbira East) in leading the intercession prayers thanked God for the life he gave to the late Sarah Mateke and prayed for grace to be extended to her family and all the people whose lives were touched in her lifetime. “As we mourn one of us who has come to be with you, we do so in the full knowledge that it will be our turn someday, so encourage us to be one, encourage us to remember that we are one people. As for our friend who has left us, we say thank you for the life that you gave her, thank you for the things you did for your people through her. In remembering all that, we not only say thank you, we call for your grace to be upon Dr. Mateke and the family and all of us who have been able to come to you,” prayed Buturo.

Official Program:

Today: The body will be at Parliament for prayers in memory of Mateke. Following the service, the body will be taken to her home in Nsangi, Wakiso District, for a night vigil.
Tomorrow: A second service will be held at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero, starting at 8 AM. Afterward, the body will return to Parliament for a special sitting dedicated to honoring Mateke. Once the session concludes, the body will be taken back to A Plus Funeral Home.
Wednesday: The body will be transported to Nyakabingo, Kisoro District, where a council session will take place at 2 PM, along with prayers and a vigil.
Thursday: A church service will be held, followed by the burial.

Members of Parliament will also pay tribute to Mateke during a special sitting tomorrow in the August House.

Trump and Harris Prepare for High-Stakes Debate

Written by kazofm.admin on September 9, 2024. Posted in Opinion.

The U.S. presidential race is proving to be highly competitive, with polls indicating a tight contest just two days before the first and potentially only televised debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Recent surveys show that Trump commands unwavering support from roughly half of voters, despite his status as a convicted criminal and his role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election results.

Harris, who entered the race after President Biden dropped out in July, has quickly evolved from a largely overlooked vice president to a credible challenger. However, current polling suggests she has yet to achieve a significant breakthrough, resulting in a neck-and-neck race. A Siena College poll indicates Trump leads Harris nationally by a narrow margin of 48 to 47 percent, well within the margin of error.

U.S. presidential elections rely on state-by-state outcomes rather than the national popular vote, making key swing states crucial. The polling suggests that Harris holds a slight advantage in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, while being tied in several other pivotal states, including Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina, and Arizona. A YouGov poll also shows Harris ahead by one percentage point in Michigan and Wisconsin, and tied in Pennsylvania.

The electoral landscape remains chaotic, with Biden, at 81 years old, having exited the race amid age-related concerns, and Trump narrowly surviving an assassination attempt at a rally. There are also persistent fears regarding Trump’s potential refusal to concede if he loses in November.

Despite the tumult, both candidates appear to have solidified loyal bases, resulting in a nearly even split among voters. Trump will be under pressure to moderate his typically aggressive style in the presence of Harris, who is vying to become the first female president of the United States.

Harris aims at delivering an optimistic, forward-looking message that contrasts sharply with Trump’s dire warnings about the future of the country without his leadership. Nonetheless, she has faced criticism for her focus on unity and optimism at the expense of concrete policies. In response to these critiques, her campaign released a policy platform addressing issues such as unions, cost-of-living concerns, and healthcare.

Navigating the debate will be a challenge for Harris, as Trump is known for making false statements and provoking his opponents. Biden struggled in his only debate against Trump, illustrating the difficulty Harris may face.

Trump has also subjected Harris to racist and sexist taunts, mispronouncing her name and labeling her as “crazy” and a “Marxist.” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted the extraordinary focus and discipline required for Harris to engage effectively in a debate with Trump.

After the debate, the Harris campaign plans to visit battleground states, starting in North Carolina and then heading to Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Trump continues to rally his mostly white, working-class base, delivering dark speeches that frame Democrats as a “rogue regime.” On his social media platform, he has threatened to impose harsh prison sentences on anyone he accuses of intending to “cheat” in the upcoming election.

R.Nyamwamba bursts banks, Floods Kasese Municipality

Written by kazofm.admin on September 7, 2024. Posted in News, Regional.

Business and activities in Kasese Municipality were severely disrupted on Saturday after River Nyamwamba overflowed its banks, causing widespread flooding in key areas of the town.

The most affected locations include Mboghoyabo, Bihande, and Henry Bwambale roads in Kisanga Cell, as well as a section of the Kasese-Fort Portal Highway and Bataka Road in Saluti Cell. Additionally, Gaz and Kobil fuel stations were submerged, leading to a complete suspension of business operations.

Tragically, one person has reportedly drowned after falling into a flooded drainage ditch along the Fort Portal-Kasese highway.

Kabugho Maryline, a trader at Mawa Market, described the chaos as water suddenly surged into the market area around 9:00 am. Many traders fled, while others scrambled to move their products to higher ground, hoping the waters would recede.

“We were taken by surprise, but we hope the waters will go down as the day progresses,” Kabugho lamented.

Umar Baluku, a resident of Mubuzi Cell, reported that water entered their home at around the same time, destroying several household items that were left on the ground.

Kasese town has a history of flooding, with a similar incident occurring in May this year when residents found water entering their homes overnight after River Nyamwamba also burst its banks.

Tebboune Poised for Second Term in Algeria’s Presidential Election

Written by kazofm.admin on September 7, 2024. Posted in Africa, News.

Algerians are participating in a presidential election in which incumbent Abdelmadjid Tebboune is expected to secure a second term. Polling stations opened at 8:00 am local time on Saturday, with over 24 million registered voters. More than 800,000 expatriate Algerians, primarily in France, began voting on September 2.

Tebboune, 78, is facing two challengers: Abdelaali Hassani Cherif, 57, and Youcef Aouchiche, 41. Although 15 candidates sought to enter the race, only Hassani Cherif and Aouchiche gathered sufficient signatures to qualify. Neither poses a significant challenge to the military establishment, which has maintained considerable influence since the 1960s.

Campaign rallies for this election, rescheduled from December to an earlier date, have struggled to generate excitement, partly due to the summer heat. Political commentator Mohamed Hennad has suggested that the election’s outcome seems predetermined given the restrictive campaigning conditions.

A major challenge for Tebboune is boosting voter turnout, which was under 40% during his first election in 2019 and dropped to about 30% in the 2021 legislative elections. “The president is keen to have a significant turnout,” said Hasni Abidi, an analyst at the Geneva-based CERMAM study center.

These low turnout figures have coincided with the Hirak pro-democracy protests that led to the ousting of Tebboune’s predecessor, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, which were subsequently suppressed through intensified policing and mass arrests.

With over half of Algeria’s 45 million population being young, all candidates are trying to engage this demographic by promising to improve living standards and reduce reliance on hydrocarbons. Tebboune has highlighted his economic achievements during his first term, citing job creation and wage increases in Africa’s largest natural gas exporter.

If re-elected, Tebboune is expected to continue focusing on enhancing energy exports while implementing limited pro-business reforms and maintaining generous subsidies, all while exercising tight control over dissent.

His challengers have pledged to promote greater freedoms. Aouchiche has committed to releasing political prisoners through an amnesty and revising restrictive laws related to media and terrorism, while Hassani Cherif advocates for the restoration of civil liberties curtailed in recent years.

Preliminary results may be announced as early as Saturday night, with the electoral authority, expected to release official results by Sunday.

State Minister for Defence, Sarah Nyirabashitsi Dead

Written by kazofm.admin on September 7, 2024. Posted in National, News.

The Minister of state for Defence and Veteran Affairs who is also Kisoro District Woman Member of Parliament, Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateke has passed away at the age of 50. Her brother, Dr. Gedion Mugisha, confirmed that she suffered a heart attack at her home in Kampala during the early hours of Saturday and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Mengo Hospital for treatment.

Dr. Mugisha expressed his sorrow over her untimely death, highlighting the significant loss to both the family and the Kisoro District community. He mentioned that burial arrangements would be discussed in a family meeting and noted the expectation that the government would assist with the burial program.

Nyirabashitsi’s father, Dr. Philemon Mateke, a former state minister, described her passing as a substantial blow to the family. Various community leaders including Kisoro municipality deputy mayor Augustine Mbonigaba and district council speaker Amos Hakizimana, praised Nyirabashitsi’s contributions as an exemplary legislator who was dedicated to her constituents. They stressed her commitment to development, unity, and empowerment particularly of women and youths.

Born on July 15, 1974, in Kisoro District, Nyirabashitsi received her education from local schools and universities, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Health, among other qualifications. She was actively involved in family businesses and founded the Nyirabashitsi Foundation to support children’s education.

She was the chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan International University and Makerere Metropolitan Management Institute, Kampala.

Her political career began as the Assistant Town Clerk for Kisoro before successfully running for Woman Member of Parliament in 2021. Initially serving as Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development, she was later appointed as Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs earlier this year amid a cabinet reshuffle by President Museveni. The community has expressed deep sorrow at her passing, recognizing her as a pivotal figure in local governance and development.

Author: kazofm.admin