The State Minister in charge of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, David Bahati has asked people of Ibanda to stand with their Members of Parliament especially during the battle with European Countries over homosexuality.

While presiding over a thanks giving service as a chief Guest at All Saints Church of Uganda Ishongororo under North West Ankole Diocese on Sunday, Minister Bahati said that as Members of Parliament they won’t accept any person to sell such evil acts in Uganda.

In the same tone, Dr Ninkusiima John Paul, the Ibanda South Member of Parliament applauded members of the public who are standing with them especially when they are fighting with western countries over homosexuality.

In the thanksgiving, Minister Bahati contributed over UGX 18M and further urged Christians to engage in Government projects like Parish Development Model if they are to chase poverty out of their families.

Meanwhile, the North West Ankole Diocese Bishop, Amos Magezi said that they need about UGX1.5billion to complete the new church.

About UGX 40m was collected towards the completion of the church

Authorities in Ibanda district have called upon local leaders to join the campaign to increase awareness about the dangers of self-medication and the need for clean environments.

Speaking to journalists, Dr Julius Bamwine, the District Health Officer revealed that there has been a registered surge in Malaria cases in the district.

Dr Bamwine noted that Ishongororo town council, Kicuzi and Keihangara sub-counties as well as Bisheshe Division in Ibanda Municipality are the areas with the highest number of malaria cases in the district.

According the DHO, the other areas with high malaria burden are Bufunda and Kagongo divisions, as well as Ishongororo and Rukiri sub-counties, among others. 

The DHO attributed the increase partly to the fact that many people don’t want to use treated mosquito nets, while others use ineffective mosquito nets.

Dr Bamwine further said that many people also live in dirty environments surrounded by garbage, bushes and stagnant waters.

“These provide perfect breeding places for the mosquitoes,” said Dr Bamwine in an interview.

The DHO urged local leaders to always encourage residents to use treated mosquito nets and clear bushes and stagnant water in their neighbourhoods as preventative measures.

Dr Bamwine said 24 people succumbed to malaria last year, higher than the previous year.

Meanwhile, the district has not received drugs and other supplies from National Medical Stores (NMS) for about four months now, which has affected the fight against sicknesses like malaria, said Bamwine.

He however advised residents to avoid self-treatment and always visit health centres for proper disease diagnosis and management. 

Residents of Nsiika and Kahiihi cells in Nsiika Parish, Mbarara district have embarked on working on their own road that is in a very sorry state.

Residents say the Ruhumba-Bwengure road connecting Rubindi-Ruhumba town council which they use to transport their agricultural produce to market is in a sorry state that’s why they decided to do communal work as they wait for the government.

Loydah Twinomujuni, the district lady councilor representing Rubaya sub-county revealed that she received a call from the chairperson LC III for Kagongi sub-county asking for the contribution to work on the road and she decided to contribute trips of murram to work on the road.

Residents who blame the government for neglecting them have also called upon their leaders to work on the other roads that are in poor state.

Loyce Mpumwire, the district lady councilor representing Kagongi sub-country noted that they are still waiting for funds from the government but as of now they have collaborated with other leaders who extended the helping hand.

Following the outbreak of Marburg fever in Bukoba district, Kagera region, north western Tanzania, few kilometers away from Uganda –Tanzania Border, members of the public have been called upon to remain vigilant.

The Isingiro District LC V chairperson, Aaron Turahi confirmed that one person was on Friday Isolated from public and is now being monitored from Rubondo HC III after showing signs and symptoms similar to those of Marburg Fever.

Turahi urged people of Isingiro to remain vigilant and report any suspected case to Health Authorities than keeping quiet.

The Ibanda District Health Officer, Dr Julius Bamwine intimated to our reporter that the disease is viral hemorrhagic fever hence urged people of Ibanda to remain observant since Isingiro District is not far from Ibanda.

According to Dr Bamwine, in 2012, the Marburg fever claimed 37 lives in Ibanda District and this has forced them to have a strong surveillance team in place immediately before the outbreak.

Uganda’s ministry of health has also ordered screening and testing at its southern border following an outbreak of Marburg virus that has since killed five people in Tanzania.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a highly fatal, zoonotic haemorrhagic disease caused by the Marburg virus.

WHO explains that Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids from infected persons, or contact with equipment and other materials contaminated with infectious blood or tissues, body fluids of infected people, and contaminated surfaces or materials.

Mbarara City Council leaders have expressed disappointment of failure of the contractors to meet the deadline to complete the construction of three city roads.

In May 2021, Multiplex Limited and Ditaco International Trade were awarded a joint contract to construct three roads in the city under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development-USMID.

The roads include; Major Victor Bwana measuring 0.95 km, Galt Road measuring 0.65KM and Stanley Road measuring 0.78 km in Mbarara City all at the cost of UGX 23 billion.

The road construction which was supposed to end in April 2022, was extended three times but still it’s not yet completed.

Mbarara City Mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi said that much as they are waiting for Parliament to approve a supplementary budget of UGX 20 billion, the contractor may not beat the deadline to complete the works.

The Mbarara City Clerk, Assy Abireebe Tumwesigye noted that the contractor stands to be fined UGX 2.3 billion if he fails to meet the deadline because the city council has fulfilled all its obligations in the project.

Efforts to contact Isaac Kalule, the Multiplex Limited head engineer were futile as he did not answer our reporter’s calls.