The senior presidential advisor on economic affairs, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu has advised that the Parish Development Model [PDM] funds should be channeled to the beneficiaries through already existing Saccos, which have proven consistence, and resilience through the times.

Kamuntu who made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at Kyamuhunga People’s SACCO (KYAPS) general meeting commended the PDM as one of the best approaches to fight poverty adding that the approach of giving money directly to the people has never worked in any country to change livelihoods sustainably, especially that the communities have not been well prepared to receive the money.

Kamuntu urged Ugandans to embrace these funds that will be at every parish in the country to help every family to engage in income-generating activities.

Paul Turyamureba Kahigi, the KYAPS board chairman said that the Sacco is embracing the electronic system of credit reference Bureau to curb down the cost of multiple borrowing that is causing a lot of contradictions in the institution.

John Bosco Atwijukire, the general manager decried the high rate of defaulters among the Sacco members who get loans which is affecting the Sacco liquidity and those seeking new loans.

The Minister for Labor, Gender and social Development Betty Amongi Akena has visited Kaaro high school playground in kiruhura district to assess whether it is a suitable place for the upcoming International Women’s day celebrations.

Amongi told journalists that the first place they were planning to host the function which was Sanga playground is not suitable due its proximity to the busy high way.

Addressing journalists on Thursday while at the grounds, Minister Amongi revealed that the global theme of the function this year is; ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality‘ “Addressing the digital divide, the gender gaps in transforming assessing the achievements of science, technology engineering and mathematics-STEM”.

Minister Amongi said that as a country, we need to first move girls on the same pace with the boys to allow all of them to enjoy the same rights like improved women participation in education among others.

Jovanice Rwenduru Twinobusingye, the Woman Member of Parliament for Kiruhura said the celebration of international women’s day aims at improving as well as equalizing the rights of women to men, removing inferiority complex from women through sensitization mostly in services like education and studying of science subjects.

During her visit, Minister Amongi also met groups of women who got and fully utilized funds from UWEP to improve their economy. The groups include; Rushere central zone women goat rearing group, Karengo women cow fattening group, Sanga women cooperative group, Kanyaryeru among others.

Rwenduru appreciated the Women groups that are repaying UWEP money.

Bakunda George, the Resident District Commissioner for Kiruhura said women should appreciate the ruling government-NRM for promoting their rights.

The state minister for Luwero-Rwenzori triangle, Alice Kaboyo has warned the civil servants against absenteeism.

Speaking during the government’s Baraza programme held in Ntungamo district at Rubaare town council on Thursday, the Minister noted that the absenteeism of government workers has contributed to the poor service delivery.

Kaboyo noted that there is a problem of unemployment in the country so those who act unprofessional should resign and those who are willing to work can take over.

Kaboyo also encouraged residents and leaders of Ntungamo to support government programmes irrespective of their ideological & political affiliations so that they can improve the lives of the people and develop the country.

“Parish Development Model (PDM) came to chase away poverty, please don’t spoil it with politics,” said Kaboyo.

The Minister also called upon the leaders to protect the environment by encouraging tree planting to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Sam Mucunguzi, the LCV chairperson Ntungamo district called up leaders to stop the habit of lamenting but rather table their issues in the council meetings whenever they sit for discussions.

Mucunguzi noted that lamentation among the leaders has led to poor service delivery.

The implementation of the Baraza Initiative or the Citizens’ Information Fora is spearheaded by Office of the Prime Minister to ensure that all policy issues are examined, revised and improved for easy service delivery in the districts.

Ibanda Grade One magistrate’s court has sentenced a night watchman to five days of community service and payment of UGX 100,000 after he pleaded guilty to the offence of causing bodily harm.

On September 18, 2022 about 8pm, Andrew Kato, 20, beat Luka Muhamya with a beer bottle on the left cheek, and injured him while on Kasuku Road in Bufunda Ibanda Municipality, as the teen was going home.

Kato, a watchman in Ibanda town, who has been on remand at Nyabuhikye Prison, pleaded guilty to the charges while appearing before the Grade One magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

Her worship Esther Murungi subsequently convicted and sentenced Kato to five hours of community service to run for five days.

She also ordered him to pay the victim UGX 100,000 within a month as compensation for costs incurred during treatment.  

According to the prosecution, the medical exam by Bufunda HCIII revealed that the victim sustained bodily harm caused by a blunt object.

Murungi explained that Kato was remorseful and “must have learnt his lesson during the over three months he spent on remand.”

Ibanda Central Police station recorded 254 assault cases during 2021, with the months of March and August recording the highest incidents at 41 and 26, respectively.

Wilson Kajwengye, the Member of Parliament for Nyabushozi County in Kiruhura district has urged head teachers, teachers and parents to sensitize children about dangers of homosexuality, a bad behavior that is being spread by Europeans to violate African culture.

Kajwengye made the remarks while addressing a convention of Head teachers of both Government aided and private Secondary Schools, Chairpersons of Boards Of Governors, PTAs, LC III Chairpersons in Kiruhura District.

The convention was graced by the district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), District Education Officer (DEO) & foundation bodies, to lay strategies for improved performance in the district’s education standards.

Hon. Kajwengye advised that one way to spread a gospel of avoiding homosexuality in schools is making posters opposing this evil act, encouraging and supporting innovation and creative clubs including debating and environment clubs among others.

Amanya Godwin, the head teacher of Nshwere Primary school said him and his teachers have already started to tell pupils to stay away from the act mostly at assemblies.

Kashaija Patrick, the head teacher Kaaro high school said they are very discreet when registering new students in order to avoid the habit from entering the school.

Kashaija urged fellow head teachers to do the same.

“We shall launch Career guidance and Inspiration sessions in schools championed by Nyabushozi born and educated professionals( Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers etc),”noted Kajwengye.

Kajwengye revealed that the teachers agreed to be innovative, start school projects, condemn homosexuality, and triple their efforts to improve performance with Head teachers signing performance Agreements.

By Mutatiina Medison

State Minister for Bunyoro affairs in the office of the Prime Minister, Jennifer Namuyangu has urged leaders in Rukingiri district to come up with bye laws to reduce increased crimes related to drug abuse.

Minister Namuyangu made the remarks on Tuesday during the Citizens Information Fora dubbed government Baraza programme held in Rukungiri municipality at municipal council play grounds with the intention of holding leaders accountable for Government money released to the district.

Her call was derived from the community based services reports which indicated that there is a high rate of criminality in Rukungiri due to the increased use of drugs.

Namuyangu called up the leaders not to wait for the central government all the time as they have the authority to put on bye-laws to guard against any evil acts in their areas.

She also called up the local leaders to embrace the self-help program (burungi-bwansi) before the government intervention.

In her report the Rukungiri municipal community development Officer, Hilda Nasazi noted that most of the people involved in drug abuse are the youth and this affects their behavior as well as dropping out of school and this puts the area at risk of being a spot area of criminals.

During the Baraza, a section of residents in Rukungiri district reported that rumours about the homosexuality vice have started surfacing in various schools in Rukungiri, asking the government to act immediately.

The residents also asked President Museveni to declare homosexuality in the country illegal and criminal if government is to avert the vice that has allegedly spread in schools across the country.

Residents of Kamitwijo Village, Nyamiriro Parish, Rubindi Sub-County, Mbarara District were on Tuesday left in shock after finding one of their own drowned in a River that connects Rubindi to Kashare Sub-County.

The deceased has been identified as Kansiime Jane, 44, who is said to have gone to the river to wash her mangoes and is alleged to have been mentally ill.

Anamaria Atukunda, the daughter to the deceased and Mary Kembaga, one of the residents confirmed to our reporter that Kansiime has lived for long with this problem of being mentally disturbed.

The residents notified police accordingly, ASP Amos Betungura, the OC Rubindi police station and his team visited the scene and retrieved the body for postmortem examination.

Betungura noted that after the postmortem examination, the body will be handed over to the relatives for burial.

ASP Betungura added that inquiries have been established to ascertain the likely cause of drowning and asked all people who stay with people who are mentally impaired to always look after them carefully.

Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has handed over 34 rescued people to the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).

The hand over was held at the headquarters of the UPDF  Mountain Division headquarters,  Muhooti barracks, 3Km from Fort Portal city, in Kabarole district.

The 34 were handed over by the UPDF Land Force Commander, Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga to Brig Gen Antoine Gbiagolo- Ngondo, who led a six member team of senior FARDC officers and diplomats from the DRC embassy in Kampala. 

Brig Gen Antoine Gbiagolo-Ngondo promised, on behalf of FARDC and Kinshasa that the 34 will be rehabilitated before they are re-united with their families in Eastern DRC.

The 34 were rescued after the different attacks the joint UPDF/FARDC made against ADF terrorists in Eastern DRC in the operation code named “Operation ‘Shujaa’. 

The rescued included children, women and men. Majority of them were abducted by ADF from their gardens and forced into terror acts.

According to Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga, the rescued were flown from Tokomeka to Uganda as there is no road network from the area where they were rescued from. The 34 have been taken care of by the UPDF since their rescue from ADF.

The overall commander Operation Shujaa and commander of the UPDF Mountain Division, Maj Gen Dick Olum appreciated Wanainchi of both countries for the continued support rendered to UPDF/FARDC during the joint operations which has seen many operational objectives realized.

UPDF also held a joint operation review meeting with FARDC to review the operation’s success and challenges with the view of capitalizing on success and solving challenges respectively.

 Since the joint operation commenced 14 months ago, there has been overwhelming success including stopping of murders in Ituri and north Kivu provinces that had ADF terrorists marauding in the villages.

According to Maj Bilal Katamba, the UPDF Mountain Division Public Information Officer who also speaks for the joint  operation, the  operation has recovered many weapons from the ADF,   denied them freedom of  recruitment, disrupted their logistical supplies and arrested a number of their collaborators.

“If this joint synergy continues with this momentum, we shall see the end of this monster called ADF,” noted Maj Katamba.

Police in Bushenyi are investigating circumstances under which a 22-year-old man hanged himself in a Catholic church in Kizinda, Bushenyi district.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police Spokesperson identified the deceased as Geoffrey Kigundu from Kabbankonyi, Gomba district whose body was found hanging at St. Karemba Catholic Church located in Katokye cell in Kizinda town council, Bushenyi district.

Gregory Mutabazi, the LC I chairman Katokye cell in Kizinda town council intimated to our reporter that on Sunday morning at around 10:15am, the deceased was discovered inside the church by Tukore Topista, a catechist of the church hanging on a rope, dead.

Police said that the deceased has been a casual worker at Annet Nasanga’s home looking after the cows since August 2022.

He asked his employer to pay him and go back home. But unfortunately, he was found hanging dead in a church.

The body of the deceased was taken to KIU teaching hospital in Ishaka for postmortem examination and investigations into the matter continue.