Police in Rubirizi District have arrested a 19-year-old man on allegations of defiling a 7-year-old girl.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified the suspect only as Mbabazi,19, a casual labourer and resident of Kyambuzi B Village, Kichwamba Parish, Kichwamba sub-county in Rubirizi District where the incident happened.

It is alleged that on 05/02/2024 at around 5:00pm, the victim went to graze goats where she found the suspect who was also grazing goats in the same place and he ended up defiling her.

Tumwesigye Macksensia, 39, a peasant and resident of the same address who reported the case to police said the knicker of the victim and vaginal swabs were recovered from the scene.

Tumusiime said the suspect was arrested and is currently under police custody as investigations into the matter continue.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, has commended the Bishop of North Ankole Diocese, Rt Rev Stephen Namanya who is set to retire on 26th May 2024 as a visionary leader who tirelessly worked for the transformation of the twenty-year old Diocese.

Archbishop Kazimba Mugalu who arrived in the Diocese on Friday 2nd February for his official pastoral visit, toured a number of Diocesan projects and notable among them was the Kakyera Stock Farm which has over 320 cows, the Clergy Pension House, Kanoni Bible College, Rushere Model Primary School, a valley dam, and the prospective North Ankole Mission Hospital set to house a theatre, male and female Wards, special clinics, a pediatric Ward and a pharmacy among others.

Archbishop Kazimba ministering as he concluded his pastoral visit to North Ankole Diocese with a Holy Communion Service at Emmanuel Cathedral, Rushere on Sunday.

Archbishop Kaziimba also visited the Deanery and Bishop’s ranches, the Early Child Development Center at the Cathedral and the North Ankole Platinum SACCO in Rushere Town Council and Kazo Branch which was established in 2017 and currently has 3,236 members with total shares amounting to UGX 559.6 million and a loan portfolio of UGX 1.1 billion.

Other notable projects visited included Buremba Secondary School, Bishops’ Girls Secondary School, and North Ankole Technical Institute, which is a future Polytechnic University in the Diocese’s plans, aiming at providing practical technical and science training and educational courses at the degree level.

Archbishop Kazimba Mugalu, receiving Holy Communion from his host Bishop of North Ankole Diocese, Rt Rev Stephen Namanya on Sunday. 

Archbishop Kaziimba expressed deep appreciation for Bishop Namanya’s active involvement in the House of Bishops, highlighting his crucial role in decision-making and formulating key policies for the Province of the Church of Uganda.

According to the Church of Uganda Communications Officer Sadiiki Adam Mugume, the Archbishop concluded his official pastoral visit on Sunday February 4th 2024 with a Holy Communion Service at Emmanuel Cathedral, Rushere in Kiruhura District.

Residents of Mbarara city have lauded the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) for championing peace and security in Uganda.

During the Civil Military activities in preparation for the upcoming Tarehe Sita celebrations, in Mbarara city, the residents said that they love the presence of UPDF and pledged their full cooperation with the army and other security agencies.

The UPDF soldiers from 2^nd Division Makenke led by Col. Wilberforce Sselunkuma, the Deputy Second Division Commander together with civilians cleaned Kakoba town, Kisenyi and Biharwe a head of Tarehe Sita celebrations on 6^th February, 2024.

The Chief participant Col. Sselunkuma said that civil military activities help UPDF to identify themselves with the people by giving back to the communities they serve.

Sselunkuma emphasized that people are the foundation of UPDF and this stretches back in the history.

In his remarks, Didas Muhanguzi, the Town Clerk City South Division said the day reflects the foundation of UPDF that is based on discipline and hard work which must be maintained.

UPDF will this year celebrate the 43rd Tarehe Sita at Busesa in the Eastern District of Bugweri under the theme: “Celebrating the Peoples’ struggle for Unity, Security and Peace”.

The celebrations are aimed at streamlining public awareness to remember those Ugandan Patriots who sacrificed their lives to liberate Uganda.

The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rt Rev Dr Stephen Kazimba Mugalu has challenged the people of Kazo district to first elevate the cathedral in order to have an organized diocese.

Kazimba was on Saturday speaking during his first pastoral visit to North Ankole Diocese since he was consecrated as the 9^th Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. In response to the need for people of Kazo to have their own Diocese, Dr Kazimba challenged them to first beautify the existing cathedral.

Kazimba also revealed that the province banned the creation of new dioceses adding that they should focus on saving people’s lives and steer development as they wait for the ban to be lifted then they can resume asking for a Diocese.

He appreciated the leaders of North Ankole diocese for making a very good decision of starting the Kanoni Bible study College for equipping men and women with the word of God.

During his three-day visit to North Ankole Diocese, Dr Kazimba paid courtesy calls to Buremba Secondary School, North Ankole Technical institute in Buremba Archdeaconry, Buremba Town council, Kazo Archdeaconry and Kanoni Bible College all in Kazo district.

While at Buremba Archdeaconry, Rev John Kurumwine expressed his satisfaction with the Archbishop noting that his visit will improve on the developments of their church.

Rev John Kurumwine, addressing the congregation during the Archbishop’s visit to Buremba Archdeaconry on Saturday.

In his welcoming remarks, the Bishop of North Ankole diocese, Rt Rev Stephen Namanya also appreciated the Archbishop for not supporting homosexuality in Uganda especially in the Church.

Members of Parliament, Kazo district, Hon Dan Kimosho (forward) and Hon Jennifer Muheesi(in White coat)during the Archbishop’s visit to Kazo on Saturday.

The Archbishop’s visit in Kazo was graced by the political leaders led by the Members of Parliament, Kazo district, Hon Dan Kimosho and Hon Jennifer Muheesi, the Kazo district chairperson, Rev Samuel Mugisha Katugunda and technical staff of Kazo district led by the Chief Administrative Officer, Nsubuga Zirimenya and several religious leaders among others.

Police in Kazo are investigating circumstances under which a decomposing body of an unidentified man was dumped in the middle of the road in Kazo town council.

The decomposing body which was found on Thursday morning caused commotion amongst the residents of Kazo town council in Kazo district, disrupted movement and business in town before the security team came to intervene.

Residents stare in disbelief at the dead body in the middle of the road in Kazo town council on Thursday.

Police led by the OC station, Jalal Muhumuza  visited the crime scene, retrieved the body and buried it at Kazo town council cemetery near the Kazo monthly market.

Police burying the body at Kazo town council cemetery on Thursday.

Muhumuza revealed that, the un claimed body was picked by police from Rwemikoma on 24^th January 2024 and taken to Kazo health centre IV.

He noted that they have launched the investigation into the matter to know who picked the body out of body store and dumped on the road.

Tumukurate Silvester, the deputy resident district commissioner Kazo said that the body in question had been kept at the body store of the health centre but he does not understand how it was brought in the road.

Leaders from Ankore sub region have tasked the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal, Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to establish a regional task force to contain the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

Speaking to our reporter, Aaron Turahi, the RDC Isingiro asked the government to prioritize sensitization of farmers on how to manage the disease.

Dan Mukago Rutetebya, the Kiruhura district chairperson urged the government to put aside funds to facilitate calendar vaccination of animals at least every six months to deter future resurgence of the Disease.

Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the mayor Mbarara city expressed concern with some Districts that have remained open amid the resurgence of the disease which makes it hard to fight the disease within the region.

Youth in Kazo district have been urged to utilize the funds from the government under the Youth Livelihood Program productively.

The call was made by Jacob Eyeru, the chairperson National youth council during the Kazo district youth council meeting held at Kan conference hall in Kazo town council, Kazo district on Tuesday.

Jacob Eyeru, the chairperson National youth council speaking during the Kazo district youth council meeting on Tuesday.

Eyeru appealed to the youth to understand that the government gives out the funds not for eating and spending extravagantly but to reproduce such that other youth can benefit.

Speaking during the meeting, Molly Kamukama, the former state minister for economic monitoring also asked youth leaders to get prepared and form SACCOs in order to account for their leadership.

Muguta Yabutaho, the youth chairperson Kazo who organized the meeting revealed that the objective of such meetings is to know the needs of the people they lead.

Authorities in Mbarara city have tasked the government to avail the FMD vaccination doses for all the animals in the affected areas.

The call was made by Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the mayor Mbarara city, who observed that the animal movement restrictions should be lifted ahead of the go back-to-school season.

This follows the resurgence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the city area which prompted an animal quarantine to be instituted.

The affected are livestock farmers in Mbarara city in the areas of Rwenjeru, Ruti, Nyarubanga, Rwakishakiizi, Bunusya, and Rwemigiina wards among others.

Dr. Moses Amanyire, the Mbarara city Production officer, explained that FMD was first detected among cattle in Bunusya ward in Mbarara city North division last week.

Amanyire revealed that when the city veterinary team conducted tests, over 20 heads of cattle across the city tested positive for the FMD disease.

He further noted that they have now stopped the transportation of animals, including animal products in the city to contain the disease.

The move comes barely one week after the ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) slapped an animal quarantine on Mbarara city and Mbarara District over the disease.

According to the farmers and traders in the area, the closure of the livestock markets with only one week until the opening of the New Year academic term, is a big blow to the parents who sell animals in order to raise school fees.

In the parliamentary seating last week, the Deputy Speaker of parliament, Thomas Tayebwa also tasked the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF), Hon. Frank Tumwebaze to present a statement on interventions to curb the spread of foot and mouth disease.  

Tayebwa noted that up to 32 districts in the cattle corridor are facing quarantine and people in the cattle corridor would like to know when the quarantine will be ending and when the farmers will get vaccines.

Police in Sheema have rescued two thieves who were on the verge of being murdered by a Mob after they were caught red handed stealing goats from the farm.

Kasule Consilata, the Sheema District Police Commander (DPC) confirmed the incident and identified the suspects as Akankwasa Derrick,26, and Ashaba Peter,25, both residents of Karusegu cell, Rushozi ward, Sheema central division in Sheema municipality where the incident occurred.

Mukundane Benson, the head of security in Karusegu cell told our reporter that the suspects had two goats on the motorcycle but when he tried to intercept them they tried to knock him which prompted him to raise an alarm that led to arrest of thieves. 

Tumusiime Peter, the owner of the goats said that so far 8 goats have been stolen from his farm. He noted that thieves normally steal from his farm during the day because he is always at work. He advised youth to go to work instead of practicing theft. 

DPC Kasule further intimated to our reporter that the suspects were rescued by police and taken to Kabwohe health centre IV for treatment as efforts to arrest those involved in mob justice are underway and investigations into the matter continue.

Parents have been advised to escort their children to school to avoid inconveniences and criminals during the upcoming back-to-school period.

This advice was sounded by Rodoviko Byarugaba, the secretary for Education and Social Based Community Services Isingiro District while speaking to our reporter.

Byarugaba says that parents have a habit of sending their children alone at school and they end up making wrong decisions instead of going to school such as betting school fees, meeting with their boyfriends and girlfriends among others.

Byarugaba also challenged parents with day students to always pack food for their children, saying many parents send their day students to school without food and expect better performance at the end of the term or year.

Byarugaba noted that its high time parents know their roles on their children while going back to school by providing them with necessary scholastic materials for better results at the end of the term or year.

According to the Ministry of Education and Sports, term one for both secondary and primary school is scheduled to commence on Monday, February 5^th 2024 until May 3^rd 2024, lasting 89 days.