At least 200 community members have benefited from free medical services at Rwebigumya health center III, Lamezia hospital in Burunga Sub-county, Kazo district.

Sister Ferediana Tuyishime, the health in charge of Lamezia hospital, said the initiative was for commemoration of the world day of the sick.

Tuyishime told our reporter that they decided to give free services including testing for malaria, HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and doing other body measurements like temperatures where she urged everyone to take an example of helping a fellow in a situation of sickness.

A section of beneficiaries who spoke to our reporter expressed their happiness, and appreciated the Lamezia hospital administration for caring and celebrating them.

The World Day of the Sick was established by Pope John Paul II in 1992 as an awareness day in the Catholic Church intended for prayer and sharing for the good of the Church and of reminding everyone about the face of Christ.

The day is celebrated every 11th day of February since 1993. This year’s theme for world day of the sick was celebrated under the theme “Illness is part of our human condition. Yet, if illness is experienced in isolation and abandonment, unaccompanied by care and compassion, it can become inhumane.”

The Ibanda district Emyooga taskforce has started a nine-day operation to recover outstanding bad loans from defaulters in Ibanda Municipality.

The operation has since captured at least six loan defaulters, including two from the Ibanda Municipality Journalists SACCOs.

The journalists SACCOs had 24 defaulters with a total of over UGX 18m in outstanding bad loans, of which only UGX 1.2m was recovered during the operation.

Grace Ngonzi, the municipality loan recovery taskforce leader, said a total of nearly UGX 5m was paid by the defaulters during first day of the operation on February 9.

She however noted many have ‘gone underground’ after being tipped off by friends.

Ngonzi advised the defaulters to, instead, come out and pay the money to avoid prosecution.

Seif Katabazi, the Ibanda deputy RDC, who is spearheading the ongoing operation, said about five chairpersons of Emyooga SACCOS are also in hiding over their respective cooperatives’ funds.

Officials have said that several other Emyooga SACCO loan defaulters in the district have gone into hiding to evade arrest by the taskforce set up to recover the money.

The deputy RDC said they will involve the Police to track them down to answer before the courts of law.

The ongoing operation is being supported by the RDC’s office and Police.

Police in Bushenyi are investigating circumstances under which a security guard at Bushenyi medical center was killed on Thursday night.

Eyewitness who spoke to our reporter said that the security guard identified as Rebbeca Kembabazi, 27, was attached to Sting security limited and deployed normally but they were shocked to find her dead body lying on the facility veranda where she had been deployed.

Benon Kivengere, the OC CID Bushenyi confirmed the incident and said they deployed the police dog, however their efforts to trace the culprits have been futile.

Kivengere added that they are waiting for the postmortem report to establish the cause of the death.

The body of the deceased was taken to KIU Hospital for postmortem and investigations into the matter continue.

At least 33 pupils from Mbarara city north division who performed with five aggregates have received mattresses from the former aspirant member of parliament Benon Kajubi Misho.

The pupils were picked from various schools within the division.

Speaking as the chief guest at the function held at the division headquarters, Kajubi Misho noted that he is fulfilling what was in his manifesto during the election time.

Kajubi noted that the only key to success is education, promising to keep awarding the best performing pupils annually.

In his remarks, the senior inspector of schools Mbarara city Gidius Karetwa asked the new entrants to senior one to guard against their levels they have maintained at primary level.

The mayor Mbarara city north division, Gumisiriza Kyabwisho asked the student to go and guard against their future by putting much emphasis on studies.

A section of beneficiaries who talked to our reporter expressed their happiness and appreciated Benon Kajubi for his generosity.

Ibanda Grade One magistrate’s court has sentenced David Kamukama, who escaped from Nyabuhikye in Ibanda district, to 12 months in prison at Kiburara Prison Farm.

This is addition to the 40 months he has been serving at Nyabuhikye.

Court heard that the convict escaped from him minders at Nyabuhikye in November last year and disappeared only to resurface at Kiruhura prison on November 25.

According to Deus Kyomya, the state prosecutor, the prison authorities in Kiruhura arrested and returned him to Nyabuhikye the following day, from where he was charged with escaping from lawful custody.

Kamukama pleaded guilty to the offence of escaping from lawful custody contrary to section 109 of the Penal Code Act and was sentenced by court, accordingly.

While reading the sentence, her worship Esther Murungi, considered Kamukama’s prayer asking not to be returned to Nyabuhikye Prison by jailing him at Kiburara Prison Farm.

The prosecution had asked for a harsh sentence, arguing that escaping while serving a jail term meant that Kamukama had not yet reformed.

At the time of his escape, the convict was serving a 40-month jail term at Nyabuhikye Prison.

 He had been sentenced to 20 months in jail by Ibanda chief magistrate’s court on a theft charge on May 14, 2022 and another 20 months for housebreaking.

After the school’s calendar begun on Monday February 6, 2023, a smaller number of learners have reported in most of the schools in Kazo and Kiruhura districts.

According to the survey made by our reporter in various schools including Talents Community primary school, St Mary’s secondary school, Kazo Modern High school, Kyabahura 1 Model primary school, Kazo Model primary school among others, the turn up was low.

Only Kazo Model P/S has received a significant number of students reporting on day one.

A section of head teachers have attributed this to parents having financial challenges.

Katureebe Godfrey, a head teacher at Kazo Modern High School told our reporter that only a quarter of last years’ enrolment had been registered by first day of schools opening. He noted that it may be due to the laxity of some parents.

Guston Katungye Bwesigye, the school headmaster for Kyabahura 1 Model primary school revealed that students reported at a promising rate and teachers were ready to conduct lessons. He implored parents to always make shopping for their children before reporting dates to avoid inconveniences.

The Head Teacher Kazo Model Primary School, Murarira Sam expressed gratitude to parents and students who made it yesterday amidst bad economic times in the country. 

In Kiruhura district, Schools are also facing the challenge of a small number of pupils or students reporting to schools.

Allen Tumusime, the head teacher Nshwerenkye p/s said the school is still registering pupils and urged parents to let their children arrive at school even though they are not well financially.

Rev.David Kagumya, the head teacher, Bishops Girls School said the reporting is still slow but he hopes that the number of students will increase. He asked parents to clear school fees in time.

Bakashaba Augustin, the head teacher Rushere Christian high school noted that delaying children to report early at school will disturb their performance.

Kiruhura District Education Officer, Busingye Merab Mwesigye asked parents to be careful with their children while taking them back to school.

The Senior inspector of schools in Kiruhura district, Tumukunde Duncan requested teacher to do their parental job properly by organizing the children when they receive them at school.

Authorities in schools have been asked to remain vigilant and look out for the homosexuality vice that has engulfed most schools in the country.

Francis Tumwebaze, the Mbarara city education officer made the warning while addressing the press at his office in Booma, Kamukuzi ward, Mbarara city.

Tumwebaze noted that it is dangerous to promote homosexuality in schools, as it may confuse teenagers during their sexual development.

Tumwebaze added that young boys and girls naturally do not want to be with each other when they are young, and can therefore be confused to think they are homosexual.

He called upon all institutions like the church to strongly fight against this habit.