The state Minister of defense in charge of army veteran affairs in Uganda, Mrs. Oleru Huda Abason has revealed that the amendment of UPDF 2005 Act, yet to be tabled in parliament as a bail is intending to solve issues of army veterans like compensation, pension, health treatment among others.

Meeting army veterans in Kiruhura district yesterday at Kiruhura headquarters, Minister Huda received several complaints from these veterans about the problems they are facing.

Some of the complaints are that veterans face difficulties in the process of getting their pension yet it is little, they are ignored by the government among others.

One of NRA veterans told Minister Huda that government did not trace them or relatives of those who died and that up to now they are not helped.

In response, Minister Huda encouraged them to be patient adding that their issues will be solved after the parliament passes UPDF 2005 Act into law.

She added that compensation, creating referrals, pension payments are some of the major issues targeted.

Minister Huda urged army veterans to remain hopeful not immediately relinquish yet good things are coming to them from the government.

Hon. Tayebwa Herbert, MP for Kashongi County also noted that army veterans in Kashongi are struggling with many challenges that need solutions to improve their standards of living.

Hon. Wilson Kajwengye, MP for Nyabushozi county noted that for both FRONASA veterans and NRA later UPDF veterans, spouses of those deceased should be considered by the government.

George Bakunda, the RDC for Kiruhura told the veterans that although they are suffering, government has a plan for them.

Dairy sector stakeholders in Ibanda district have called on the sector watchdog to institute stringent measures to stamp out illegal practices that are affecting milk quality.

George Mutara, the Ibanda town-based bulk milk buyer said some of the dealers were encouraging the illegality by buying the low quality milk, and they are not even punished.

Mutara was speaking during a dairy sector training workshop on milk quality, dairy standards and regulations conducted by the Dairy Development Authority (DDA) southwestern regional office on Tuesday.

Peninnah Natumanya, the DDA southwestern region dairy inspector, said milk quality is also negatively affected by poor handling, right from the farm up to the selling points and collection centres.

“Some farmers also scoop off the cream reducing milk quality,” added Natumanya.

The sensitization workshop held at district council hall attracted farmers, milk retailers and bulk buyers and suppliers, dairy cooperatives, and the district extension workers.  

The southwestern region accounts for about 45% of the country’s total milk production, making it the biggest milk producer in Uganda, according to DDA.  

The stakeholders noted that milk adulteration was widespread and Natumanya pointed out that dirty cow udder, cow dung, dust, cowboys that milk without washing hands, not washing milk containers properly, among others affect milk quality.

The Bishop for East Ruwenzori Diocese, Rt. Rev. George Turyasingura has asked the youth to have hope in Jesus Christ if they want to be saved from sinning.

Speaking as the guest of honor at the 12th Annual Youth and Students convention at Kaaro high school in Kiruhura district, Bishop Turyasingura urged the youth to have unconditional love for one another, listen to the good advice from others as well as sharing problems for comfort.

The Bishop also implored the youth to change their bad morals to good ones.

Rev. Dr. Benson Tumuhairwe of Junamagara Ministries; Kampala noted that there is cultism, unreligious and ungodly acts that are happening in the world which youths should be careful of like homosexuality and incest among others.

Rev. Dr. Benson castigated the acts of wedding homosexuals by the church, adding that world and church need deliverance.

The Bishop of North Ankole diocese (host), Rt. Rev. Steven Namanya also emphasized that youth should do away with doing evil deeds like theft, sexual immorality, drug abuse and others asserting that sinning is the deliberate violation of God’s will.

The convention was held from 5^th to 8^th January under the theme; “…Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29.

Officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment ministry have assured the general public that water from the Nyabuhikye-Kikyenkye gravity water project will reach their homes in Ibanda and Kazo districts in March this year.

Speaking during the project tour by media personnel on Thursday, Engineer Moses Ebalu, the clerk of works at the UGX 20b project, said the works are scheduled to be completed by February 28 and the project handed over to the government.

Ebalu noted that about 1,000 residents of Keihangara and Kikyenkye sub-counties will, however, be the first beneficiaries of this water project.

The Nyabuhikye-Kikyenkye Water Supply and Sanitation System, a gravity flow water scheme located in Igorora town council Ibanda South, is funded by the African Development Bank and the government of Uganda.

The first phase of the project is targeting to serve 41,000 people in the two districts of Ibanda and Kazo.

The multibillion water project which started in 2017, was slated to take 18 months, ending in late 2018 is being undertaken by Mbarara-based Block Technical Services.

Duncan Kangwangye, the Block Technical Services supervisor at the project, said despite the numerous challenges, the change of project managers by the ministry and facilitating payments to the contractor, enabled them to do the work as per schedule.

Eng Ebalu attributed the project’s delay to challenges like government’s delay to compensate the landowners along the route of the raw water pipe, Covid-19 pandemic and low cash flow in government among others.

Eng Ebalu revealed that the landowners were paid by the government almost a year ago, enabling works to progress well as per new timelines. 

Meanwhile, Godwin Muhumuza, the Ibanda district speaker, has appealed to the public to be patient, saying that the government has committed itself to delivering the water by March.