Dan Mukago Rutetebya, the Kiruhura district LC V chairperson, has castigated the poor leadership of LC I chairpersons saying the negligence of their work has led to increased insecurity including cases of  livestock theft, murder, faking stamps to steal people’s property among others.

Speaking during the security meeting at Kikatsi sub-county headquarters on Tuesday, Mukago observed that LC I Chairpersons do not attend council meetings after learning that out of the 20 chairpersons, 10 were absent  from the meeting.

Mukago also noted that cases of murder have increased in this sub-county.

Dan Mukago added that there is a need for cooperation with LC I chairpersons if they are to manage fighting criminality in their villages/ cells.

Mukago also noted that Police in Kikatsi do not help local leaders to apprehend criminals or when arrested they are released by police.

Sulait Kitaka, the Kiruhura District Police commander promised that he will immediately solve the problem by tightening security in the area.

Kitaka tasked LC I chairpersons to always handle cases pertaining domestic violence.

Manya Allan, the LCIII Chairperson Kikatsi Sub-county revealed that three cases of murder have already been reported; alleging that strangers without identification may be behind the murder.

Kenneth Rindirira, the district councilor representing Kikatsi sub-county advised that head counting should be carried in every cell to know the number of people living in the sub-county noting that some LC I chairpersons do not know the number of residents in their cells which he says is a big problem security-wise.

Story by Mutatiina Medison

Police in Kazo are holding a woman accused of stealing a one-month-old baby boy. The suspect has been identified as Kebirungi Immaculate, a resident of Kigarama-Akayanja, Nombe in Kiruhura district born in Kitagwenda district.

Lukooto John, the district police Commander (DPC) Kazo told our reporter that Kebirungi allegedly stole the baby from Nyangoma Sylvia last week on Monday 12^th December.

The suspect (Kebirungi) is said to have befriended the victim while they were coming together from Kazo Victory Church. Kebirungi requested Nyangoma (victim) for a place to sleep and the following morning after realizing that Nyangoma had gone to the toilet, she disappeared with her baby to an unknown destination.

Nyangoma Sylvia and Kamugisha Bazil, the baby’s mother and father respectively are both residents of Rwemirondo in Kazo town council, Kazo district. They appreciated the police of Kazo for their efforts towards the search of their baby’s thief.

Joy Muhangi, the LC I chairperson Rwemirondo said that she got the information from a one Kabeho who contacted her to tell her that Kamugisha’s baby had been stolen.

Lukooto asked the residents to first get information about the people before receiving them in their homes and also urged the people to be vigilant during this festive season.

Abdul Wahabu, the husband to the suspect said that he sent the wife to her home to go and deliver noting that he didn’t know any other details. 

Ibanda chief magistrate’s court has remanded two suspected vanilla thieves to Nyabuhikye government Prison.

Court presided over by his worship Aloysius Natwijuka heard that Edson Abaho, 32,  reportedly stole 6kg of fresh vanilla beans worth UGX 240,000 from his employer on December 8^th 2022.

Abaho, a resident of Nyakatookye in Kagongo Division, Ibanda Municipality was hired by John Kweyamba as a night guard in his vanilla garden, but the suspect allegedly stole the fresh vanilla beans he was employed to safeguard.

The suspect was arrested by Police on December 10^th while trying to sell the beans and charged accordingly.

Ronald Rukundo, of Ibanda town, the would-be-buyer suspected that Abaho could be a thief since it is not yet the harvest season for vanilla and he alerted the Police who laid in wait for him.

Relatedly, Jonah Twinamatsiko, 24, a resident of Mahega II in Kyeikucu, Kagongo Division in Ibanda Municipality also faces two counts of vanilla theft.

Twinamatsiko is suspected to have stolen 30 kilos of fresh vanilla pods valued at about UGX 1.5m from Ivan Tumuhimbise on December 10^th.

He also allegedly stole another 20kg of fresh vanilla beans valued at over UGX 1m from a 76-year-old farmer Enos Kakashaari on the same night.

Court heard that the suspect was arrested by Police in neighbouring Kitagwenda district while trying to sell the beans in Kabujogera town council.

The duo’s alleged thefts contravene sections 254(i) and 261 of the Penal Code Act and they are liable to up to 10 years in jail for each count if found guilty.

Both suspects denied the charges while appearing before the chief magistrate’s court and were subsequently remanded to Nyabuhikye prison until January 3^rd, 2023 when their cases will come up for hearing.

Boda Boda riders in Engari sub-county, Kazo district under their umbrella body; Engari Boda Boda Tukore Group have elected their new leadership for 2023/2024.

Following their constitution guidelines, the riders were required to have this election to fill positions of leadership following their predecessors’ end-of-term in office.

In an election held at Engari parish headquarters, Kamukama Denis was elected the new chairperson Boda Boda riders‘ Engari Tukore with 41 votes against his opponent Musinguzi Innocent who scored 29 votes.

Kamukama assured all boda boda riders that he will focus on uniting them as well as pushing the group to make Sacco of Boda Boda.

“I want to call my opponents and the entire boda boda fraternity to purposely unite for our success,” said Kamukama.

Bitariho Alex, the outgoing chairperson of the Engari Tukore group urged the Boda Boda incoming leadership to keep the group going on requesting sustainability to another step from where he left them cooperating.

In his closing remarks as the guest of honor, Nandeeba Naboth, the operations Manager of Kazo FM radio urged the newly elected leadership to defend the group constitution to ensure that they work according to the interests of the majority as well as spreading the gospel of working for household income.