Police in Mbarara have arrested four suspected number plate thieves in the Rwizi region.

Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Regional Police Spokesperson, identified the suspects as Conrad Mwiine,24, a student at Bishop Stuart University (BSU) and resident of Rubiri cell in Nyamityobora ward, Geoffrey Muhwezi, 27, a resident of Rwentondo cell , Vincent Mwebesa, 25, a resident of Rwentondo cell , and Bright Atwijukire, 22, a resident of Koranorya in Mbarara city.

Kasasira noted that the arrest of the suspects follows several cases of theft of vehicle number plates that were recorded at Mbarara central police station and Ruti Police Station.

He added that the thieves steal the number plates they leave a note on the car with a telephone number and instructions to the owner to deposit a given amount of money ranging from UGX 100,000 to UGX 500,000 if they want to repossess them.

Kasasira revealed that the operation led to the recovery of thirteen number plates which include;UBD082J,UBH988P, CGO8317AF19,UAU 842E,UAF228S,UAN827K,UAY087H,UAT786Y,UBK141J,UAQ334S,UBG172G,UBN036Z and UBH506J.

Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Regional Police Spokesperson poses with some of the stolen numberplates.

Police findings indicated that the suspects indiscriminately target members of the public and on several occasions, the racket has been busted and members arrested but have resumed their activities upon release from prison.

The Police mouthpiece confirmed the six suspects had earlier been arrested, and remanded to Mbarara Main prison. 

Kitagata Secondary school community are mourning the death of a 23-year-old S.6 student who was found dead after falling into a pit latrine at the school campus.

Martial Tumusiime, the Greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson, revealed that the incident happened on Sunday 12/11/2023 at around 3:00pm when he had gone to ease himself.

He identified the deceased as Capson Rwamamanzi,23, a resident of Nyabutama 1, Butare Parish, Ntungamo sub-county in Ntungamo district.

An eye witness, Muhanuzi Aguma, a fellow student who was occupying another latrine said he heard a weird sound fall in the next door prompting him to check only to find that the flour of the latrine had caved in.

Aguma suspected that someone might have fallen into the latrine thereby notifying Asaph Mwije, the Deputy Head teacher of the school who sanctioned a roll call at 3:45Pm to ascertain the whereabouts of the deceased. 

The roll call confirmed that the deceased (Capson) was absent in the school suspecting that he might have gone out with other S.4 students who had finished their exams.

But the deputy head teacher made another roll call at 7:00 Pm and the victim was still missing which prompted the deputy head teacher to report the incident at Kitagata police station the following day on Monday 13/11/2023 at 1:45Pm.

Baramura Innocent, the Father of the deceased told reporters that he was informed the school administrators on Monday after noon about the missing of his child after missing morning exams.

An outbreak of anthrax has been confirmed in Ibanda district after five of the six samples sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Arua for testing last week turned out positive with the disease.

While giving an update on the anthrax outbreak at the district health office on Wednesday, November 15^th, Vincent Mugisha, the district surveillance officer confirmed the development and urged the public, especially residents of Keihangara sub-county, to be extra careful and stop consuming meat of dead animals.

Seven people from Rugaaga I and Rugaaga IV villages in Keihangara sub-county, Ibanda South County were last week hospitalized at Uganda Martyrs Ibanda Hospital Kagongo over suspected anthrax infection. They had signs and symptoms common with anthrax infection, including boils, wounds, and swelling of different parts of the upper body, especially the arms.

Mugisha said the patients were discharged from the hospital over the weekend and they are currently being monitored from their homes.  

Mugisha also revealed that scientists from Ministry of Health will be in the district to carry out further investigations in the areas where the disease was reported.

This is the fourth outbreak in the district in recent years. “One person in Kakijerere in Bisheshe Division, Ibanda Municipality, succumbed to the disease during last year’s outbreak,” said the officials.

According to Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis which occurs naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals.

People can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Anthrax can cause severe illness in both humans and animals.

Sheema District leaders have been tasked to explain why the Rubaare Sericulture production factory remains non-functional despite the billions of shillings invested by government to facilitate its take off.

The task was made by Jessica Ababiku, the Adjuman district Woman Member of Parliament, who doubles as the chairperson of the presidential affairs committee.

A delegation of MPs led by Ababiku visited the multi-billion project located in Rubaare Cell, Nyarwenshama ward, Sheema Central division in Sheema municipality, to ascertain it’s non operationalization for production of Silk materials.

In 2017, Sheema District local government signed a memorandum of understanding with Uganda National Council of science and technology (UNCST) to rent about 26 hectares of the district farm land for ten years to establish sericulture and apiculture project but since then it has not been operational due to inadequate funding from the government.

The project aims to increase the production of silk by raising silkworms for industrial use. About 2,230 acres of mulberry have since been established across the country and three factories have been established in Mukono, Kween, and Sheema districts.

It is said that the ministry of science technology and innovation last financial year halted UGX 40billion that was requested by Tropical Institute of development Innovations (TRIDI) to support the operationalization of the project.

During the visit to Sheema, MPs observed that the facility has not been operational for two years and that the workers have not been paid for 5 months.

Jemimah Buhanda, the LC V chairperson Sheema district told the committee that TRIDI was expected to start the process of production, but they did not continue after procuring old machinery that could not support the production process.

Steven Kangwagye, the Bukanga County Member of Parliament, questioned why the machinery had been lying idle outside the factory and were being exposed to sunshine and rain.

“This is total corruption. How do you leave the whole of this machinery which costs the government a lot of money to be destroyed by sunshine” said Kangwagye.

 “I want to tell you that the president supports innovations, but he does not want this kind of corruption and unseriousness. Therefore, you should expose all those who want to put this project down,” added Kangwagye.

 The committee promised to make a report to Parliament on their findings to come up with a way forward.