At least 16 people have been confirmed to have died in the fresh landslides that hit Kasese district in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

Irene Nakasiita, the spokesperson Uganda Red Cross (URC), revealed that they received a land slide alert at around 4:00AM from Kasese, Rukoki Sub-County, Kasika Village and URC dispatched a response team to support the affected families.

She added that the majority of the bodies recovered from the mudslide are mothers and children.

“From the assessment report, the death statistics show 2 male adults, 4 female adults, 3 male children and 7 female children,” said Nakasiita.

Nakasiita revealed that several houses were submerged on Tuesday night after heavy rains pounded Kasika village in Kigoro parish, Rukoki Sub-county, Kasese district.

Nakasiita noted that the victims who survived with injuries were referred to St. Paul’s Hospital Kasese Municipality where they are undergoing treatment.

She noted that  several others are still missing, adding that the Uganda Red Cross response team is still on the ground working with local authorities and other responders in the community to search for the other missing persons.

She noted that the Uganda Red Cross has been giving out early warning alerts to communities that are at high risk, including mountain Rwenzori region where Kasese is found.

Nakasiita warned that such disasters might be on the increase in this month due to the expected heavy rains around the country and urged people living in disaster prone areas to vacate for the safety of their lives.

Following the government’s warning of not increasing school dues for both government and non-government schools despite the high cost of living, a section of school heads in Mitooma district have expressed concern about challenges they are likely to face throughout this term.

In an interview with our reporter on Tuesday, Benard Ahimbisibwe, the Head teacher Ryakahimbi Primary noted that they are most likely going to face financial challenges this term since prices of all materials they use have been hiked and they have to follow the government’s directive.

Ahimbisibwe also asked government to increase on the grants and subsidies they give to these schools if they are to remain sustainable.

Moses Tumuhimbise the Head teacher Mitooma junior School noted that as a private institution, they have been surviving on their own and therefore no need of government to put such a directive yet there are no measures put to assist these private schools.

He therefore asked government to come up with a planned strategy to give assistance to the private schools to enable them also sustain themselves.

Didas Nuwagaba, the Head teacher Uganda Martyrs Secondary school Ryakahimbi noted that increasing fees would be necessary due to sky rocketing prices of commodities.

Nuwagaba however revealed that unfortunately, parents are even failing to pay the past fees structure indicating that the situation is worse everywhere.

Nuwagaba added that if the governments warning is to work, they should work on giving schools some of the materials that take money such as textbooks, laboratory equipment among others so that the little money parents pay can work on feeding.

Following the reopening of educational institutions across the country for the third term, uncertainty continues to loom over rising food prices.

Several schools; both private and government-aided in Kazo district have confessed that they are being challenged by food shortages.

Ezra Kagira, the director Buremba Junior School, a private school in  Buremba Town Council, Kazo District said they are having a hard time maintaining all the learners at school due to food shortage.

“We have an enrollment of more than 300 pupils but we are finding a big challenge of maintaining the learners at school. Currently, the food is not enough but we have to persist,” said Kagira.

Kagira revealed that the school spends UGX170,000 on a single meal unlike in the past when they were spending UGX 70,000.

Kagira urged the parents to work hand in hand with them for the better of their children, even though the situation is tough.

Guston Katungye Bwesigye, the head teacher at Kyabahura 1 model Primary School, a government-aided school in Kazo Town council, says the situation forced them to increase school fees for especially the boarding section, but also he assures that they will pass through as the almighty is on their side.

 “We buy 25 kilogrammes of posho at UGX 85,000 and yet previously we used to buy the same kilogrammes at UGX 35,000,” said Bwesigye.

An independent study by our reporter established that a kilogramme of maize flour spiked from UGX 2,000 to UGX 4,000, a bunch of matooke from UGX 10,000 to UGX 20,000 and a kilogramme of beans from UGX 3,000 to UGX 4,000.

Countrywide, the cost of food items such as maize flour, matooke, Irish potatoes, cooking oil, sugar, beans, salt and bread, among others, have been on the rise since the start of the year.

Pupils/Students, in private and public, primary and secondary schools resumed for the third term of the 2022/2023 academic session on Monday, September 5, 2022, and it is expected to end in December 2022.

Police in Sheema district are investigating circumstances under which a 31 year old woman was raped and robbed.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified the victim as Nakazibwe Nuriat, a resident of Rushoroza cell, Kabwohe Division Sheema District. 

Tumusiime said that Nakazibwe alleges that on 01/09/2022 at exactly 6:00am, the suspect identified only as Rashid broke into her house while armed with a panga, grabbed her neck and forcefully raped her and took off with her money amounting to UGX 50,000.

Police have since then visited the scene and opened a case file of aggravated robbery and rape while the victim was taken to Kabwohe Health Centre IV for treatment.

Police in Kween district are investigating circumstances under which a 24 year old man raped an 8 year old girl and killed her before burning her body.

Rogers Taitika, the Sipi regional police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified the suspect as Abraham Sande, a resident of Kortowamalil, Cherangut parish, Kwosir sub county in Kween district.

It is said that on Monday, the suspect locked the victim identified as Leticia Chemutai inside his grass thatched house and raped her.

“After the heinous act, he slit her throat using a knife and killed her. He abandoned the body inside and set the house on fire,” authorities said.

When the house was burning, he took poison but his neighbours responded fast and took him to Kapeoron health centre IV for treatment where was pronounced dead upon arrival.

His remains and those of the victim are still at the hospital mortuary as investigations into the matter continue.

Police in Sheema district are investigating circumstances under which a 62 year old man allegedly murdered his 4 year old biological son.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified the suspect as Bangirana George while the deceased was identified as Michael Isaaka, both residents Rwemijuju cell, Nyarwenshama ward, Sheema District.

Tumusiime said that after murdering his son, the suspect later took poison in an attempt to kill himself.

It alleged that Bangirana produced the deceased with a woman identified as Ainomugisha Jackline who is not his legitimate wife and in February 2022, this child was handed over to him such that he starts schooling.

It is said that the suspect did not take proper care of this child until he was taken over by the uncle who is the area LC I Chairperson.

However, on August 20^th 2022, the deceased went to play with other children at the home of his biological father and never went back to the home of his uncle who was taking care of him.

The following day, the caretaker who is the Chairman went to inquire where deceased had gone only to be told by a one Byamukama (one of the suspect’s children) that the deceased had been taken away by the father.

The case was reported to Police and the suspect disappeared from the village.

On August 23^rd 2022, the Chairperson received a phone call from a lady that Bangirana the (suspect) was found helpless in a swamp.

The locals removed him and took him to Mushanga Medical Centre where it was discovered on examination that he had taken poison.

When Bangirana was interviewed by police, he revealed that he had strangled Isaaka (his son) and dumped his body in a pit that is over 100ft deep.

The body was retrieved the body and taken to Kabwohe HC IV for postmortem as investigations into the matter continue.

Police in Bukwo district has arrested a 35 year old man for allegedly defiling and impregnating his 13-year old niece.

The suspect has been identified as Alex Mutai, a resident of Suam village, Suam sub-county, Bukwo district.

Mutai reportedly impregnated his 13-year-old niece, a pupil of Kabyoyoni primary school and fled into hiding at the Kenya-Uganda border where he was picked up on Monday evening.

Aminisi Kayongo, the Bukwo District Police Commander (DPC) confirmed the arrest of the suspect, saying that he will be produced before the court to answer charges of aggravated defilement and impregnating a teenager.

“We have him in our custody and we will take him to court on Wednesday,” said Kayongo.

Samuel Hashaka Mpimbaza, the Bukwo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) revealed that his office together with the police spent much time to hunt for the suspect who has been on the run for the last two months.

“It wasn’t easy to get this man but we worked hard until we arrested him,” said Hashaka who also vowed to deal with people with a high appetite, who abuse young girls in Bukwo district.

The victim’s mother said that her daughter had a dream of becoming a nurse to support her but the suspect has disorganized her dream.

“My own brother doing this to my daughter is unbelievable. I pray the law takes its course,” she said.

She added that her prayer is for the victim is to deliver safely so that she can be sent back to school again.