Casual labourers in Bushenyi Ishaka municipality have decried lack of safety equipment saying they are at risk of contracting diseases.

Geoffrey Mwebembezi, the chairman of garbage collectors said that the authorities refused to provide them with protective equipment to prevent them from injuries and this is raising fears as it exposes their lives to health hazards.

A section of workers who preferred anonymity for fear of reprisal from the authorities said they are paid UGX 100,000 per month which is not enough for them to purchase personal protective wears even the little money they agreed upon they are in arrears for almost 7 months.

When contacted, Nicholas Twinomugisha, the Town clerk central division said as a division, they tendered out garbage collection to a contractor and he supposed to provide his workers with protective gears and pay them their salaries.

When contacted the contractor HAM cleaners her known mobile was not available.

The workers, mainly those collecting garbage in the municipal council, have no access to protective gears like gloves and gumboots as they continue to suffer from the stench from the garbage.

The garbage collectors are responsible for cleaning all corners of the municipal council to maintain hygiene and prevent disease outbreak.

Buhweju West Member of Parliament, Ephraim Biraaro has attributed the continued landslides across the country to people’s negligence of environmental protection.

Speaking to reporters, Biraaro noted that many people have resorted to cutting down trees and this has left the land naked and unable to withstand conditions that shake it especially during the heavy rains.

According to Biraaro, such activities have contributed to the increased landslides and flooding which have left a number of people fearing for their lives.

Biraaro however advised farmers to use better farming methods to protect the land from landslides which he said has become a great challenge to the government.

He also appealed to the extension workers to monitor their residents and guide them on how to practice better methods of farming and told the general public to avoid harassing the environment if these calamities are to be stopped.

Police in Mitooma District are investigating circumstances under which a one year old baby was murdered, his body dumped into a bush with some body parts missing.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Owamani Iden aged 1 year and 8 months.

Owamani disappeared on 26/04/2023, when his parents left him and his elder sister at home to run some errands. Justus Maguru, the victim’s father returned home around 6:30Pm and he found the victim missing.

The case of disappearance was first reported to Kashongorero Police Station on 27/04/2023 by Amon Byamaka, 55, a teacher and resident of Nyandago B cell, Bwera Parish, Kanyabwanga sub-county in Mitooma district.

He said after the reporting of disappearance, a case was registered and investigations commenced immediately and a search for the victim was conducted for possible recovery but all in vain.

On 02/05/2023, the case file was forwarded to CPS Mitooma for further management since the victim wasn’t seen yet.

Shortly after receiving the case file at CPS Mitooma, the body of the victim was found dumped in the bush at Kigyende village, Kanyabwanga Parish, Kigyende Sub-county in Mitooma district with all the limbs and private parts missing.

Tumusiime said the postmortem examination was done at Mitooma health centre IV and the body was handed to the family for burial as investigations into the matter continue.

Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has appealed to journalists to increase their efforts in promoting public awareness and policy action for wildlife conservation. 

During a meeting organized by UWA for journalists at Lake Mburo national park to build their capacity in conservation reporting, UWA officials observed that if journalists give more attention to wildlife conservation, the rate of crime against wildlife would decrease significantly. 

The UWA Communication Manager, Bashir Hangi, noted that journalists play a crucial role in shaping public perception and need support through the provision of accurate information and capacity building in conservation reporting. 

Asah Kule Musinguzi, the Lake Mburo national park Chief Warden acknowledged the significant contribution of the media in Wildlife conservation and expressed interest in collaborating with journalists as a bridge between the authority and the local community.

In his remarks the city mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi noted that wildlife have boosted the economy of Uganda through tourism in the national park thus need to be protected.

Ibanda district working together with the ministry of water and environment have started the demarcation of the Mukazi Anyara wetland system in Ibanda South County.

While launching the demarcation exercise on Thursday, Ibanda deputy RDC, Seif Katabazi urged the community to work with the government to restore the degraded swamps in the district, saying they are a vital resource that must be protected and used in a sustainable manner.

He encouraged the residents to always seek guidance from local officials on activities that are allowed in wetlands to avoid clashes with the law enforcers.

Katabazi also cautioned the landowners where the wetland boundary markers were planted against uprooting them, saying anyone who will remove the pillars would be arrested and prosecuted as per the law.

Area residents carry boundary pillars for the demarcation exercise.

During the exercise, wetland boundary markers were planted in Rugazi swamp, which is Mukazi Anyara wetland system, which covers several villages, including Mabonwa, Ketembe, Mpasha, Kyangwahanda, Bwenda, Rugazi and Mwamba.

Erry Kirya, the district natural resources officer, said wetland conservation is essential to guard against impacts of climate change, adding that wetlands supported water and air purification, and rain formation. He attributed the rise in flash floods to wetland destruction because of human activities.

Speaking during the same event, John Mary Babisibire, the Rukiri sub-county LC III chairperson, explained that the encroachers have been engaged many times and encouraged to leave the wetland voluntarily, but they always ignored the advice.

Several of the residents have been using the wetland for farming activities, growing bananas, beans, coffee, eucalyptus plantations as well as for grazing animals, mining sand and making bricks for sale among other activities.

Officials said the owners must remove them and urged the encroachers to look for alternative sources of income or engage in activities that are allowed in wetlands like apiary and fish farming. 

Mukazi Anyara wetland supports water supply to Ibanda town and Ibanda South County and connects to the Mpanga wetland system, which serves a mini-hydro power dam at River Mpanga in Kamwenge district besides supporting human and animal lives in several districts.  

Police in Bushenyi have arrested the Chief Executive Director, West Ankole Civil Society Forum Kakonge Apollo and the programs director, Carol Namara for mobilizing residents to incite violence.

The residents together with West Ankole civil society forum had blocked Mbarara-Ishaka road at Kajurungu near Bushenyi police station protesting its poor state, paralyzing transport along that road.

The protests were triggered by an incident in which two boda boda riders carrying passengers drowned in the pothole which forced the demonstrators to make a wake-up call to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to work on the road.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the development saying the operation was led by the OC, Nyombi who dispersed the protestors and arrested the ring leaders.

Tumusiime added that they are currently detained at Bushenyi police station as investigations into the matter continue.