Police in Rukungiri district have arrested four suspects in connection with the death of a 70 year old man.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police spokesperson identified the deceased as Geoffrey Kibiiri, a resident of Kibura village, Bwanda parish, Buhunga Sub-county in Rukungiri district.

It’s alleged that at around 6pm of 20th August 2022, the deceased left his home to go to drink alcohol at Canon bar located at about 200 Metres from his home.

At around 11pm of the same day, the deceased returned home drunk claiming that a group of unidentified people waylaid and assaulted him upon return.

It is said that on the 21st August 2022 at around 7:00pm, his condition deteriorated and he was rushed to a nearby clinic at Omukagando trading center where he was pronounced dead.

Maate revealed that the incident was reported at Buhunga police station and a case of murder preferred.

The police spokesperson told our reporter that the secondary scene at his home was visited and documented by the District Criminal Investigation Directorate Officer (DCIDO) together with his team and the body was taken to Rwakabengo Health Center III mortuary for Postmortem examination.

Maate revealed that four suspects identified as Blair Ahabyoona,19, Peter Twinamatsiko,24, Hillary Muramuzi,19, and Niwenyesiga Mukama,23, all of Buhunga sub-county have since been arrested for questioning.

The case of murder by assault was recorded at Rukungiri CPS under reference number CRB 812/2022.

Residents of Kanoni Sub-county in Kazo district are counting losses following a heavy rains and a hailstorm that destroyed crops and several houses on Sunday.

The rain and hailstorm destroyed gardens of cassava, beans, banana plantations, and other crops in the villages of two parishes Rwemengo and Bwagonga.

The most affected villages are Ntungamo, Rwemigina and Bwagonga II in the Bwagonga parish.

Pr Mutatina Rwantugamo, one of the affected residents from Ntungamo cell in Rwemengo parish says the heavy rain accompanied by hailstorms started at around 3:00 pm on Sunday and lasted for over 4hrs.

Ahimbisibwe Evalyne, a widow and one of the affected residents says that all crops were destroyed appealed to the government to come to their rescue.

Innocent Ngabirano, the chairperson of Ntungamo cell also expressed his concern about the hailstorm urging the office of the prime minister to help them.

Magyezi Henry, the councilor of Rwemengo who doubles as the vice chairperson of LC III Kanoni Sub-county says that the destruction of crops may result in famine.

Police has confirmed that 13 market vendors have died in a motor accident that left five others nursing critical injuries after a Fuso truck on which they were travelling overturned at Alomain Bridge in Amuria district.

According to reports, 12 people died on spot and another died at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital where he had been rushed for treatment. Among the dead are seven women and six men.

Gregg Ageca, the Kyoga East Police Spokesperson revealed that preliminary findings indicate that the Fuso truck REG No. UBA 670V overturned after the driver lost control of the vehicle which was ferrying market vendors who were travelling to the weekly market in Adipala, Kapelebyong district.

“It is alleged that a patch of the road around the swamp caused the driver to lose control. 12 persons died on spot and six other people have been rushed to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital with different levels of injuries,” said Ageca earlier in a statement.

Faridah Nampiima, the Traffic Police spokesperson says the accident happened on Sunday afternoon at Alomayin swamp along Alakaituk-Amuria road  in Amuria district.

Nampiima revealed that police are yet to identify the deceased and the injured, and the cause of the accident is also yet to be established.

“We want to caution all lorry drivers to desist from carrying passengers on lorries as its illegal,” said Nampiima.

Police at Kira division have arrested a woman identified as Sheila Masiko alias Fiona, on allegations of aggravated trafficking and torturing her housemaid.

The victim identified as Agnes Nakintu, 14, has been working as a housemaid at Masiko’s home located in Buwate, Najjera, Kira municipality, Wakiso district.

It is alleged that in the month of February, Masiko (30), contacted her friend only identified as Ann who resides in Kiboga town to get her a maid.

Ann is said to have contacted the victim’s mother identified as Mary Nakanzi to allow her to send the victim to Kampala to work as a maid at her friend’s house.

Following the mother’s go-ahead, Masiko reportedly sent transport money to the victim’s phone number and the following day she came to Kampala.

After her arrival, it is said that the victim has allegedly been going through a series of torture incidents including; thorough beatings, being burnt with a flat iron, and hot water and not being paid her salary since April this year.

Upon receiving this information, police say they visited the home on Wednesday and arrested Masiko, and she is currently detained at Kira division police station.

According to police, the child has since been examined and that it has been established that she was tortured due to the wounds visible on her body.

“We are working with partners to ensure that she is well looked after and treated as investigations go on,” read the police statement in part.

“The police would like to also appeal to members of the public especially parents to desist from sending away children into hard labour,” the statement added.

Police also revealed that efforts to get in touch with the victim’s parents are underway as investigations into the matter continue.

Up to 10 tons of Relief food donated in Moroto, Napak and Nabilatuk Districts.

Airtel Uganda, under their Airtel Cares Program, has today handed over food items to over 2,000 households in the Karamoja region in North-eastern Uganda.

While handing over the food items to Moroto District Local government officials today on behalf of Airtel Uganda, David Birungi, the Airtel Uganda Public Relations, and Corporate Communications Manager said that Airtel Uganda is pleased to join other individuals, corporate organizations and public institutions that have made an outreach to more than half a million people who are experiencing hunger in the Karamoja region.

“We have 100% 4G network across the country that can be used by the different players to gather information on different aspects of food security in the region. With the right information food can be sourced from areas of plenty to those most in need. We are committed to supporting such efforts,” said Birungi.

“As a brand that cares for the people in communities where we operate, we are pleased to work with the local leaders in Karamoja to identify the most at-risk 2,000 families, with an average of 5 members for each family, and give them 4kgs of posho and 2kgs of beans,” said Birungi.

As part of Airtel Uganda’s endeavour to support efforts aimed at ending hunger in the region, Airtel Uganda will extend food items to 700 families in Moroto, 700 families in Napak, and 600 families in Nabilatuk which are all facing severe food shortages.

Birungi further noted, “We are aware of the combined efforts by different players in government, the development sector and donors to end this biting severe food shortage. We shall continue to support such efforts, first, to put relief food on the table and finding lasting solutions to the problem.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) estimated that about 518,000 people from Karamoja’s poorest families face critical food insecurity resulting from seasons of crop failure.

David Koriang, the Moroto District Chairperson applauded Airtel Uganda for coming to the rescue of the people of Karamoja.

“I would like to thank Airtel Uganda for this selfless act of service. The food that has been donated will save many families and push them for many days as other interventions are being concluded. We appreciate your generosity,” said Koriang.

Police in Rukiga district are investigating circumstances under which a 20 year old man was assaulted to death by unknown assailants.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson identified the deceased as James Kamugisha of Kihindi cell, Nyakabungo parish, Muhanga TC in Rukiga district had been assaulted and is beeieved to have died from the injuries he sustained.

Maate noted that Julius Kamwesiga, 40, a businessman and resident of Rwakumuhi cell, Nyakabungo parish, Muhanga TC in Rukiga district, informed police that the deceased had been badly assaulted.

It is said that a one Tayebwa Justine found the deceased found lying unconscious on the roadside on Wednesday August 2022 at around 2am, he moved and informed the victim’s parents where the victim was.

Maate revealed that after receiving information, the parents immediately moved to the scene and organized means of transport to rush him for medical attention at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital where he passed on moments before arrival.

Maate adds that the deceased’s parents returned the body home and made a report at Bukinda police station where the Officer in charge informed Rukiga Central Police Station to respond.

According to Maate, the scene was visited, processed, postmortem examination done and some arrests made to aid in investigations. 

A case of murder by assault has been registered at Rukiga Central Police Station under reference number CRB 378/2022 investigations into the matter continue.