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A fire outbreak has destroyed the senior three boys’ dormitory at Kakungulu Memorial School in Kibuli Kampala which housed 52 students. The blaze broke out around 12:50 AM on Tuesday as students were preparing for bed. Fortunately, only one student suffered minor injuries during evacuation according to the Fire and Rescue Service.
Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson confirmed that the Police Fire and Rescue team responded quickly, preventing further escalation. “Their prompt action ensured the safety of the students. Most were already out of the dormitory when the fire started, minimizing harm. The cause is under investigation,” he stated.
The 2024 National Building Review Board report highlighted serious fire safety compliance issues in Ugandan educational institutions, particularly in dormitories, which are especially vulnerable during the night. The 2023 annual crime report noted 61 recorded fire outbreaks in schools, up from 55 in 2022, leading to at least 64 deaths
Rubaya Sub-County Councilors in Mbarara District have rejected the Solicitor General’s guidance regarding the appointment of an interim chairperson following the death of the former Chairperson, John Mugarura.
During an extraordinary meeting held yesterday at the sub-county headquarters. The councillors expressed their dissatisfaction with the Solicitor General’s recommendation that Norah Kekimuri, the vice-chairperson to the former Chairperson, should assume the role of interim sub-county chairperson. Councilors pointed out that Mugarura had removed Kekimuri from her position prior his death on August 3, 2024.
Despite this, the council, led by Speaker Susan Rutaafa, resolved that office keys and the sub-county stamp will remain in custody of the Sub-County Chief, Racheal Kanyesigye, until they receive further guidance from the Solicitor General.
Schools reopened today for the final term of the academic calendar year, yet government-aided primary schools in Bushenyi district have reported low attendance among pupils.
At several schools visited by our reporter, teachers arrived on time and were in class, waiting for more students to arrive before commencing normal lessons. For instance, at Irembezi Primary School in Nyakahita, only 182 out of the expected 572 pupils reported on the first day, according to head teacher John Vianney Bakunda. He noted that many parents, especially in rural areas, still hold the belief that sending their children to school on the first day leads to them becoming “redundant,” with some fearing their children will be assigned to general cleaning tasks.
Similarly, Rossetti Tukahirwa, head teacher at Nyamiko Primary School, reported that only 40 out of 174 expected pupils attended. She urged parents to embrace the tradition of sending their children to school on the first day, regardless of any concerns about school fees. Tukahirwa encouraged parents to consult school authorities regarding fee issues rather than imposing penalties on the children.
At Bushenyi Town School, head teacher Aziidah Nanseera reported that only 132 out of 476 students attended, attributing the low turnout to a requirement from the Parents Teachers Association for pupils to pay 50% of their fees upon arrival.
Despite the low turnout, Micheal Matigi, the Inspector of Schools in Bushenyi district, confirmed that attendance was slightly improved compared to previous years, both for teachers and pupils.
The U.S. has plunged into an unsettling era of political violence with two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump occurring within just two months. In July, Trump narrowly escaped a gunman’s attack at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania where a 20-year-old shooter was killed by a sniper.
The most recent incident took place during a golf outing in West Palm Beach, Florida where an armed suspect with an AK-47-style rifle reportedly waited in the bushes for Trump. Quick action from Secret Service agents prevented the attack leading to the assailant’s arrest.
As gun violence continues to plague the nation, these alarming incidents reflect a troubling new normal in American politics. Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent, condemned the violence, stating, “Violence has no place in America.”
The impact of the latest threat will largely depend on the identity and motives of the assailant, but for now, the reality of such violence seems to be increasingly accepted. In response, Trump has doubled down, vowing that these attempts to intimidate him will not deter his campaign. He frames himself as a target of persecution, claiming he stands for “forgotten” Americans and urging his supporters to “fight, fight, fight.”
While this latest incident may lack the dramatic visual impact of the July attack where Trump appeared bloodied and defiant on live television, it is likely to generate significant media attention and could shift focus away from recent controversies, including his uneven debate performance and social media disputes.
With just over seven weeks until the election, the political landscape remains fraught with tension and unpredictability, suggesting that more dramatic developments may lie ahead
The National Drug Authority (NDA) has announced the closure of 79 drug outlets in South West Uganda following a week-long compliance enforcement operation aimed at protecting public health. Senior Inspector of Drugs, Mulindwa Kudra, revealed this information during a recent press briefing.
The operation spanned the districts of Isingiro, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Rwampara, and Kiruhura. As a result of these efforts, a total of 183 boxes of assorted medicines, worth over 50 million shillings, were impounded. These actions align with the NDA’s mission to effectively regulate human and animal medicines and health products.
Inspector Kudra stated that those affected by the seizure of their drugs are encouraged to visit the NDA’s regional office in Mbarara City at Booma for guidance and compliance procedures to reclaim their goods.
Additionally, Abiaz Rwamwiri, the Public Relations Manager of NDA, emphasized that one of their primary objectives is ensuring easy access to safe and quality medicine. He noted the establishment of regional teams to enhance supervision and support.
Rwamwiri highlighted the NDA’s achievements over the past eight months, reporting the recovery of one billion shillings worth of stolen government drugs, further underscoring the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health in Uganda.
The National Drug Authority (NDA), a body tasked with protecting and promoting public health through effective regulation of human and animal medicines has closed 79 drug outlets in Southwest Uganda.
During a press briefing following a week-long compliance enforcement operation, Senior Inspector of Drugs Mulindwa Kudra announced the closures, which took place in Isingiro, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Rwampara, and Kiruhura. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 183 boxes of assorted medicines valued at over 50 million shillings.
Mulindwa encouraged those whose drugs were impounded to visit the NDA’s regional offices in Mbarara City for compliance guidance on reclaiming their medicines.
Public Relations Manager Abiaz Rwamwiri emphasized that NDA’s key mandate is to ensure easy access to safe and quality medicines, which is why regional teams are in place to support supervision. He also noted that over the past eight months, the NDA has recovered 1 billion shillings’ worth of stolen government drugs.
A tragic accident this morning on the Kazo-Ibanda road in Kazo District resulted in the death of one individual and left another critically injured.
The collision involved a Toyota Premio (registration number UAP 149J) and a Fuso Fighter Truck (registration number UBA 312W) in a head-on crash near Katanganya Trading Centre.
The deceased has been identified as Nuwagira Sayid Kamoomo, a resident of Rwakahaya Village in Kanoni Sub County, Kazo District. Kamoomo died at the scene, while his driver, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, sustained critical injuries.
In contrast, the three occupants of the Fuso Fighter Truck were reported to have escaped unharmed.
Witnesses at the scene indicated that Kamoomo was traveling from the Ibanda side, while the Fuso Fighter Truck was on its way from Kampala at the time of the accident.
In response to the incident, Kazo District LCV Chairman Rev. Samuel Mugisha Katugunda spoke with Kazo FM, highlighting his ongoing concerns regarding road safety in the area.
He mentioned that he has been advocating for the installation of speed humps along the Kazo-Ibanda road, a request he claims has yet to be addressed by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). Rev. Katugunda pledged to continue pursuing measures that could help reduce the occurrence of such tragic accidents in the future.
By the time of reporting, police from Kazo Police Station had arrived at the scene to conduct their investigations into the accident.
The Igara Tea Growers Factory has filed a lawsuit against a group of tea farmers from Buhweju, alleging that they are disrupting the operations of the Buhweju factory, which is part of the Igara-Buhweju Growers Tea Company.
This legal battle stems from ongoing tensions that began a few years ago when Buhweju tea farmers sought autonomy for their factory, a request that Igara management has consistently rejected.
The situation intensified when representatives from the Buhweju farmers formed a steering committee aimed at facilitating the separation of their factory from Igara.
According to Nicholas Abenaitwe, the lawyer representing the accused farmers, the committee’s purpose was to expedite the process of independence from the Igara factory, which they claim has been obstructing their efforts.
In response to these developments, the Igara Tea Growers Factory sought a court injunction to prevent the Buhweju farmers from disrupting factory activities. During a court appearance today, both the complainants and the defendants presented their cases to Deputy Registrar Arinaitwe Gorreti.
The court ruled in favor of the Buhweju farmers, granting them permission to hold meetings but explicitly prohibiting them from interfering with the factory’s operations.
The court has adjourned the case until October 18 for further mention of the main suit, leaving both sides awaiting clarification on the future of their ongoing conflict.
Haruna Ssewaya, the lead lawyer for the petitioners, emphasized the seriousness of the situation and the need for a resolution as the conflict continues to impact the tea-growing community in the region.
In January 2021, Rwampara District received Shs 1.4 billion for 36 Emyooga SACCOs across two constituencies, with each SACCO allocated an initial capital of Shs 30 million. However, as of now, none of these SACCOs have managed to repay their borrowed funds.
Nationally, the Emyooga initiative, launched in 2020, aimed to provide financial support to various community groups, with a total budget of Shs 265 billion earmarked for 1,000 SACCOs throughout Uganda. To date, approximately Shs 125 billion has been disbursed, but reports indicate that many SACCOs across the country are struggling with repayment, raising concerns about the program’s effectiveness.
During a parliamentary finance committee oversight meeting yesterday, several chairpersons from the Emyooga SACCOs in Rwampara attributed the poor recovery of funds to political interference and local governance challenges. They claimed that external pressures and influences have hindered their ability to collect repayments from members.
Amos Kankunda, the legislator for Rwampara County and chairperson of the parliamentary finance committee, addressed these concerns, stating that the committee has instructed the Resident District Commissioner’s office to initiate arrest proceedings against beneficiaries who have failed to repay the funds.
Kankunda emphasized the need for accountability, noting that if the situation persists, it could undermine the credibility of the Emyooga initiative and jeopardize future funding for community development projects.
Police in Mbarara have recovered the body of Kyarisiima Judith, a nursing officer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, who went missing from her marital home on September 2, 2024.
Judith, age 50, was married to Nkwasiibwe Justus, the head teacher at Bugashe One Primary School, located in Nyakayojo, Mbarara South Division. Her body was discovered in River Rwizi and has been sent to the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Harrison Kagure, the public relations officer for Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, stated that there have been no prior complaints regarding gender-based violence related to Judith’s marriage.
The Regional Police Public Relations Officer for the Rwizi region, Samson Kasasira, confirmed the details regarding Judith’s death, which was reported at approximately 9:00 AM in the Lugazi area along the banks of River Rwizi.
Kasasira indicated that police investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of death, considering the possibility of murder or suicide. Samples have been collected from the body, and detectives are interviewing individuals who had contact with Judith prior to her death in order to ensure justice is served.
Four people, including Judith’s husband, are currently being investigated as key suspects in the case surrounding her disappearance and subsequent death.
