By Racheal Nuwahereza

Authorities in Kitagwenda district have given encroachers in Kikoyo wetland an ultimatum of 21 days to vacate the swamp or face arrest and prosecution.

Responding to accusations by residents in Kitagwenda district, that the district only targets ordinary people for evictions from degraded wetlands, Anthony Karyegira, the Kitagwenda district natural resources officer said the encroachers who include big shots in the district were issued restoration notifications last week.

“We are giving them the benefit of doubt, if they refuse to comply, then we will move in fully and forcefully remove them, “said Karyegira in an interview on April 21.

Kalyegira reaffirmed their neutrality, explaining that there is no rich or poor in environmental conservation as all are under one law.

Notably, Nulu Byamukama, the Member of Parliament for Kitagwenda County was one of the encroachers whose eucalyptus trees were mowed down during last year’s massive eviction exercise from Kikoyo wetland where several acres of mature eucalyptus trees that were illegally planted in the swamp were cut down by the district and the regional wetlands office.

Currently, the district is planning to evict half a dozen other illegal occupants from River Mpanga gorge, said Kalyegira. 

Kalyegira revealed that the operation seeks to rid the river buffer zone within a range of 100 metres on either side as well as the entire stretch from Nyabani up to the point where River Mpanga pours its waters into Lake George, an estimated 800 hectares, of illegal activities like brick-making, vegetable growing and planting of eucalyptus trees and settlement.

From Stephen Nuwagira

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Residents of Kyarukobwa B cell, Kyaruhanga Ward, Kagongo Division, Ibanda Municipality in Ibanda district were on Tuesday evening left in shock after 20 year old man slit his throat with a sharp knife and bled to death.

The deceased identified as Andrew Lubega is said to have been working in a stone quarry site in Katoma for a long time.

An eye witnesses told our reporter that at around 6:30pm on Tuesday, the deceased picked a knife from children who were slicing cabbage and slit his throat and started running while he bled, until he collapsed and died.

Atuhaise Evelyne Nalongo who has been Lebega’s supervisor said that on
that fatefull day, Lubega turned up for work as usual and later in the evening requested for UGX 5,000 from his supervisor and after receiving the money, Lubega committed suicide.

Tophas Kabakama Muganda, the chairperson LC1 Kyarukobwa B cell said
that the deceased has been a well-known humble person in the village who had been sober since morning but the incident left them all in shock.

Elias Ahimbisibwe, the father to the deceased told our reporter that he last saw his son before Easter Celebrations and had since been staying with his mother in the trading center until Tuesday late evening when he received a call from people informing him about his son’s death.

The reasons behind his decision remain unclear.

Police from Ibanda Central Police Station rushed to the scene and took the body to Ruhoko heath center IV for postmortem as investigations into the matter continue.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police in Jinja are holding a man suspected to have killed his wife over the weekend. Moses Tenywa, a resident of Soweto village, Wakuluba- Masese, Jinja South Division is accused of having murdered his wife identified as Nalongo Annet Nabirye, 38.

Following a misunderstanding over a piece of land in Kaliro District, Tenywa, is said to have fatally stabbed Nabirye, with whom he had seven children and attempted to bury her in their home, just 20 metres away from their main house but was interrupted by the children.

Milly Gutu, a neighbour revealed that while the man resolved to sell the land, the deceased was against the idea, arguing that it was for their children.

Paul Batambuze, the area LC1 chairperson, said the couple has been having domestic issues for a while, especially after the sale of their land.

“This time, the wife demanded to know why he wasn’t putting their money to proper use and why he had sold their land, but he instead stabbed her to death before fleeing from the village,” said Batambuze.

James Mubi, the Kiira Region Police Spokesperson, confirmed the incident, saying after Nabirye learnt that he sold their land, the suspect fatally stabbed her on the cheeks, neck and the head and she died after bleeding profusely.

“It’s alleged that Moses Tenywa sold land and used money in things which don’t benefit the family and when the wife tried to blame him, he turned against her in anger and stabbed her to death,” said Mubi.

Police rushed to the scene and documented the evidence before ferrying the body to Jinja regional referral hospital and launched investigations into the matter.

Police, with help from the locals, launched a successful manhunt and on Saturday, the suspect was found in Buyengo Town Council, about 45Kms from the crime scene.

Mubi, said the fugitive was found unresponsive in a banana plantation after reportedly ingesting poison trying to commit suicide.

“He was rescued and arrested and is currently receiving treatment at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and he will be duly charged,” said Mubi.

Mubi, noted that they have deployed three officers to watch over the suspect to stop him from endangering his life.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police in Jinja have launched a manhunt for God Lwampala, a boda boda rider and resident of Buwekula, Bugembe, Jinja city for allegedly killing his wife identified as Betty Namukuve, a food vendor at Kyabazinga Market, Bugembe.

Abbey Ngako, the police spokesperson confirmed the incident adding that for the last four years, the man had suspensions that his wife was cheating on him with other men and he on several occasions promised to kill her.

“We got information that the man started a 10-days countdown for his wife before he eventually murdered her,” Ngako said.

Jamawa Kwegemya, the LCI Chairperson Buwekula said the deceased reported the matter to her office and she reconciled the couple after listening to both sides.

“She told us that the man intends to kill her, and I deployed the village defence secretary to monitor the situation but it’s so unfortunate that we have lost a life,” said Kwegemya.

Kwegemya added that cases of domestic violence are on the increase and blamed police for granting suspects bond after they have been arrested.

Ngako in response blamed local authorities for not reporting the matter to police on time because if they had, the man would have been arrested.

The deceased’s body was conferred to Jinja regional referral hospital.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Residents of Nyabitooma village, Kagazi Ward, Kabujogera Town Council in Kitagwenda District were today engulfed in shock, tears and grief after a 29 year old man ended his brother’s life in cold blood.

The deceased identified as Alex Arituha 33, is said to have developed a misunderstanding with his younger brother identified as Acleo Abigaba who hacked him to death on Sunday night.

A close relative told our reporter on condition of anonymity that the pair developed a misunderstanding around 9pm on Easter Sunday when they were playing cards. Adding that Abigaba who is currently on the run owed the deceased UGX 1,000 after losing the game and he was unwilling to pay.

This angered Arituha (deceased) and he started a simple fight. Abigaba (the suspect) picked a panga and waited his elder brother Arituha on the way back home at around 10pm and chopped him to death.

Tobias Nuwagaba, the OC CID Kabujogera Police Station confirmed the incident and urged the residents to abstain from drug abuse which he says has taken a center stage in the area.

From Katusiime Caroline.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

The Police in Rukungiri district are hunting for a man for the alleged murder of a 38 year old man identified as Alex Gumoshabe for having an affair with his mother 5 months after his father’s death.

SP Musa Tibakirana, the Rukungiri District Police Commander confirmed the incident saying that the deceased is a resident of Rwakiriba Village, Kashaayo Parish, Bugangari Sub-county, Rujumbura County in Rukungiri district.

The widow identified as Emily Kyomugisha is said to have hosted her lover(the deceased) around 11:00pm on 15th April 2022 which annoyed one of her sons, Tofayo Turinawe who then picked a piece of timber and started beating the deceased and his widowed mother.

Whereas the widow managed to escape, Tofayo beat the deceased into coma and left him for dead. He was found and picked by residents the following morning and taken to Karoli Lwanga Hospital Nyakibaale where he died on arrival.      

A team led by DCID/O, CIO, SOCO and other security personnel visited the scene where the angry residents had demolished Kyomugisha’s home and all the family members had fled the Village, recorded statements from some witnesses and that efforts to trace the suspect are underway.

According to the Police report, the body of the deceased was by press time at Karoli Lwanga hospital Nyakibale pending Post mortem examination to establish the actual cause of his death.

The case of murder by assault has been recorded at Rukungiri CPS vide registration number CRB 300/22.