Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality authorities have launched an investigation into the increasing number of school-aged children engaging in street hawking. Deputy Mayor Milton Betunguura has expressed concern over the situation noting that children aged 8-12 years particularly boys are collecting scraps and hawking food items, which violates the child labor act.

Speaking to reporters, Betunguura highlighted the need to understand why these children are not in school, despite government programs like Universal Primary Education designed to support vulnerable families’ access to education. He expressed disappointment that children in the education-focused municipality are on the streets performing domestic-related work.

Betunguura urged parents especially those whose children are not enrolled in school, to ensure their children’s return to the classroom warning of potential arrests for child negligence.

Ibanda District coffee farmers are celebrating record prices this week with both Arabica and Robusta beans fetching unprecedented rates. Arabica coffee is currently trading at sh18,500 per kilogramme up from sh14,500 just three weeks ago. Robusta coffee prices have also increased reaching sh15,000 per kilo.

Deogratias Tihwayo of Nyakatookye Coffee Farmers Cooperative attributes the surge to high-quality beans and strong demand. He anticipates further price increases in the coming weeks.

Global supply uncertainties, stemming from challenging weather conditions in major coffee-producing countries like Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia, are contributing to the favorable market conditions for Ibanda farmers.

Police in Kazo district have arrested Naboth Mugabe alias Young, one of the prime suspects in the murder of Rev. Mishach Kahembera who was a resident of Meru Meru Village, Kataraza Parish in Nkungu Sub County. Mugabe has been in hiding following the incident that claimed his father’s life on February 5.

Mugabe was nabbed by Crime Intelligence Police while in Katete, Mbarara City where he and his brother Amos Nuwabiine, another prime suspect in the murder of their father Kahembera have been renting. Nuwabiine is still at large after escaping before arrest this afternoon.

The Rwizi Police Region Spokesperson, Samson Kasasira confirmed the arrest and further revealed that investigations into this matter are ongoing.

Kahembera, 64, was a dedicated servant of the church, overseeing the United Pentecostal Churches activities in Kazo district and other parts of the country. He had been grappling with severe domestic issues particularly following the tragic death of his wife, Rosset Tushabe in June last year.

This incident resulted into the arrest of Mary Busingye, her son Arthur Agaba together with the two prime suspects in the murder of Kahembera.

The Chairperson for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Ntungamo district, Amiidu Rukundo, has called on PWDs and the elderly to take a leading role in fighting poverty to improve their livelihoods and achieve self-sufficiency.

Rukundo made the appeal during the handover of special grants at the Ntungamo District headquarters. The grants which total to UGX 72 million were allocated to 17 groups of PWDs and elderly individuals to support their small business ventures and family sustenance.

According to Rukundo, the grants provide a critical lifeline to many vulnerable individuals enabling them to start income-generating activities and improve their living standards.

A total of five groups of elderly persons received UGX 20 million under the Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons (SEGOP). Additionally, 12 groups of PWDs were allocated UGX 52 million under the National Special Grant scheme.

Notable government officials and councillors lauded the government’s commitment to prioritizing the needs of PWDs and the elderly. Patrick Rwakabale, the Male District Councillor for Persons with Disabilities commended the district Chairperson, Samuel Mucunguzi Rwakigooba for his leadership in promoting the welfare of PWDs.

Other officials, including Deborah Kobusingye, the female councillor for PWDs in Ntungamo and Ambrose Tusiime the Ntungamo District Community Development Officer echoed the importance of initiatives aimed at addressing the financial needs of PWDs and the elderly.

The government’s financial support is part of broader efforts to promote social inclusion, economic empowerment and a self-reliant and resilient society. Shallon Birungi, the Principal Assistant Secretary representing the Chief Administrative Officer emphasized the need for individuals to embrace change in their own lives for meaningful community transformation to occur.

Residents of Mashonga in Kyamuhunga subcounty Bushenyi district are living in fear due to a surge in theft including livestock and crops. Nuwe Sula Katura, the area LC3 councillor, reported that theft of goats and bananas occur daily despite ongoing village night patrols.

Katura urged residents to remain vigilant and keep guard over their animals expressing concern that this issue discourages local involvement in poverty alleviation efforts. He suggested that one factor contributing to the theft is the police practice of granting bond to criminals shortly after their arrest.

In response, William Katsigazi, Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Bushenyi confirmed that his office receives approximately five complaints per day from residents seeking security meetings on the escalating theft issue. He called for the restoration of village night patrols by local councils to help curb and apprehend criminals before the situation worsens.

The Bushenyi Ishaka municipality mayor, Richard Byaruhanga has taken a bold step to address the issue of schools in the area consistently failing to score grade ones in national exams. During the official release of the 2024 PLE results at Tuzza Hotel in Bushenyi town, Byaruhanga directed the education department to institute a committee to investigate these poorly performing schools.

According to Byaruhanga, there are seven schools that have consistently failed to score grade ones in the annual national exams. The mayor believes that establishing the reasons behind this trend is crucial in addressing the issue at its root. Byaruhanga emphasized the need for leaders to take a closer look into the matter and find solutions to ensure that all schools in the area are given an equal chance to excel.

Meanwhile, Silverio Byarufu Mukobi, the town clerk of Bushenyi Ishaka municipality, attributed the outstanding performance of the schools in the area to supportive parents and foundation bodies. He urged parents to prioritize providing lunch for their children at school citing that it was a crucial factor in achieving remarkable success.

Dan Mugyenyi, the education officer of Bushenyi Ishaka municipality, announced that the area led the country with a remarkable 99.3% success rate. The municipality had 814 candidates who scored Division I, 662 in Division II, 54 in Division III, and 21 in Division IV out of a total of 1561 candidates.

The three top-performing schools in the area, Kyeitembe primary, Ishaka Junior and Parental Care Primary School were awarded certificates for their outstanding performance.

Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital has come out to refute the circulating social media concerns about the outbreak of Ebola at the health facility. This follows the admission of two suspected cases, which raised alarm in the community. A 15-year-old boy and a 19-year-old girl were hospitalized over the weekend displaying symptoms like bloody diarrhea, fever and headaches. Tragically, the boy passed away before test results ruled out Ebola amplifying public anxiety.

Dr. Deus Twesigye, the acting hospital director, addressed the community’s concerns stating that there are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola at the facility. He emphasized the importance of vigilance, urging the public not to become complacent.

Despite recent concerns, the hospital is also battling an ongoing Mpox outbreak with 18 active cases still under treatment. Authorities have reported a total of 88 registered Mpox cases, highlighting the urgent need for public awareness and adherence to health guidelines.

While an Ebola vaccine is available in Uganda, Dr. Twesigye revealed that Mbarara has not yet initiated vaccination efforts. This has intensified calls for increased public health measures as officials urge residents to remain cautious in the face of both Mpox and the potential for Ebola outbreak.

Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and stress the need for the public to follow safety protocols to prevent further spread of both diseases.

Kazo district leadership convened a significant workshop today at St. John’s C.O.U, bringing together headteachers from government primary schools to discuss educational progress and challenges in the area. The annual workshop, a customary event held at the start of Term One serves as a platform for headteachers to collaborate with district leaders on critical educational matters.

In an interview with Kazo FM, John Bosco Tumwesigye, the Inspector of Schools for Kazo District emphasized the importance of this meeting noting that it allows for open dialogue about initiatives and improvements within the education sector.

A highlight of the workshop was the election of a new committee for the Kazo Headteachers Association. Tumushabe Paddy was elected as the new chairman, who vowed to work closely with the Kazo District Education Department to enhance educational outcomes and support for schools in the district.

LCV Chairman Rev. Samuel Mugisha Katugunda urged headteachers to be understanding regarding school fees. He discouraged the practice of sending children home for non-payment of fees, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in education and the need to keep children in school regardless of financial challenges.

As the workshop concluded, the district leaders and headteachers reaffirmed their commitment to fostering an educational environment that supports all students in Kazo highlighting the community’s collaborative efforts to address ongoing challenges within the educational system.

Works on Ekitobero-Kashanyarazi Karugangama Circular Road in Nyamitanga, Mbarara City South Division have officially been launched amidst community dissatisfaction as residents demanded for a tarmac road. The project is worth Ugx Shs.11.8 million.

Crowds in Ekitobero expressed their frustrations chanting for a tarmacked roadway. They highlighted the adverse conditions created by dust during the dry season and mud during wet periods both of which have detrimental effects on their businesses.

The event was officiated by Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Mbarara City South Division, Robert Kanusu and attended by several notable figures including Mbarara City Mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, Deputy City Town Clerk Ejeu Simon and City Engineer William Bananuka along with other local council leaders.

Kanusu acknowledged the long-standing neglect of routine maintenance on the road but assured attendees that the newly-launched project would adhere to the established Bills of Quantities (BOQs) ensuring proper execution and value for taxpayers’ money.

Kakyebezi encouraged the community to embrace the road improvements to bolster income-generating activities and enhance household incomes. He appealed for unity, urging residents to set aside divisive politics and focus on the transformative opportunities provided by local government initiatives.

Regarding financial matters, Kakyebezi addressed questions about the Ug Shs 134 million budget balance left from the Katete Bridge project. He confirmed that this amount has been sanctioned by the city council to construct a temporary bridge at Kanyeite, which will link Nyakaizi Kakoba to Karugangama Katete. He noted that any major bridge project in the city must receive approval from the Ministry of Works and Transport which has already conducted assessments of the Kanyeite Bridge.

South Division Mayor, Jomo Mugabi also stressed the community’s preference for a tarmacked road over a gravel one echoing concerns raised by residents. He emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the execution of the road works and called on the city engineer to provide accurate measurements of the road’s width to prevent potential corruption and misappropriation of funds.

The launch of this road project marks a critical step toward improving infrastructure in Mbarara City but the voices of the community highlight the need for ongoing dialogue and transparency to meet public needs effectively.

Police in Kazo district are investigating a shocking case of alleged domestic violence in Meru Meru, Kataraza, Nkungu sub county that claimed the life of Rev. Mishach Kahembera, a prominent pastor in the United Pentecostal Church and a respected community leader.

Kahembera was reportedly killed by his two biological sons; Naboth Mugabe and Amos Nuwabiine at around 6:00am of Wednesday February 5. The duo are said to be still at large after taking off on a motorcycle following the incident.

Kahembera, 60, was a dedicated servant of the church, overseeing the United Pentecostal Churches activities in Kazo district and other parts of the country. His elder brother, Boaz Turyagyenda, a councillor for Kataraza Parish disclosed that Kahembera had been grappling with severe domestic issues, particularly following the tragic death of his wife, Rosset Tushabe in June last year.

The incident resulted into the arrest of Mary Busingye, her son Arthur Agaba and two suspects in the murder of Kahembera linking the death of Tushabe to the ongoing cycle of violence within the family.

Mugabe and Nuwabiine were later released while investigations were not yet concluded while Busingye and Agaba are still detained at Rugongi Prison in Kiruhura district.

“It is with a heavy heart that I recount the struggles my brother has faced,” Turyagyenda stated. “Domestic violence has plagued our family, leading to devastating consequences including the loss of his wife. We never anticipated that it would come to this,” he revealed.

Nabimanya Daphine, Kahembera’s stepdaughter shared her harrowing insights into the family’s turmoil lamenting about the recent death of her mother and expressed shock at the violence that has unfolded leading to the untimely death of her stepfather.

“This is a tragic end to a long history of violence in our family. We are overwhelmed by this loss and seek justice for our loved ones,” Daphine said.

Seth Byaruhanga, the district councillor for Nkungu Sub County condemned the violent incident highlighting on the urgent need for community intervention and support for families experiencing domestic challenges. “We must come together to address the issue of domestic violence in our communities and ensure that such tragedies end,” he emphasized.

As investigations into Rev. Kahembera’s death continue, community members are left grappling with the aftermath of this heartbreaking incident, mourning the loss of a beloved religious leader while advocating for an end to domestic violence in their midst.