By Racheal Nuwahereza

MTN Foundation hands over a newly constructed classroom block and staff quarters to Bigodi Secondary School and Rwengobe Primary School in Kamwenge District.

The UGX350million project was funded by MTN Foundation and implemented through Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS), a non-government organization and is dedicated to improving access to quality education in Uganda.

Under this project, MTN Foundation constructed and furnished a 3-classroom block for the students at Bigodi Secondary School while Rwengobe Primary School received newly constructed staff quarters with the capacity to accommodate 6 teaching staff and the Head Master of the institution.

Speaking at the official handover of the schools in Kamwenge, Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer, said; “We believe that this classroom block will alleviate challenges of congestion and limited learning space for the students while also creating an enabling environment for learning. Through this project, MTN also hopes to create positive impact with ripple effects culminating into the social and economic development of the country.”

By undertaking this initiative, MTN is fulfilling its commitment to the people of Uganda to continually support and contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country through Infrastructure development.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

In a bid to extend quality maternal health care services to the people, MTN Foundation handed over a newly refurbished and equipped Mother Kevin health centre III in Mbulamuti sub-county, Kamuli district.

MTN Foundation, through Joint Medical Stores in 2020 refurbished and equipped Mother Kevin health centre III which had been non-operational for 10 years, due to lack of medical equipment and it is now set to kick-start operations at the facility.

The project which will benefit over 30,000 patients cost UGX122million focusing on equipping the labour ward with items like; delivery beds, medicine trolleys, baby resuscitators, suction pump, catheter, patient beds in the maternity ward, oxygen cylinder and regulator.

Through this project, MTN Foundation also constructed sanitary facilities such as a placenta pit and lavatories for the health centre. The laboratory, post natal ward, store and doctor’s room were among others also equipped.

Speaking during the official handover of the facility held today at Mother Kevin health centre III in Kamuli, the MTN General Manager for Customer Experience, Dorcas Muhwezi said that the project was driven by the telecom’s vision to improve the livelihood of the communities in which it operates.

“MTN sought to empower the hardworking staff of Mother Kevin health centre III in order to provide safe and quality health care to the people in Kamuli and the surrounding districts. This initiative supports our commitment to improving the livelihoods of the communities in which we operate,” said Muhwezi.

Robert Mutemo, the Resident District Commissioner, Kamuli district, applauded the MTN Foundation for the impact that it has created in the district saying MTN has over the years continually demonstrated a fondness for the Busoga sub-region through the numerous donations and CSR activities undertaken to improve the livelihood of the people in Busoga.

Dr. Bildard Baguma, the Executive director Joint Medical Stores, said this project is testament that combined efforts culminate into great achievements.

In 2020, MTN also signed a 2-year partnership with the Obwa Kyabazinga bwa Busoga Kingdom worth UGX 600 million with focus on the kingdom’s social, cultural, and economic programs in the areas of health, sports, and culture.

Police in Sembabule district is searching for unknown people who beat to death one person identified as Semwogere Anus (24).

It is alleged on Sunday evening, the OC station Asp Hiduja received information that some people were beating a thief. The OC dispatched a team but upon arrival at the scene, they only found the body of the deceased. 

The police were reportedly informed that the deceased had stolen a motorcycle Bajaj boxer from the playground in the district. Upon realizing that the motorcycle was missing, the owner informed his colleagues and the Tugende Company which had loaned him the ride and they started tracking it.

The owner together with other Boda Boda riders followed the thief and caught up with him just after Kidadala trading centre where they beat him to death.

The officers picked the body and conveyed it to Ssembabule health centre IV for Postmortem.

According to Muhammad Nsubuga the Masaka regional police spokesperson, the deceased was given Bail on 10th March for similar charges of stealing a motorcycle.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Hon Moses Kamuntu Mwongyera, the Rubanda County West legislator has directed members in this constituency to encroach on wetlands until President Museveni secures their compensation.

Wetland encroachers in Rubanda district were in 2021 directed by the government to vacate them in order to restore the wetland and prevent further degradation. However, Hon Kamuntu advised his constituents to arrest any government official who will dare chase them from the wetlands again, quashing the directives.

Hon Kamuntu who made the comments on Monday while commissioning the construction of Nshanjaare/Ndego road at Ndeego trading center claimed that he had met the President over the wetland matter, and His Excellency was still gathering money to compensate wetland occupants in Rubanda.

“I met the president and he is still looking for money to compensate you. Please occupy the wetlands again, use them as usual. Arrest for me anyone from NEMA who will attempt to disrupt you,” Kamuntu ordered.

In November 2018, President Museveni took to his twitter handle @KagutaMuseveni and prmised wetland encroachers a modest compensation if they vacated. However, in February this year, he took to the same Platform and warned the public against wetland encroachment for purposes of environmental conservation.

“No one should build or buy land in the road reserves or wetlands. You will lose your money and we shall NOT compensate anyone. Your titles will be canceled. Tampering with wetlands is not a good practice for our environment. Even those planting rice in swamps should desist.”

As per the Regulations, any person who, without prior appropriate approval, undertakes an activity that is likely to have adverse effects on a wetland, commits an offence and is liable to a prison sentence or to pay a fine as stipulated in the law.

Wetlands serve an important part of the ecosystem as a habitat for various animal and plant species, they regulate the quality of water, reduce soil erosion and aid in flood control.

Despite these important ecological functions, wetlands continue to be a soft target for settlement, agriculture and other developments in several parts of the country.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police in Bugiri district has in custody four youths suspected to have participated in the murder of a 32-year-old man identified as Ivan Mukisa.

Steven Lwembawo, the Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigations in Bugiri district, revealed that Mukisa was a renowned businessman dealing in music systems and electronic appliances. Adding that he was also popular amongst the youthful population in Bugiri district. 

Mukisa is said to have met his death on Tuesday night at the hands of unidentified youths who rounded him up as he headed towards his home in Katawo zone in the Eastern division in Bugiri municipality. 

The deceased sustained injuries on the head, bark, neck and chest and bled to death before the assailants hid his lifeless body in a bar within the area only to be discovered by area residents who realized that the handle of the bar entrance was covered in blood and bloodstains spilt along the roadside. 

The suspects whose identities have been withheld in order not to jeopardize investigations are currently in custody at Bugiri central police station awaiting prosecution.

Lwembawo says that a team of detectives is still hunting for some prime suspects who are still at large.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

An ex-convict identified as Kombozi Behangaza, (28) has accused the Uganda Prisons Service of not paying him his earnings over the last 14 years.

Behangaza was convicted for rape in 2012 and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment which he spent at Bulawula prison in Kayunga district.

Behangaza who says he worked on both private and gov’t farms claims he was to be paid 500 shillings for every day he worked.

Frank Baine, the Uganda Prisons Service-UPS spokesperson explained that skilled prisoners are entitled to 500shs, semi-skilled prisoners 250shs, while unskilled earn only 100shs per day of work which is all recorded in the prisoners’ logbook.

Baine added that upon release the prisoner is entitled to a transport fare by public means back to the point of his arrest.

Behangaza says he was demanding UGX 1.4m but he was given only UGX 40,000 to transport him up to Katuna in Kabale district which was also not enough. He says he hoped this would be the money he would invest to start over and not engage in crime when he eventually got out of prison.

Behangana added that even the farming equipment he was entitled to including a hoe, maize grians, a panga, an axe which is given to support the prisoners to start over was never given to him to which Baine responded saying it is upon the discretion of the Officer-in-Charge and on the goodwill of the commissioner general but not a must.

Behangaza, is currently stuck in Kampala but hopes to return home to Katuna in case he is paid.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police in Oyam district is hunting for a pastor and seven other people over the death of 72-year-old Albina Okoi, a resident of Ajaca A village, Okomo parish, Ngai sub-county in Oyam district.

It’s alleged that on Friday 4th March 2022, a congregation led by the Pastor identified as Lawrence Aguga were conducting prayers when the ‘holy spirit’ reportedly pointed them to Albina Okoi as someone practicing witchcraft.

The congregation led by Pastor Aguga descended on Okoi and forced her to run for a distance of 6kms to the prayer ground while being beaten. The police report indicates that the deceased collapsed and died before reaching the prayer ground.

Jimmy Patrick Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson confirmed the incident saying the matter was reported to police by the deceased’s son. “Benedict Arac, 29 yrs old medical personnel and a son to the deceased informed police at Oyam CPS the following day and our team of detectives visited the scene which was documented, relevant statements were recorded,” said Okema.

Police say one person has since been arrested and is in custody at Oyam Central Police Station to aid the investigation. The 8 other suspects including Lawrence Aguga, the church leader, Patrick Arom, Francis Ebong, Silvesto Akejo, George Otim, Tony Odongo and others only identified as Ongoda and Ocen are reportedly on the run.

Okema says efforts are under way to have them apprehended.

The body of the deceased has since been handed over to the family for burial.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police in Kamwenge District is investigating circumstances under which three people were allegedly shot dead by a police constable identified only as PC Nuwagaba attached to Bunoga Police Post around 3am on Saturday.

Vincent Twesige, the Regional Police spokesperson Rwenzori West, confirmed the incident saying the PC Nuwagaba together with two other people developed a misunderstanding while in the bar over an unidentified girl.

“After developing the misunderstanding, the police constable left the bar and went to the police post and a few minutes later, he came back with the gun, shot two people who were standing outside the bar dead and the third person was shot while inside his car which was also parked outside the bar,” said Twesige adding that after the incident, the suspect ran away with the gun but he was later arrested from Kyenjojo District.

“Police recovered the killer gun from him and three magazines of which two had 40 rounds of ammunition, and the third one was empty,” he said.

Twesige identified the deceased as Richard Tuhaise, 28, a resident of Bunoga village, Friday Innocent, 38, who was a night watchman at Manoti fuel pump in Bunoga trading center, and Sam Baseka, 18, a resident of Bwizi village in Koma Katalyeba Town Council, Kamwenge District.

The three bodies were taken to Rukunyu Health IV for postmortem as investigations into the matter continue.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Godfrey Byamukama, the mayor Kamwenge town who was in 2017 tortured by Police on accusations of participating in the gruesome murder of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi has been awarded shs1.4 billion in compensation for the torture.

In 2017, operatives of the Police Flying Squad arrested Byamukama, from Kampala where he travelled as usual for private business. He was bundled into a waiting drone van and detained at Nalufenya police station which at a time was a reknown torture chamber to a number of suspects that had been detained at the facility.

AIGP Erasmus Twaruhukwa, the director in charge of human rights and legal services at the Uganda Police Force, has revealed that the law and order agency agreed to pay Byamukama Shs1.4bn in an out-of-court settlement.

Speaking during a workshop for Regional Police Commanders at Police headquarters on Thursday, Twaruhukwa said government was sued for violating Byamukama’s rights in a civil suit, adding that having realized there was so much evidence against them, the matter was settled out of court.

“We decided to settle the matter out of court. We settled to pay UGX1.4 billion. In that case, everything (evidence) was on social media and if we had allowed the case to go on (in court), we knew we were not likely to win. We would be made to pay UGX 8 billion that they (Byamukama) had asked for,” AIGP Twaruhukwa said.

Sensitive images that surfaced on social media showed torture marks all over Byamukama’s body which attracted ridicule and condemnation from the members of the public, civil society organizations among others.

The Police director however warned that there are many cases that can be mitigated against by police, adding that this can be done when officers stick to what the Police Act and the Constitution provide.

“We need to have a situation where there is no torture and no detention beyond 48 hours. A police officer who makes government loses money, should have action taken against them. These cases happen because people commit crimes with impunity and know the Attorney general will deal with them. The involved officer should pay a percentage of the award and maybe we shall learn to do the right thing,” said Twaruhukwa.

Four police officers including D/ASP Patrick Muramira, D/ASP Fred Tumuhairwe, Habib Roma and Ben Odeke were arraigned before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates court and charged with torture. However, they were later released on bail.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Four people died on spot and at least 40 other people sustained injuries in an accident that happened at around 10pm on Wednesday night at Kanseera Village along the Mubende -Kakumiro Road that involved a white Fuso truck REG No. UAY 196 T.

Racheal Kawala, the police Spokesperson for Wamala Region confirmed the incident saying the ill-fated Fuso truck which was transporting members of Bivamuntuyo market traders group from Butoloogo market to Mubende Town, veered off the road and rammed into a nearby building, killing four occupants on spot.

“The truck was overloaded with market vendors and their luggage, the driver lost control and it overturned killing 4 people and injuring 18,” said Kawala adding the 3 died on spot while another died at Mubende hospital. The other victim has been confirmed dead today morning.

The truck driver only identified as Mukisa is said to have been under the influence of alcohol, he reportedly lost control of the truck and rammed into the building. He’s currently on the run after he escaped with minor injuries.

Kawala says the victims were rushed to Mubende hospital for medical attention and bodies of the deceased taken to Mubende hospital mortuary pending postmortem.

Richard Opio, the Mubende Regional Referral Hospital administrator said six of the injured victims were transferred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for further medical attention.

He identified the deceased as one Nakibuka, a female adult, Katushabe Jasinta, (45), Harriet, a female adult and a one Ssembatya, a male adult.

 “We are still waiting for relatives to provide us with details about the other deceased people,” he said.

The injured are among others; Mubulizi kelebu, Ssemakula Alice, Kasibante Emmanuel, Wasswa kenneth, Zziwa Ronald, Ssenegeya poisiano, Jonathan, Maale Richard, Bale Francis, Kasumba Vincent, Kalijira Nakyanzi, Safina, Nampijja Grace, Nfitikiza Habibu, Steven Nzeimana, Lukwago Willy, Nangozi Realty and Musanagowoza Supecioza.

By: Racheal Nuwahereza