A man who allegedly went on rampaged and hacked to death two of his neighbor’s children in Kanungu District, western Uganda on Thursday has been lynched to death.

Edward Birungi, 40, a resident of Kagarama cell, Nyarutojo parish, Kambuga Sub-county, Kanungu District was on 17^th February 2022 reported to have gruesomely murdered two toddlers Tracy Nabasa, 8, and Ian Owembabazi, 3, who he hacked to death.

It is reported that Birungi, first accused the children’s father, Frank Kato, a resident of the same area, of having extra-marital affairs with his estranged wife who had just separated with him about two weeks prior to the incident.

After hacking his neighbor; Kato’s children, Birungi is said to have gone into hiding.

He was, however, intercepted by locals as he attempted to flee to the neighboring Rukungiri and lynched to death on Friday afternoon.   

                     

Elly Maate, the Kigezi region police spokesperson confirmed the mob action and blamed the people for taking the law into the hands.

He said the mob should have arrested Birungi and handed him over to the police for prosecution in the courts of law. 

Henry Mwongyera; the Kanungu LCV vice chairman, said he believes Birungi was under the influence of drugs when he hacked his neighbor’s children.

The victims of Birungi’s action were on Saturday laid to rest at their home in Kigarama cell, Nyarutojo parish, Kanungu district.

Police in Fort Portal Central Division is investigating a case where one person was shot on Wednesday night on allegations of stealing from a vehicle parked at a police station.

Anguyo Jaffar, a Police constable attached to FFU Fort Portal Central Police Station said he saw an unidentified man suspected to be in his 20s stealing a spare tyre from a taxi, REG No. UAW 073P which was parked next to the Quarter Guard.

PC Jaffar who was on duty tried to stop the suspect but the latter removed the tyre and started running.

Vicent Twesigye, the Rwenzori West Region spokesperson confirmed the incident saying the officer shot in the air once to scare him, but the thief continued running with the tyre. This prompted the officer to shoot at the thief once on the left leg and having been disabled, the suspect fell down and the officer informed the OC Station who informed the OC Station who also informed the Regional SOCO, Regional CIO, OC CID and other officers that visited and documented the scene.

A case of stealing from a vehicle was opened pending investigations. The tyre and metallic rod which were recovered from the scene taken were taken as exhibits.

The suspect was arrested and rushed to Buhinga Regional Referral Hospital where he is still receiving treatment.

Police preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had planned for the theft with intentions of breaking into any vehicle as he calculated the movements of the station guard.

Staff and pupils at Kanoni primary school, Kanoni Sub-county, Kazo district have been left stranded after a heavy storm blew off the roof of their classrooms yesterday evening.

The heavy rain characterized by strong wind and thunderstorms destroyed several other properties in Nyarubanga, Kitongore, Rwemengo and Bwagonga parishes and Kanoni trading Centre all in Kanoni Sub-county.

Hon Ntungire Fred, the district councillor Kanoni Sub-county told our reporter that among the properties destroyed was a school block at Kanoni primary, the head teacher’s office and the staff quarters, the Sub-county office block and banana plantations among others.

Jameson Kakuru the LC III chairperson Kanoni Sub-county confirmed the disaster in this area and asked the district management and stake holders to intervene and see how best they can help the affected.

Stella Kala, 35, a widow and a resident of Kawiti Village, Kakwokwo Parish, Mutunda Sub County, Kiryandongo District has sounded an outcry after her 16 year old daughter allegedly run away with a 30-year-old man that is suspected to have defiled her in October last year.

Stella says that after the incident, she reported the matter at Mutunda Police Station, leading to the suspect’s arrest. However, the suspect spent only four days in police custody and when he was released on police bond.

Stella believes the suspect then took advantage of being free to reunite with her daughter and he disappeared with her.

Stella also accuses police at Mutunda Station of attempting to frustrate her efforts to seek justice.

“I have searched almost everywhere but still, I cannot find my daughter. This girl is too young and I wanted her to get back to school but I tried to engage the police to look for this man but they are not helping me,” she added.

The victim is said to have been a Primary Five pupil at Legacy Nursery and Primary School in Mutunda Sub-county.

Abel Abei, the area LC1 chairman, confirmed that the suspect was a resident in this area and added that he suspects him to be hiding at their ancestral home in Loro Sub-county, Oyam District.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson, advised the widow to formally lodge her complaint at the region for further management.

At least 650 people in Bwambara Sub-county, Rujumbura county, Rukungiri district, have suffered from jigger infestation since August last year.

The most affected villages are Rushebeya, Kateramo, and Kempazi all in Kikongi parish.

John Tumushabe; the chairperson LC I Kateramo Village,  says many people, including children ranging from the ages of two to five are unable to walk, while the adults between 50 and 70 years have trouble sitting due to pain caused by jiggers.

Tumushabe says together with members of the village health teams (VHT), they have started sensitizing the people in jigger-infested areas about good hygiene.

Annet Kyobutungi, member of the VHT Rushebeya cell, says the problem has been escalated by residents’ failure to adhere to proper sanitation standards. Adding that some families no longer care about their wellbeing as parents have failed to play their roles and some children sleep with dirty feet.

Chris Kagayano, the Bwambara Sub-county LC III chairman, attributed the problem to water shortage in the area.

“I started hearing that there were jiggers in the sub-county but most people in Bwambara are living in poor hygiene places because of water scarcity. That makes us prone to such infections,” said Kagayano.

He says they have instructed a team of health workers to give medical services to the affected population.

Ronald Nahabwe, the sub-county Community Development Officer said so far about 450 people are receiving treatment.

Geoffrey Kyomukama; the LCV chairman Rukungiri district has since urged locals, religious leaders and security personnel to join efforts in fighting the jiggers.

Jiggers penetrate the body mainly through the feet and hands, where they suck blood from their host. When left untreated, heavy infestations may lead to inflammation, wounds, tetanus infections from open wounds and death.

Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, the Minister of State Microfinance and Small Enterprises has urged leaders in Kazo and Kiruhura districts to join Emyooga SACCOs to inspire community members to also join as the government strives to improve household incomes across the country.

Hon, Kasolo made the remarks today during The Microfinance Support Centre Ltd visit to Kazo County, in Kazo district to continue with monitoring of the performance of program within the constituency. The event has been graced by the district Kazo district leaders and beneficiaries.

Rv. Samuel Mugisha; the LC 5 Chairman, Kazo district has assured the population that the Emyooga program is going to succeed without a doubt. “We shall not allow any disruptions. We shall deal with any person who tries to bring in corruption. We aren’t going to allow anybody to disrupt the program,” he said.

Emyooga is a new Presidential Initiative that is centered on Various Enterprises aimed at Promoting Job Creation and Improving Household incomes of Ugandans.

Three family members have been confirmed dead and one other seriously injured after a fire broke out in their home in Wabomba cell, Nakaloke Town council, Mbale Northern Division, Mbale City on Tuesday evening.

Police identified the deceased as Jamal Mutoto, 30, Sowedi Impiangu, 35, and Wilberforce Naifuge 20. Ekesa Konstant, 30, sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at Mbale regional referral hospital.

Moses Okello, an eyewitness said one of the victims forgot to fasten the lid on the jerry can containing petrol and as the woman was lighting the charcoal stove, it caught fire and it spread very fast. Okello added that the neighbors’ attempts to rescue the deceased were futile.

Richard Wekesa, a resident of Nakaloke town council, said the deceased were burnt to death as they tried to rescue their properties.

Rogers Taitika, the Elgon region police spokesperson said preliminary reports indicate that fire is suspected to have spread from a charcoal stove on the veranda to the room where the victims had stored fuel that they sold in jerry cans and bottles as a family business for a long time.

The Government of Uganda through the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation (Emyooga Programme) has given shillings 300 million to the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu Emyooga SACCOs.

The shillings 300 million is meant to benefit 10 SACCOs under the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu. Each of the ten SACCOs will receive shillings 30 million to boost their local associations and help the members come out of absolute poverty.

The beneficiaries include Bukonzo West OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO, Bukonzo East OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO, Busongora South OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO, and Busongora North OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO and Kasese Municipality OBR Local leaders Emyooga SACCO.

Others are Bukonzo West OBR Veterans SACCO, Bukonzo East OBR Veterans SACCO, Busongora South OBR Veterans SACCO, Busongora North OBR Veterans SACCO and Kasese Municipality OBR Veterans SACCO.

Hellen Petronilla Masika, the Deputy Executive Director for the Microfinance Support Centre, a government owned institution that manages all government micro credit programmes revealed to the beneficiary group members during their training on how to use the money that was held at Collins Palm Gardens that they money had been wired on their accounts. 

She however warned the beneficiaries against misappropriation of the Emyooga funds, saying the defaulters would be arrested and prosecuted.

The Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Joseph Kule Muranga hailed government for considering them to also benefit from the Emyooga programme and pledged to use the funds for the purpose for which they were meant.

The Kasese Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Joshua Kisembo Masereka strongly warned the beneficiaries against the continued misuse of government funds and property given to the cultural institution.