Residents of Keihangara III, Keihangara Parish, Keihangara Subcounty Ibanda district were shocked this morning upon discovering a decapitated body of a local resident identified as Vincent Ssassi, 40.

According to Pritazio Katiti, a resident of the area and the owner of the land where the body was found reported that his dogs were barking at around 4 a.m. alerting him to something unusual.

Francis Kariyo, the area LC I chairperson condemned the incident and stated that they have contacted authorities from Ibanda Police Station to come and retrieve the body.

Cpl Atwiine Hellem, the Officer in Charge of the Keihangara Police Post confirmed that he had also made a call to Ibanda Central Police Station to request assistance in picking up the body.

However, several residents at the scene speculated that the victim was not murdered at the location where the body was found but that it had been moved there. The investigation into this shocking incident is ongoing as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding Ssasi’s death.

Mbarara City Council is under fire from residents due to escalating concerns surrounding poor waste management practices. Locals accuse the city authorities of neglecting their responsibilities to collect and properly dispose of garbage, leading to significant health and environmental risks.

Areas such as Markhsing Street, High Street, and Kisenyi have become hotspots for unregulated dumping, leaving residents frustrated and alarmed. “

The garbage is left to decompose on the streets, which leads to air pollution and poses serious health threats,” lamented Peter Mpaka, a concerned resident.

He expressed disbelief that despite daily supervisory tours by city officials, sanitation issues remain unaddressed.

In response to these allegations, Mbarara City Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi defended the city’s waste management efforts. He stated that the city has contracted multiple service providers who are responsible for daily garbage collection and the transportation of waste to the designated dumping site in Kenkombe.

The mayor urged residents to report any specific issues they encounter, suggesting that the problems may not be as widespread as reported.

The contrasting views highlight a growing tension between residents demanding action and city authorities asserting their commitment to effective waste management. As Mbarara City navigates this pressing issue, the health and well-being of its residents remain at stake.

Rwamwanja Secondary School in Kibale East, Kamwenge District is in mourning the tragic death of Apophia Katushabe, a Senior Four candidate at the same school.

Katushabe had completed only four papers in the ongoing Uganda Certificate of Education examinations and was pronounced dead on Saturday evening.

Ndibarema Lawrence, the deputy head teacher of Rwamwanja Secondary School confirmed her death noting that Katushabe had been coping with minor medical complications during the exams. However, her condition worsened on Friday and she was rushed to a hospital in Kampala where she ultimately passed away.

Lawrence expressed disappointment saying that as a school they had high hopes in Katushabe who was considered a top candidate. “Now, out of 235 candidates taking the exams, we are left with only 234,” he lamented.

Katushabe was just 22 years old and her burial is scheduled for Monday October 21 at her parents’ home in Ntuntu Nkoma parish, Katalyeba Town Council in Kamwenge district.

Security forces in Ibanda district have recovered an automatic rifle AK-47 along with live ammunition. The Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson, SP Samson Kasasira has also confirmed the arrest of Ashraf Kiiza in connection with the firearm which was concealed in a swamp.

The operation conducted by a joint security team, led to the discovery of the weapon and two rounds of ammunition in Igorora village in Igorora Town Council. Kiiza, a known criminal had severally avoided arrest in a number of operations across multiple districts including Mbarara, Kazo, Kiruhura and Kamwenge. He and other accomplices are believed to be behind a string of armed robberies and cattle thefts in these areas.

Kiiza is suspected to have concealed the gun serial number UG PSO 56S 4101 385 13187 in a swamp. He was apprehended on October 10 during an intelligence-led operation involving the Police, Uganda People’s Defence Forces and Internal Security Organisation operatives.

He denied being the owner of the firearm which compelled the operatives to transfer him to Bihanga Army Barracks for further interrogations. Investigations are underway to trace the origin of the gun and apprehend additional suspects.

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, the Prefectorial Body of Kazo Secondary School was encouraged to nurture mutual understanding among their peers for the betterment of the school. This message was delivered during the induction service for prefects held in the school’s main hall in Kazo Town Council, Kazo District.

Among the facilitators were Abaho Paul, a journalist and former student leader; Rev. Eric Byakatonda, an educationist and clergy leader and members of the school administration.

Rev. Byakatonda voiced concerns about lack of mutual understanding among many prefects which he warned could create rifts among students and threaten the school’s future. He noted that in the past student leaders often lacked essential moral values which would jeopardized the well-being of future generations. He urged the prefects to embrace humility, discipline and problem-solving skills and to foster harmonious relationships with the school administration.

During the session, Abaho reminded the prefects of the limitations of their respective roles. He encouraged them to seek guidance when faced with challenges. He emphasized that leadership is seasonal and those called to serve must remember the purpose of their calling.

The school’s headteacher, Akahangirwe Omutwe Nikokagwaata Amos addressed prefects and discouraged them from engaging in rule-breaking and any forms of immorality. He urged them to promote a positive image of the school and not to engage in disreputable acts. He encouraged prefects to collaborate with their teachers and the administration to enhance the growth and development of the school.

Speaking to our reporter, Apollo Baningye,the Headboy and his prefecture expressed gratitude to the facilitators and the administration. They called for continued support and promised to work diligently towards the school’s development.

Police in Bushenyi District are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 54-year-old businessman Isaac Ruhigwa Atwine who was found dead in a lodge in Kizinda-Kigoma Town Council. The incident occurred on the night of October 9, 2024, around 10:30 PM coinciding with Uganda’s Independence Day.

Martial Tumusiime, the Greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed that Atwine, a resident of Bwegiragye in Ishaka, arrived at Deluxe Hotel in Kizinda with an unidentified woman at approximately 6:00 PM. Upon checking in, Atwine was observed to be holding half a glass of beer which he had brought from outside the hotel premises. Hotel records captured Atwine’s name and address but he requested that the woman’s details remain unregistered.

The couple was assigned to room D8 and at around 7:30 PM, the woman was seen leaving the hotel alone. Shortly thereafter, she informed the hotel owner, referred to as Dotcom, that Atwine was in poor health. In response, Dotcom who was off-site at the time instructed the hotel receptionist, Kihembo Vian, to establish what could have gone wrong only to discover Atwine unresponsive and lying on the bed fully covered with a bed cover.

After confirming the situation, Kihembo immediately notified Dotcom who subsequently reported the death to the police. Tumusiime noted that Atwine’s body was transported to Kampala International University Teaching Hospital for examination and there were no signs of torture found on the body. It was also reported that Atwine was discovered completely naked upon the removal of the bed cover. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to gather more information about the circumstances leading to Atwine’s death and the identity of the accompanying woman.

The 2.7 billion shillings worth school project has been launched at Burunga Seed Secondary School in Burunga Sub-County, Kazo District. This aims at enhancing the government policy of having a seed school in every subcounty to enhance Uganda’s education sector.

The function took place yesterday at the school premises and was officially launched by the district political and technical teams lead by the Chief Administrative Officer, Al Hajj Badru Mayanja, Capt. Yahaya Kakooza the Resident District Commissioner and the LCV Chairman of Kazo District.

This initiative is supported by the district technical staff and local leaders to ensure that the project is well executed and quality work is delivered.

The leaders also launched the construction of two classroom blocks and an office at Kiguma Primary School in the same sub county worth Shillings123 million.

The District Education Officer,Robert Agume Rwabwizi, urged contractors from Kaleeta Construction Limited to ensure quality work.

Samuel Rumari, chairperson of LCIII for Burunga Sub-County, thanked the district leadership for these initiatives and called for ongoing efforts to improve education.

Capt. Yahaya Kakooza, the resident district commissioner of Kazo, encouraged parents to practice family planning so that they produce children they are able to provide for.

Head teachers Atwijukire Yoweri of Burunga Seed Secondary School and Ampaire Nicholas of Kiguma Primary School expressed gratitude to the government for the projects and pledged to supervise them in order to ensure that credible work is delivered.

Police in Kazo district are searching for unknown thieves who stole a cow from Aston Nsiima, the Kazo Town Council National Resistance Movement’s Registrar and Vice Chairman. The incident occurred on Monday morning in Byeshembe Ward when Nsiima went to milk the cow and could not find it in the farm.

After a brief search, the cow’s remains were discovered along the Ibanda-Rushere road where it had been slaughtered and its parts removed. Nsiima valued the cow at Shs 5 million, considering its milk productivity and overall condition. He noted that this was a new trend in the area as the meat was stripped from the bones, leaving them and the unborn calf behind.

Nsiima urged residents to unite against this growing issue while locals called on authorities to intervene and help combat cattle theft in the area.

The Ibanda Grade One Magistrate’s Court has sentenced two individuals to significant periods of incarceration for the offenses of shop breaking and theft.

Frank Bagumirabingi and Ambrose Dembe, both residents of Bufunda cell in Bufunda Division, Ibanda Municipality, were sentenced by Her Worship Magistrate Esther Murungi. Bagumirabingi, 28, received a sentence of 28 months for shop breaking and an additional 28 months for theft, to be served consecutively. Dembe, 24, was sentenced to nine months for each count, also to be served consecutively.

The custodial sentences will be reduced by the eight months the convicts had already spent on remand at Nyabuhikye Prison, as stipulated by the court.

It is notable that the sentences imposed were significantly less than those sought by the prosecution. Prosecutor, Tian Emmanuel had argued for the maximum allowable sentences of eight years for shop breaking and ten years for theft for each defendant.

Both defendants were found guilty of breaking into the shop owned by Henry Biryomumaisho on Mpiira Road in Ibanda Town on January 27 from which they stole several items, including a television set, sugar, rice, salt and cooking oil.

Following the sentencing, Biryomumaisho, the complainant expressed that he found the sentences to be “fair.”

The Ibanda Grade I Magistrate’s Court convicted 20-year-old Herbert Twinomuhangi for breaking into a teacher’s house and stealing her money. Twinomuhangi, from Kafunjo I cell in Bufunda Division pleaded guilty to the charges before the Grade One Magistrate, Esther Murungi on October 1. He has been remanded to Nyabuhikye Prison until October 22.

On July 8, Twinomuhangi broke into the home of the 42-year-old primary school teacher, Alice Asiimwe and stole sh310,000. A neighbor witnessed him leaving the house and informed Asiimwe, who reported the incident to the Police. Twinomuhangi was arrested weeks later when he resurfaced.

After pleading guilty, Twinomuhangi claimed he found the door open and took only sh290,000 that was on the table in Asiimwe’s sitting room. Housebreaking carries a maximum penalty of eight years while theft can result in up to ten years in prison.