The Grade One Magistrate for Kazo District, Joshua Ndhazano, has granted a 72-year-old man, Patrick Bekunda, two weeks to recover from a hearing impairment that hindered court proceedings on Monday, December 2.

Bekunda, a resident of Kabiimba Cell, Magondo Parish in Burunga Sub-County is accused of trespassing on the property of Lay Can. James Ruyondo, who also resides in the same village.

According to Bekunda, Ruyondo’s cows damaged his gardens of cassava, maize, and beans on October 8, 2024. “I found his cows in my gardens and pushed them back to his home. However, upon reaching his home, I was tied to a tree and assaulted. Later, I was forced into a car trunk and taken to Burunga Police Post,” Bekunda stated.

On October 8, Ruyondo reported the trespassing incident to Burunga Police Post, which led to Bekunda’s detention before he was subsequently released. In an interview with Kazo FM, Bekunda alleged that Ruyondo is simply harassing him, asserting that Ruyondo and his family members had physically assaulted him, injuring his head and damaging his ears.

The court has granted Bekunda two weeks to seek medical treatment, with the next hearing scheduled for December 16, 2024.

Mbarara District leaders and health workers have voiced concerns regarding the increasing number of sex workers in Rubindi-Ruhumba Town Council. This issue was a focal point during a stakeholders meeting organized by the Ministry of Health, held in the district health officer’s board room.

Francis Karugaba, the mayor of Rubindi-Ruhumba Town Council attributed the rise in sex work to factors such as poverty, unemployment and school dropouts. He noted that the town’s central location has made it an access point for young girls aged between18-25 from neighboring areas such as Kashongi County in Kiruhura District, Buhweju District and Mbarara City. Many of these girls are transported to the area to work as bar attendants.Unfortunately, a significant number end up engaging in commercial sex.

Dr. Peter Ssebutinde, the District Health Officer emphasized the need for tighter regulations to prevent the exploitation of young girls by bar owners.

Recent reports from UNAIDS indicate that around 1.3 million people contracted HIV/AIDS in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures in the context of rising social issues in the district.

Police in Mitooma District have arrested a man following the alleged murder of his wife during a bar fight on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at around 8:30 PM in Burambika village, Kashasha parish, Kiyanga subcounty.

Martial Tumusiime, the spokesperson for Greater Bushenyi police region confirmed that the deceased, identified as Aidah Kyarikunda 45, was a resident of Kihungye village in Kashasha parish. The suspect has been named as Jackson Mwebesa, 48, who resides in the same area.

According to reports, Kyarikunda had left home to attend prayers and returned at around 10:00 PM. She subsequently went to a bar owned by an individual only named Milton in Burambika trading center. It is alleged that Mwebesa, who was at the same establishment confronted her and struck her with a punch and a kick causing her to fall and hit her head on a hard surface. Witnesses attempted to arrange transport to take her to a nearby health center but she was motionless by the time help was mobilized.

Annah Bushoboroza, the Gomborora Internal Security Officer (GISO) for Kiyanga subcounty stated that the couple had a history of domestic disputes particularly after drinking sessions.

Following the incident, the body of Kyarikunda was transported to Mitooma Health Center IV for a postmortem examination while investigations are ongoing.

The grade One Magistrate’s Court in Buhweju District has remanded Herbert Mujuni also known as Mbani to Nyamushekyera government prison in Bushenyi District on allegations of raping two minors and impregnating one of them. Mujuni, a resident of Rukyeri village in Kashenyi-Kajani Town Council, was arrested by police on Sunday October 24 following a tip off by residents.

Denis Kavuma, the Grade one Magistrate revealed that his court does not have jurisdiction to try Mujuni considering the weight of the charges levied against him. He was remanded till December 12 ,2024 when his matter will come up for mention.

Mujuni’s victims are a17-year-old (name withheld), a student at Butare Senior Secondary School, was raped nine months ago and recently gave birth to a baby boy at Butare Health Centre III. Both mother and child are reported to be in good health.

The second victim, a 17-year-old P7 pupil (name withheld) at United Junior School was assaulted on October 9, 2024. She was approached by Mujuni while returning home from a nearby trading center where she had gone to buy salt and was allegedly offered a bottle of soda and lured into a situation of molestation by the suspect.

Kazo FM has also learnt that a number of people especially females and parents to other minors that became victims to the suspect are visiting Nsiika Police Station to re-open the files against him. They allege that their files were previously mishandled and seek to have them re-opened for proper follow up.

Bushenyi District Resident District Commissioner, Emmy Ngabirano has urged residents to utilize energy-saving stoves to mitigate environmental destruction. Ngabirano emphasized that the rate of environmental degradation caused by human activities is alarmingly high compared to efforts towards conservation.

These remarks were made during the launch of a tree-planting initiative organized by the pressure group “Make Bushenyi Great Again” (MBUGA), which aims to plant over 4,000 environmentally friendly tree species.

Ngabirano commended MBUGA for their commitment to environmental conservation through the planting of sustainable tree species.

Jafari Basajjabalaba, the Chairman of LC5 for Bushenyi District suggested that local leaders should advocate for increased government funding for environmental conservation. He pointed out that while the government invests substantial resources in projects like water and infrastructure, insufficient attention is given to environmental protection, jeopardizing the viability of these projects.

Pison Mugizi, Chairman of MBUGA explained that this tree-planting initiative is part of activities put on hold while celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bushenyi District in July, during which President Museveni contributed 100 million shillings.

Mugizi added that having completed the celebrations, their goal is now to plant over 4,000 trees in the Greater Bushenyi area as part of the anniversary celebrations and to promote environmental conservation efforts.

Police in Mitooma district have arrested three chairpersons of the Parish Development Model (PDM) Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) and are pursuing additional suspects for allegedly extorting funds from PDM beneficiaries.

The arrested individuals are Benon Bagorogoza a resident of Furuma, Mutara Town Council, Justus Kamuza of Rurehe South PDM SACCO and James Turyamureba of Kiyanga PDM Sacco. They were detained following a consultative meeting with beneficiaries held yesterday October 27 in Ruhinda South and Ruhinda North held.

Umaru Muhanguzi, the deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Mitooma who led the operation indicated that the detained trio were present at the meeting but there is an extensive list of others being sought including parish chiefs and various SACCO leaders.

During a gathering with residents and parish chiefs at Bitereko Church of Uganda, Ronald Tibingana Kato, the Mitooma District Internal Security Officer expressed concerns that many parish chiefs are exploiting their positions by claiming lack of data as an excuse to extract money from beneficiaries. He highlighted that these officials had received 100,000 shillings in facilitation to assist them in addressing such issues.

Fred Kizito Mukasa, the Chief Administrative Officer of Mitooma district confirmed that he has already suspended several parish chiefs implicated in extortion. He also stated that action will now extend to PDM Sacco chairpersons, whom he accused of making extortion a habitual practice.

The Ibanda Grade One Magistrate’s Court has convicted a 37-year-old man for physically assaulting, abusing and threatening to kill his mother on several occasions.

Micheal Mutebi, a resident of Katongore II, Katongore Ward in Bufunda Division, Ibanda Municipality, faced charges of domestic violence and threatening violence against his mother, Teopista Kasande.

In her testimony before the court, Kasande recounted an incident on October 14 when her son abused her, threatened her life and attempted to strangle her with a piece of cloth (lesu). She presented evidence of physical injuries showing the court scars and a wound on her left arm caused by Mutebi.

Kasande expressed that for the past decade, she has been caring for her son’s three children only to be repaid with emotional and physical abuse. She asked the court to impose a three-month jail sentence on her son so he could learn a lesson. The request was supported by the prosecution led by Emmanuel Tian.

In contrast, Mutebi requested a non-custodial sentence, claiming he had already learned his lesson. Although he pleaded for his mother’s forgiveness during the court session, Kasande refused, stating that he had publicly disrespected her at his younger brother’s funeral and had even disowned her.

As a result of the conviction, Mutebi has been remanded at Nyabuhikye Prison and is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on December 17.

Police in Kazo district are on a search for two boys who allegedly attacked and injured a 60-year-old man, Charles Ngabirano Beshiisha at around 5:00pm on October 24 while in Kakoni B village, Kakoni Ward, Buremba Town Council and left Bashiisha’s arm injured.

Beshiisha said that he was returning home from Kakoni Trading Centre at around 5:00 pm when he met two boys who are related to him and they demanded for money from him, a demand he refused to honour. They pierced his arm with a knife and fled the scene.

Ngabirano immediately contacted the LC1 chairman of Kakoni B Cell, Julius Ninsiima who responded quickly and arrived at the scene. Ninsiima alerted police at Buremba Police post and they launched a search for the two boys.

The boys were spotted, arrested and taken into custody at Buremba Police post as investigations into the matter continue.

Police in Buhweju District have arrested Herbert Mujuni also known as Mbani on allegations of raping two minors and impregnating one of them. Mujuni, a resident of Rukyeri village in Kashenyi-Kajani Town Council, had been hiding prior to his arrest on Sunday October 24 after residents, following a tip-off, apprehended him and handed him over to Nsiika Police Station.

Local residents describe Mujuni as a serial rapist who has terrorized the community for some time. Several women claim to have reported his assaults to the police, but they allege that investigations into their cases have been compromised with files going missing.

His first victim, 17-year-old (name withheld), a student at Butare Senior Secondary School, was raped nine months ago and recently gave birth to a baby boy at Butare Health Centre III. Both mother and child are reported to be in good health.

The second victim, a 17-year-old P7 pupil (name withheld) at United Junior School was assaulted on October 9, 2024. She was approached by Mujuni while returning home from a nearby trading center where she had gone to buy salt and was allegedly offered a bottle of soda and lured into a situation of molestation by the suspect.

Julius Mwesigye, the first suspect’s father, shared that his daughter had experienced severe stomach pains for a week which kept her from attending school. It was only later that they realized she was in labor. Mwesigye revealed that Mujuni had threatened his daughter with death and money to prevent her from reporting the incident.

The mother of the second victim said that her daughter was seriously injured while she made attempts to resist and needed medical attention and psycho-social support to heal from the ordeal.

Buhweju District Police Commander Timothy Sekamanya Ndawula confirmed that Mujuni is currently in police custody and stated that an investigation into the allegations is underway. The community is hopeful that this time, justice will be served and the pattern of abuse will be addressed adequately.

Police in Rubirizi District are actively searching for a 19-year-old man accused of defiling a 10-year-old girl. The incident which has garnered significant attention allegedly occurred on November 23, 2024, at approximately 8:00 PM in Kijurugo Cell, Magambo Parish, Magambo Subcounty.

Martial Tumusiime, the Spokesperson for the Greater Bushenyi police Region have confirmed the details of the incident stating that the victim whose identity is being withheld for her protection, is a Primary Two pupil at Ndekye Primary School and resides in the same area as the suspect.

According to reports the suspect is identified as Innocent Namanya. He allegedly lured the young girl to his home by sending her with 2000 shillings to purchase a bar of soap for him. After the girl retrieved the soap and returned, the suspect reportedly followed her inside the house, threatened and proceeded to sexually assault her. Following the assault, he allegedly gave her 600 shillings and warned her against telling anyone about the incident.

The girl, however, informed her mother upon returning home leading to a confrontation with the suspect. Upon seeing the girl’s mother, Namanya fled the scene. Police are now urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward as they continue their investigation into this serious crime.