Residents and local leaders of Mbogo parish in Kanoni sub-county, Kazo district are crying out seeking justice on their 29 acres of community land that has since 1998 been in courts of law between Kazo district local government and one resident identified as Ketty Rwakanjara.
Speaking to our reporter, the residents and local residents revealed that they are dissatisfied saying that 24 years in courts of law is a long time and they have no clear information on when the court is ruling on this land matter.
According to the residents, they say that court made an order that this land shouldn’t be used until the ruling but the family of the late Rwakajara continued using it and fencing the space of the community they left with.
The residents asked government through Kazo district local government to follow this matter to an end. In an intervention on this matter, Kazo FM approached the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Al-Hajji Mawiya Lule who noted that he is aware about the matter.
Mawiya asked the people of Mbogo to be patient and wait for the judgment noting that when the matter is in court they have to wait and stop interrupting with orders.
Kazo district Local Government has today at compassion hall Kazo town council Kazo district launched the UGIFT small-scale irrigation program in the district, as part of the government efforts towards improving agricultural productivity through provision of water for irrigation in the district.
Kazo district is among the 95 districts under the second phase that are piloting this program in the country.
The program which is coordinated by Department of Agricultural Infrastructure Mechanization and Water for Agricultural Production (DAIMWAP) under Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is funded by the Government of Uganda with support from the World Bank and implemented by the Production and Marketing department at the District level.
Asiimwe JohnBaptist , the District Production Officer, has said that Kazo being one of the districts affected by the drought, this program is aiming at supporting individual subsistence farmers to get water, wherever it is, to reach the gardens which will enable them to practice modern agriculture and improve their farm productivity.
Asiimwe added that irrigation will help farmers to grow crops all year round with or without rain because they will be planting and watering their crops even during the dry season whereby in the long run they will have plenty of food for both eating and selling to generate more income.
Tumwijukye Innocent , the district senior agriculture engineer also clarified that, the cost of the equipment will depend on the procimity of the water source to the land for irrigation, terrain of the land, soil suitability, evidence as to whether the farmer has access to the land for at least 12 months, eligibility to contribute to the cost of the irrigation equipment, and willingness to grow and sell high value crops like horticulture crops, coffee and that the size of the land to be irrigated must not exceed 2.5 acres.
Asection of district leaders who attended the launch led by the LC V chairperson, Rev Samuel Mugisha Katugunda and the district speaker, Dan Bwamunyonga praised the programme saying this will help the district to overcome the problem of depending on rain.
In his closing remarks, the Resident District Commissioner-Al-Hajji Mawiya Lule, appreciated the government for the project noting that the farmers in Kazo district will benefit more if they get clear information and urged other leaders to take the information clearly.
The RDC Kazo District, Al-Hajji Mawiya Lule addressing leaders during the meeting to create awareness about Micro-Scale Irrigation program.
This micro-scale irrigation program will help farmers to buy irrigation equipment at a low cost. The Government of Uganda will share the cost of the equipment with the farmers whereby it will pay between 25% and 75% of the total cost of the irrigation equipment depending on the farm situation and the type of irrigation equipment chosen by the farmer.
Following the concerns and outcry of residents and leaders in Kazo district and another neighboring districts over insecurity especially the rampant cattle theft, Kazo district hosted a joint security meeting with representatives from Uganda Police and Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) led by the director of operations, Assistant Inspector General of the Police (AIGP) John Nuwagira to harmonize ways to end insecurity.
The meeting which was held at Kazo district headquarters on Tuesday was attended by security teams from Kazo, Kiruhura, Ibanda and Kyegegwa districts represented by their Resident District Commissioners (RDC), district LC V chairpersons, District Internal Security Officers(DISOs), District Police Commanders(DPCs), district councilors, opinion leaders and other security representatives in the districts.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Rwizi Regional Police Commander (RPC) Wenzire Nganizi said that the meeting was aimed at designing a strategy to ensure that there is no insecurity across these districts.
Al-Hajji Mawiya Lule, the RDC Kazo who doubles as head of security in the district also noted that the meeting was to call for cooperation in reporting any information regarding insecurity and working together to solve it.
Dan Mukango Rutetebya, the Kiruhura district LC V chairperson said that they raised their concerns and he is hopeful that this will help in strengthening the fight against crime especially cattle theft where every leader is expected to get involved.
The participants in the meeting resolved that, the meeting of its kind will be held quarterly at a different district each time, in an effort to curb insecurity.
Organizers of Ishaazi Ryaitu Kabweitu have been praised for being innovative and starting a cultural galla that will always help many people especially the youth to preserve their culture.
The Ishaazi ryaitu Kabweitu cultural galla which took place on Friday at Kazo Secondary School in Kazo town council, Kazo district attracted local leaders, civil servants, business community, and exhibitors from around the Western region among others.
Some of the exhibitors showcasing their products milk pots(Ebyanzi) and calabashes(Ekirere) during Ishaazi Ryeitu Kabweitu on Friday.
Speaking as guest of honour, Tumukurate Silvester, the Deputy RDC Kazo district appreciated the organizers and highly praised the culture galla asking the proprietors to consistently hold this event.
Rev Samuel Mugisha Katugunda, the chairman LC V Kazo appreciated the organizers of Ishaazi ryaitu Kabweitu and encouraged them to always engage the district sports and culture department for technical, moral or financial support adding that such things help the country.
Katugunda also appreciated Kazo FM radio for promoting the culture and mobilizing people to come and showcase their skills.
Living Nuwagaba, the chairman organizing committee of Ishaazi Ryaitu Kabweitu revealed that they organized this galla to bring back the culture and help the youth explore opportunities that are available back home without going on the streets looking for jobs.
Nkaija Wilson, the district NRM chairman also noted that if continued, the Ishaazi ryaitu Kabweitu cultural galla will bring back respect to people and their culture.
The skills showcased at the Ishaazi ryaitu Kabweitu cultural galla include, Okufukana, Okusa, okutera Obwaato, Okwevuga interpretation of different words like Okushakira among other skills and over 30 participants received certificates of participation.
Ibanda University has donated assorted items, including foodstuffs like sugar, milk, bread, soap, cakes, sweets, cooking oil and posho to Ibanda Babies Home in Kagongo, Ibanda Municipality.
The home looks after abandoned children and some orphans from across the western region.
While handing over the items, George Zombeire, the Ibanda University secretary, lauded the home for looking after the abandoned children adding that the visit to the home by university officials was part of activities ahead of its sixth graduation ceremony scheduled for December 2nd 2022.
Patrick Turyamureeba, who represents businessman Patrick Bitature on the university board, called on other organizations and the public to support the home to enable it cater for the needs of the children.
Rev Sister Elizabeth Ninsiima, the home administrator, appreciated the university for the donation, saying the home has no permanent donors and depends solely on public donations to provide for the children.
Ibanda Babies Home is currently looking after 21 kids that were abandoned in different districts across the region including Kamwenge, Ibanda, Sheema, Mitooma, and Isingiro. The children are mainly brought to the home by the Police after rescuing them while others are orphans.
A three year old child has been confirmed dead and two others injured following an incident in which a house collapsed on them on Sunday night in Mpasha, Rukiri sub-county in Ibanda South County.
The deceased identified as John Byamugisha, was only three and a half years born to Peninah Kasande.
His three-month-old sister survived together with the mother who both sustained minor injuries from falling debris.
Following a heavy downpour on Sunday afternoon, the family’s wattle and mud house collapsed on the occupants at around 8.30pm.
A section of neighbours said the rains could have further weakened the house’s last anchor points and it came down in one big thud.
According to the neighbours, John Turyajuna, the father to the deceased was away at work in Nyabuhikye at the time of the horrible incident.
Marcelino Turyahabwe, an uncle to the deceased, was the first to arrive at the scene. He said the boy was removed from the debris after about 30 minutes and rushed to the nearest clinic in Mpasha trading centre.
Unfortunately, he died as they were approaching the trading centre.
Stella Maris Kansiime, the area LCI vice-chairperson, attributed the incident to the negligence of the victim’s parents saying the boy could not have died if the parents took time to safeguard the house by digging trenches to divert the water from reaching the foundation of the house.
The Ibanda chief magistrate’s court has sentenced two men to jail terms at Nyabuhikye Prison for stealing bananas.
Court presided over by his worship Aloysius Natwijuka sentenced Asaph Tumusiime, a resident of Kitwe in Ibanda Municipality to three months in prison by for stealing a bunch of bananas from a neighbour’s plantation while Paul Baryakaijuka, another banana thief was handed six months behind bars by the same court.
Appearing before the court on Wednesday November 23rd , Tumusiime and Baryakaijuka confessed to stealing the bananas which contravenes sections 254 and 261 of the Penal Code Act.
Prosecution led by Ali Ssemakula said that Baryakaijuka stole two bunches of bananas worth UGX 40,000 from Innocent Mugizi’s banana plantation on November 18th.
The convict was arrested with the help of a sniffer dog, which was introduced at the crime scene and led the Police to Baryakaijuka’s home.
He was arrested and taken to Ibanda Police Station and charged accordingly.
Court was told that the other convict (Tumusiime) was caught in the act of stealing one bunch of bananas from Ruth Natukunda of Kitwe in Ibanda Municipality on November 19th and arrested by a guard employed by the plantation owner.
Tumusiime also admitted to the crime before court.
While sentencing the two individuals, his worship Natwijuka said they did not waste court’s time, handing Tumusiime a three-month jail term while Baryakaijuka got six months.
Prosecution had prayed for deterrent sentences, saying banana thefts were rampant in the magisterial area of Ibanda.
Angry residents of Kyeikucu cell in Kagongo Division, Ibanda Municipality have burnt a vehicle of suspected cattle thieves.
Edirisa Kyeyune, the Ibanda district Police commander (DPC) confirmed the incident and said Pascal Mugisha, the owner of the car who is currently the main suspect in the theft of the cow is on the run and so are two of his accomplices.
The suspects are said to have stolen the cow valued at UGX 2m during the night of November 20th from Francis Kasamba’s farm in Rukokoma village.
Charles Bamwine, the LCI chairperson Rukokoma II cell, said the Toyota Premio REG No UAR 749A was found loaded with meat at about 3am, prompting the community members to set it ablaze.
Bamwine said the community was venting its anger following a spate of insecurity in the area, mainly caused by vanilla and livestock thieves.
He explained that the car was coming from Katengyeta to Kyeikucu, when it got stuck in mud after the heavy downpour and was making noise deep in the night.
DPC Kyeyune said that no one has been arrested for participating in the burning of the car, however, he cautioned the public against mob action.
A senior four student at Rwemikoma seed secondary school in Rwemikoma sub-county, Kazo district is asking to be given a chance to do her Kiswahili paper her which was her last UNEB paper.
Speaking to our reporter, Kirabo Flavia a student at Rwemikoma Seed school also a resident of Rwemikoma parish in Rwemikoma revealed that she reached the examination room 30 minutes after others had already started.
Kirabo says that she was delayed to reach the station in time because it was raining heavily so she had to wait.
Kirabo asked the government through Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB)to intervene in this matter for her to do this paper.
Muhumuza Seregio, Kirabo’s father said that he was hurt after seeing his daughter coming home crying that she had been refused to do the paper noting this will affect his daughter and make her perform poorly.
Tumushabe Eliab, the head teacher Rwemikoma seed school revealed that the student came late after 1 hour and it was not his making saying UNEB was the in charge and following the directive as it was stated in rules and regulations.
Phionah Nazziwa, the chief invigilator who stopped the student from doing her paper after coming late told our reporter that the student came after 1 hour while other students had already started and that it is stated that they should not allow a student in the examination if he/she is 15 minutes late.
Leaders and residents of Mahyoro town council in Kitagwenda district are worried over alleged water and soil pollution by gold mining firms.
Moses Mushabe, the area district councilor, said River Buhindagi, on which livelihoods of people and livestock in 10 villages of the town council depend, has been filled with residues from the gold mine operated by Chinese mining firm, Tyang Tyang.
Mushabe, who is also the deputy speaker, was reacting to the natural resources department budget proposals during the district’s budget conference.
While responding to the concern, Kitagwenda district natural resources officer, Moses Turyamureba Bujara, said the mining firms have not been cooperative, adding that it was hard for the district officials to access the mines said to be heavily guarded.
Communities from the villages of Kitomi, Karokarungi, Kanyabikyere and Omukarere as well as Kyendangara, Buhindagi, Rwetuuma, Zambia, Kachindo depend on the River Buhindagi for water for domestic use and to water the animals.
When contacted on November 11 to comment on the matter, Yusuf Mugarura, the gold mine site manager, referred this reporter to the energy and mineral development ministry, to explain the situation. He said they were duly licensed to operate in the area.
Mugarura also accused the media of ‘interfering’ with investment projects in the country.
River Buhindagi pours its waters into Lake George and also serves Buhweju and Ibanda districts.
