Three best performing Emyooga SACCOs in Kazo district have each received additional UGX 20 million as recognition and reward for performing well.
Peter Baguma, the Kazo district senior commercial officer who doubles as the focal person for Emyooga project in the district revealed that he was asked to submit the best five performing Emyooga SACCOs to be given an additional fund.
He added that the SACCOs he recommended include; Women entrepreneurs, Produce dealers, Tailors, Boda Boda Operators, and Tax operators.
Baguma revealed that of the five SACCOs he recommended, three have already received the money through their accounts including; Women’s entrepreneurs, produce dealers, and tailors, while the other two are getting money within this month of July.
Speaking to our reporter, Baguma noted that the Emyooga groups in the district are doing fairly well and urged the other SACCOs that have lagged behind or defaulted to put in more effort in order to be considered warning that they risk being arrested to face courts of law.
Police in Kazo is investigating circumstances under which a 22 year old house maid was allegedly murdered.
The deceased has been identified as Amperize Rosemary, who has been working as a housemaid in the home of the area LC1 Chairperson of Akembogo village, Rwigi parish, Burunga Sub-county, Kazo district, and was killed by cutting her with a panga.
Kasasira Yeremia, 25, the boss’ son who is believed to be using drugs has been arrested in connection with the incident and is currently detained at Kazo police station as investigations into the matter continue.
The body of the deceased was picked by the police and taken to Kazo HCIV for postmortem.
In another incident, police in Kazo is investigating circumstances under which a 22 year old man allegedly committed suicide.
The deceased identified as Agiramukama Duncan.
Agiramukama Duncan, 22, a resident of Kazo II Cell, Kazo central ward, Kazo Town council, reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself in the house.
Police has since picked the body and taken it to Kazo Health Center IV for postmortem.
Hon Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Fisheries together with Hon. Bright Rwamirama, the State Minister of Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Fisheries and Hon. Francis Mwebesa, the Minister of Trade, Industry & Cooperatives presided over the official launch of Parish Development model (PDM) in Kazo district on Tuesday.
The training which was held at compassion hall in Kazo town council attracted leaders at local government level, politicians, religious leaders, security personnel, district technical staff, and representatives of special interest groups among others.
Stakeholders during the Official Launch of PDM at Compassion Hall in Kazo district on Tuesday.
Speaking during the launch, Hon Frank Tumwebaze asked the people of Kazo district to embrace the PDM program adding that in all government programs, this program is the first of its kind giving a lot of money going down up to parish level.
He also revealed that the parish development model is not for rich people but for the people who do not have any income to earn something.
In his remarks, Hon Dan Kimosho, the Member of Parliament Kazo constituency revealed that PDM is a good concept that needs application of mind set change and curbing out challenges like cattle thefts, foot and mouth disease and sensitization of people on how to use parish development model for it to succeed.
Hon Dan Kimosho, the MP Kazo constituency addressing stakeholders during the Official Launch of PDM in Kazo district.
Speaking at the same function, Hon. Bright Rwamirama, called upon leaders to monitor the extension workers to ensure that they do their work noting that they are getting paid for it.
Hon. Bright Rwamirama, the State Minister of Agriculture, Animal husbandry and Fisheries addressing stakeholders during the Official Launch of PDM in Kazo district.
Hon. Francis Mwebesa, emphasized the need for people to join cooperatives in order to reach more market and have one voice in demanding good price of the products.
The UGX 490 billion PDM project is a presidential initiative on wealth and job creation which was on 26th February 2022 launched by the President of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as another strategy for accelerating wealth creation, improving incomes and welfare of subsistence households.
Advertisement.
The PDM program was rolled out in October 2020 as part of the National Development Plan III to support among others, market vendors, welders, taxi drivers, boda-boda riders, women and restaurant owners from over 10,594 parishes in the country to come together and form of SACCOS to enable local economic development.
Police in Kazo district has registered over 24 reported cases of cattle theft in the months of April and May this year.
Speaking to our reporter, ASP Lukooto John, the Kazo district police commander (DPC) revealed that in April 2022, 11 cases of cattle theft were registered while in May 2022, 13 cases of cattle theft were registered citing an increase in cases of cattle theft in an area.
Dpc Lukooto revealed that he suspects the cases are much more than those reported and urged farmers to be vigilant with their animals especially during the night and always profiled the details of their workers.
Advertisement.
“We have put measures in place, done community sensitization and it’s still ongoing. We are encouraging people to profile their workers and have someone to look after cattle when they are grazing especially in the night so that they do not become an easy target for the thieves,” said Lukooto.
Dpc Lukooto also noted that Buremba sub-county and Buremba Town Council have the highest reported cases of cattle theft followed by Burunga Sub-county, all in Kazo district.
An independent study by Kazo FM established that most cattle thieves slaughter the animals and disguise the meat in milk cans which they use to transport it.
According to section 266 of the penal code Act, any individual charged with cattle rustling once he/she is convicted, is liable to imprisonment for life.
Following a letter by Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire, the Public Service Permanent Secretary where the government issued a directive that striking teachers should return to their duty stations by June 24th, or risk being scrapped off the payrolls, teachers under their umbrella body Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), have declared that their resumption of duty depends on how fast the ministries of public service and Finance conclude the review process and whether the outcome of the said review process is satisfactory.
Innocent Ahimbisibwe, the UNATU Chairperson Kazo Branch called upon teachers in Kazo district to stay firm until they receive what they want. He reminded teachers that the purpose of the industrial action is to ensure there is fair salary enhancement across board.
“There has been no satisfactory feedback from the government and therefore the only option is to continue with industrial action. We cannot give up the struggle without any positive outcome. The intimidation is deliberate and meant to scare you. Stay firm and remain at home, industrial action continues. If we endure the strain, we shall get to where we want to go. Do not give up!” said Ahimbisibwe.
A class teacher at Rwabwonyo Primary School in Gabarungi Ward-Kazo Town Council, who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, said that they are tired of this government for its imbalanced actions.
“In 2019, teachers were promised to get what they are striking for and today in 2022 they recently made decision of discrimination in increment of salaries for teachers,” he said.
Adding that, they want to receive the positive response from the government but not the intimidations.
Advertisement
On Wednesday, Bitarakwate noted that the ongoing industrial strike by UNATU over what they referred to as discriminatory salary enhancements is illegal and in total breach the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement that was signed by government in 2018.
“The strike is illegal and in breach of the principles and spirit of the law and particularly sections7(2)(a) and (b); and 8(1) and (3) and the public service negotiating , consultative and Disputes Settlement Machinery Act, 2008 and the Recognition Agreement signed under this act because neither has UNATU given a notice to strike nor had the dispute Settlement Machinery been exhausted,” she said.
Adding that teachers’ demands cannot be addressed in the FY 2022/23.
“While government is committed to working with all parties towards achieving better salaries for all public servants, your demands for a salary enhancements cannot be addressed in the financial year 2022/23,” she said.
“By copy of this letter, the Chief Administrative Officers and Town Clerks are called upon to take stock of the teachers present and submit absent teachers by June 30,2023 foe eventual removal from payroll,” warned Birakwate.
A section of Christians of All saints church greater archdeaconry have this Friday staged a demonstration accusing Uganda police Bushenyi station of grabbing up to 3 hectares of their land.
Brian Tusingwire, the church estate manager noted that on Saturday, he saw police officers with a surveyor putting the stones to mark the land on church and as Christians they decided to remove them.
They want whoever claiming the land to go to courts of laws.
Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson said that as an institution they advocate for round table negotiations other than removing the land mark stones.
Residents of Kyakabaka village in Rwengaju Sub-county, Kabarole district, are mourning the death of a 24-year-old man who died while trying to retrieve money amounting to UGX 300,000 from a pit latrine on Wednesday.
Vincent Twesige, the Rwenzori West regional police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as William Ajuna.
Twesige says on Tuesday a one Ivan Mutegeki reported to Kyakabaka residents that his wallet containing approximately UGX 300,000 had fallen into a pit latrine where he had gone to ease himself.
Twesige says that on Wednesday, Mutegeki woke up and left for work without instructing anyone to retrieve the wallet and the money. However, the deceased; Ajuna decided to find means of going into the pit latrine to pick the money.
“The deceased decided by himself to do it by tying a rope on a banana tuber and then he sloped down with it but couldn’t come out and that was the end of his life,” said Twesige.
Ajuna’s body was later retrieved by police and handed over to his parents for burial.
Hon Gordon Bafaki alias Omwami, the former member of parliament Kazo constituency has donated 50 iron sheets to support the construction of the Church at Muko Church Of Uganda in Bugarihe parish, Rwemikoma Sub-county, Kazo district.
Peter Byamugisha, his personal assistant who delivered the donation said that as someone who always supports religion, Bafaki responded to the call of the believers in this church who asked him for support towards the construction process ‘Bwombeka.’
Christians offload the 50 ironsheets donated by Hon. Bafaki to Muko Church of Uganda on Sunday.
“We decided to partly roof the church with these iron sheets,” said Byamugisha.
He added that because Hon. Bafaki understands that working for the lord is good, he fulfilled his promise of giving them 50 painted iron sheets.
Advertisement
Tukahebwa Peninah Kishaija, the parish priest, Godfrey Karuhanga, leader of christians and Rwabutiiti Henry, the Chairperson of the construction Process expressed gratitude to Hon Gordon Bafaki for the support.
Hon Gordon Bafaki aka Omwami, the former member of parliament Kazo constituency has donated 60 iron sheets for the construction of a two-classroom block at Kanoni primary in Kanoni Sub-county, Kazo district.
Advertisement
Peter Byamugisha, his personal assistant who delivered the donation said that as someone who always supports education, Bafaki was concerned about the recent outcry concerning the four classrooms whose roof was earlier this year blown off by wind and heavy rains.
“We found when a block of two classrooms has been constructed; we decided to boost the construction by roofing it with these iron sheets. Hon. Bafaki understands that supporting education is a noble cause, because these children are the future,” said Byamugisha.
The 2-classroom block under construction at Kanoni primary school.
Mweshezi Perez, the head teacher Kanoni primary school thanked Hon Gordon Bafaki for the support noting that they have been challenged with lack of shelter for their children.
The 4 classroom block whose roof was blown away by wind and heavy rain in February 2022.
On 15th February 2022, heavy rains blew off the roof of the classroom block hosting the Primary 5, 6 and 7 classes and the staff quarters at the school.
Authorities in Kazo district in partnership with the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) engineering Brigade have today launched the construction of a new Kazo Health Centre IV Maternity ward building estimated to cost UGX 500m.
The district leadership in a meeting with the UPDF engineering Brigade at the launch of the construction of a new Kazo Health Centre IV Maternity ward building on Friday.
AlHajji Umar Mawiya Lule, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Nsubuga Zirimenya, the District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Rev Samuel Mugisha Katugunda, the District LCV Chairperson have among others graced the launch of this construction project which is expected to be completed in the period of four months.
Advertisement.
Speaking at the launch, RDC Mawiya Lule, said that the maternity ward will help the area in the development of the health sector.
Katugunda, the District chairperson assured the residents of Kazo district that the government knows and remembers them which is why among the 154 districts, Kazo is among the chosen ones to use this kind of contractors.
