A section of farmers under Mbaba farmer’s society limited in Mbaba Parish, Kazo sub-county, Kazo district have appealed to the government to prioritize the construction of dams to address water shortage in an area.

The farmers, led by model farmer Mr. Stanley Mwesigye, said their effort to continue with SNV’s mission of improving milk production and compete with other areas in terms of dairy production is constantly frustrated by drought.

Aikiriza Steven, the dairy advisor for TIDE project under SNV addressing farmers during the field day training.

Mwesigye made the revelation during the SNV field day outreach training with a team from Kazo district local government including political leaders, technical staff and production department team at Mwesigye Stanley’s farm in Mbaba parish, Kazo sub-county, Kazo district on Thursday designed to strengthen the SNV collaboration with the district and to introduce new technologies for uptake and share useful market information for the matter.

Farmers doing a farm inspection during the field day training.

Aikiriza Steven, the dairy advisor for The Inclusive Diary Enterprise (TIDE) project under SNV Netherlands Development Organization revealed that from 2016 until December 2023, their aim was to improve dairy farming by addressing animal famine, noting that they already achieved ahead of the closure of their services in southwestern Uganda.

In response to water shortage scourge, Johnbaptist Asiimwe, the district production officer Kazo revealed that as the district they are working hand in hand with the Ministry of Water and Environment to give the farmers tractors for constructing dams.

Hon Fred Ntungire, district councilor representing Kanoni sub-county who represented the Kazo district chairperson Rev Samuel Mugisha Katugunda urged all farmers to take an example and embrace commercial farming in order to improve and increase production.

Police in Kiruhura has in custody four members of the same family accused of killing a man for not paying bride price.

Kwizeera Emmanuel, 45, a husband to Katushabe Jane was beaten to death and his body dumped in a dam by his wife’s family members over failure to pay bride price.

It is said the incident occurred on 13^th July 2023 and Kwizeera’s dead body was found in a dam of Rwakashugi George on 14^th July 2023.

The suspects identified as Kendeere Margret, Kwizeera’s (deceased) mother-in-law, Bakashaba Aaron, Muhereza Yoram and another identified only as Moses, all residents of Rwomuti cell 1, Rugongi parish, Kenshunga sub-county in Kiruhura district are under arrest at Kiruhura police station on charges of murder.

Katushabe Jane whose husband was beaten to death told our reporter that she and her husband agreed to work and pay bride price later, a decision her mother, Kendeere Margret disagreed with and this resulted into the death of her husband.

According to police, three other suspects still at large are; Namara Grace, Ikiriza Allen and Amumpire James, all relatives of the deceased’s wife (Katushabe).

Katushabe added that she wants justice and requested police to continue searching for the three suspects still on the run and arrest them for killing her husband.

Gumisiriza Moses, the LCI chairperson Rwomuti I cell revealed that family members of Katushabe did not want Kwizeera to marry their daughter.

Residents of Keicumu are overjoyed after Keicumu catholic centre received an independent major zone from Sya major zone.

Christians at Keicumu catholic centre in Keicumu parish Engari sub-county have been struggling to move the long distance to Sya to get Services of major zone.

Speaking after confirming this major zone, Rev Fr Mugisha Deo, the Parish priest of Kazo catholic parish urged Christians to use the major zone for bringing people closer to the Kingdom of God.

The Parish priest of Kazo catholic church, Rev Fr Mugisha Deo, presiding over service at Keicumu catholic church.

Speaking as the guest of honor, Naboth Nandeeba, the operations manager capacity service limited, congratulated the people of Keicumu major zone and advised them to use their land productively and prioritize increasing on household income.

Dan Tumwine, the district Councillor representing Engari sub-county who was delegated by the Kazo Member of parliament, Dan Kimosho appreciated the Parish priest for giving major zone to the people of Keicumu and asked them to use it on spreading the gospel of education in the society.

Tumwine also asked the parish priest to pray for reduction in the cases of domestic violence that be been increasing rapidly in Keicumu.

Rev Samuel Mugisha Katugunda, the LC V chairperson Kazo district who also graced the function, urged Christian to embrace and involve themselves in government programs.

Residents of Mbogo parish in Kanoni Sub-county, Kazo district are overjoyed over commencement of works on their 12KM community access road, which has been in a sorry state for over 15years.

The community work chairperson, Tumwine David Tumushabe and another resident identified as Anatori Bikwatsibwamukama, have expressed gratitude to the Woman Member of Parliament; Hon Jennifer Muheesi for lobbying for them Road Units from Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

Magyezi Henry Bihamu, the Kanoni sub-county Vice chairperson and Kabandize Peter Tizikara, the Mbogo Parish Councillor, requested that UNRA should take over full control of this road from Kazo District Local Government because it has failed to prioritize it, making it impassable for people and vehicles.

The residents say they have been reporting about its sorry state to the district officials who promised to work on it after the rains, but all in vain and they have continuously suffered so many loses and accidents.

Obed Timbangaya, the Political assistant to Hon. Jennifer Muheesi, promised that their office will continue extending various forms of social services to the people of Kanoni sub-county and Kazo at large.

The rehabilitation works on the road have already begun and machines are already clearing bushes on the road.

The Kazo Resident District Commissioner [RDC] Rtd Captain Yahaya Kakooza has directed the police to arrest and prosecute in courts of law people found with foot and mouth disease(FMD) on their farms.

During the FMD task force meeting held at the district headquarters with stakeholders on Wednesday, Capt. Yahaya asked all leaders at different capacities to play their roles in fighting FMD.

 Capt. Yahaya has directed police to arrest people with new cases of foot and mouth disease on their farms.

Stakeholders during the FMD task force meeting

Dr Kiyemba Ronald, the district veterinary officer Kazo revealed that the outbreak is  now confirmed in Kanyanya cell -Rwamuranga parish –Kazo sub-county and another yet to be confirmed case in Kigorogoro, Rwempiri ward, Kazo town council.

Dr Kiyemba added that vaccination is already being done in the affected cells with new cases and will subsequently continue to other places.

Asiimwe Johnbaptist, the Kazo district production officer announced new measures to control the continuous spread of FMD and warned the public that there is no more movement of animals from the affected and total ban on milk from affected farms.

Kazo residents who use the 19km access road that connects Kazo to Buremba have started working on their road which has been in a sorry state since 2021.

Residents during burungi bwansi exercise on Monday

The residents secured permission from Kazo district local government to work on the road through the mobilization of Chairpersons LC1s, including, Mwebaze Ephraim of Kazo 1 cell, Mwebesa Steven of Ryakahabwa Cell, Twinamatsiko Baine Barireeba of Obwengaara Cell, together with other stakeholders like Hon. Lilian Isingoma, the Ibaare parish lady councilor, and the District LC V chairman, Rev Samuel Mugisha Katugunda among others.

Mwebesa Steven, the chairman of LC I Ryakahabwa Cell, said that after heavy rains destroyed the road, it became impossible for people and vehicles to move, they have been reporting about its sorry state to the district officials who promised to work on it after the rains, but all in vain. 

Mwebaze Ephraim said that the state of the road has hindered businesses for a long time but after a long wait they were able to mobilize for Burungi bwansi and they have already yielded success.

A section of residents led by Bagire Micheal and Taremwa Godwin, a Boda Boda rider in Kazo Town, told our reporter that this road has become a spot for many losses and Accidents because of the many gullies that have filled the road since it was last rehabilitated last year but one.

Rev Mugisha Katugunda, assured the residents that the Government will work on all the roads which are in a sorry state due to rain.

Kazo district has opened farm loading within the sub-counties that are free from foot and mouth disease.

This resolution was reached during the district’s second engagement meeting with livestock traders, butchers, animal transporters, and sub-county leaders held at the district headquarters on Wednesday.

During this meeting, other resolutions included putting up checkpoints at the borders between Kazo and other neighboring districts, and not allowing the sale of livestock in the markets within those districts among others.

Rev Samuel Mugisha Katugunda, Kazo district LC V chairperson revealed that they have allowed farm loading but there must be spraying of Fuso tyres at the farm and washing the whole Fuso after offloading.

Livestock traders during a meeting with the Kazo district FMD taskforce on Wednesday

Meanwhile, livestock traders including the tenderers of the markets led by their chairperson livestock traders Kananura David vowed to ensure full implementation of the resolutions to control the spread of the disease in the district and eradicate the cases in Buremba town council.

Samuel Rumari, the LC III chairperson of Burunga sub-county appealed to traders to utilize the pass given across the district to curb out the vice.

The outgoing Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Kazo, Al-Hajji Mawiya Lule asked traders to fulfill the guidelines from the meeting.