Residents of Nyabitooma village, Kagazi Ward, Kabujogera Town Council in Kitagwenda District were today engulfed in shock, tears and grief after a 29 year old man ended his brother’s life in cold blood.
The deceased identified as Alex Arituha 33, is said to have developed a misunderstanding with his younger brother identified as Acleo Abigaba who hacked him to death on Sunday night.
A close relative told our reporter on condition of anonymity that the pair developed a misunderstanding around 9pm on Easter Sunday when they were playing cards. Adding that Abigaba who is currently on the run owed the deceased UGX 1,000 after losing the game and he was unwilling to pay.
This angered Arituha (deceased) and he started a simple fight. Abigaba (the suspect) picked a panga and waited his elder brother Arituha on the way back home at around 10pm and chopped him to death.
Tobias Nuwagaba, the OC CID Kabujogera Police Station confirmed the incident and urged the residents to abstain from drug abuse which he says has taken a center stage in the area.
The Police in Rukungiri district are hunting for a man for the alleged murder of a 38 year old man identified as Alex Gumoshabe for having an affair with his mother 5 months after his father’s death.
SP Musa Tibakirana, the Rukungiri District Police Commander confirmed the incident saying that the deceased is a resident of Rwakiriba Village, Kashaayo Parish, Bugangari Sub-county, Rujumbura County in Rukungiri district.
The widow identified as Emily Kyomugisha is said to have hosted her lover(the deceased) around 11:00pm on 15th April 2022 which annoyed one of her sons, Tofayo Turinawe who then picked a piece of timber and started beating the deceased and his widowed mother.
Whereas the widow managed to escape, Tofayo beat the deceased into coma and left him for dead. He was found and picked by residents the following morning and taken to Karoli Lwanga Hospital Nyakibaale where he died on arrival.
A team led by DCID/O, CIO, SOCO and other security personnel visited the scene where the angry residents had demolished Kyomugisha’s home and all the family members had fled the Village, recorded statements from some witnesses and that efforts to trace the suspect are underway.
According to the Police report, the body of the deceased was by press time at Karoli Lwanga hospital Nyakibale pending Post mortem examination to establish the actual cause of his death.
The case of murder by assault has been recorded at Rukungiri CPS vide registration number CRB 300/22.
A Security Officeridentified as Private Dickens Nuwamanya, 27 attached to Special Forces Command (SFC) shot his lover dead and later turned the gun to himself in an incident that happened in Rugaga trading centre, Kikatsi Sub-county, Kiruhura district.
Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi region police spokesperson, confirmed the incident adding that Nuwamanya who was attached to the SFC commando brigade in Ruhegyere shot his lover identified as Patience Kamarembo, a bar attendant in Rugaga trading centre.
“He shot the lover thrice in the chest killing her instantly and later turned the gun on himself. He shot himself in the head and died instantly,” said Kasasira.
Kasasira said the two bodies have been taken to Kiruhura Health Centre IV for postmortem while the murder weapon, an SMG AK47 rifle has also been recovered from the scene.
Kasasira added that the cause of the double homicide has not been established but investigations into the matter are ongoing.
MTN Foundation hands over a newly constructed classroom block and staff quarters to Bigodi Secondary School and Rwengobe Primary School in Kamwenge District.
The UGX350million project was funded by MTN Foundation and implemented through Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS), a non-government organization and is dedicated to improving access to quality education in Uganda.
The 3-classsroom block constructed by MTN Foundation to create learning space for children at Bigodi Secondary School in Kamwenge district
Under this project, MTN Foundation constructed and furnished a 3-classroom block for the students at Bigodi Secondary School while Rwengobe Primary School received newly constructed staff quarters with the capacity to accommodate 6 teaching staff and the Head Master of the institution.
Staff quarters constructed by MTN Foundation at Rwengobe Primary School in Kamwenge District to ease teachers’ access to the learning institution.
Speaking at the official handover of the schools in Kamwenge, Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer, said; “We believe that this classroom block will alleviate challenges of congestion and limited learning space for the students while also creating an enabling environment for learning. Through this project, MTN also hopes to create positive impact with ripple effects culminating into the social and economic development of the country.”
By undertaking this initiative, MTN is fulfilling its commitment to the people of Uganda to continually support and contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country through Infrastructure development.
In a bid to extend quality maternal health care services to the people, MTN Foundation handed over a newly refurbished and equipped Mother Kevin health centre III in Mbulamuti sub-county, Kamuli district.
MTN Foundation, through Joint Medical Stores in 2020 refurbished and equipped Mother Kevin health centre III which had been non-operational for 10 years, due to lack of medical equipment and it is now set to kick-start operations at the facility.
The project which will benefit over 30,000 patients cost UGX122million focusing on equipping the labour ward with items like; delivery beds, medicine trolleys, baby resuscitators, suction pump, catheter, patient beds in the maternity ward, oxygen cylinder and regulator.
Some of the equipment that MTN Foundation donated to Mother Kelvin Health Centre III to enable it provide medical support to over 30,000 people in the region.
Through this project, MTN Foundation also constructed sanitary facilities such as a placenta pit and lavatories for the health centre. The laboratory, post natal ward, store and doctor’s room were among others also equipped.
Speaking during the official handover of the facility held today at Mother Kevin health centre III in Kamuli, the MTN General Manager for Customer Experience, Dorcas Muhwezi said that the project was driven by the telecom’s vision to improve the livelihood of the communities in which it operates.
Dorcas Muhwezi, the MTN General Manager for Customer Experience speaking during the official handover of the facility held at Mother Kevin health centre III in Kamuli.
“MTN sought to empower the hardworking staff of Mother Kevin health centre III in order to provide safe and quality health care to the people in Kamuli and the surrounding districts. This initiative supports our commitment to improving the livelihoods of the communities in which we operate,” said Muhwezi.
Robert Mutemo, the Resident District Commissioner, Kamuli district, applauded the MTN Foundation for the impact that it has created in the district saying MTN has over the years continually demonstrated a fondness for the Busoga sub-region through the numerous donations and CSR activities undertaken to improve the livelihood of the people in Busoga.
Dr. Bildard Baguma, the Executive director Joint Medical Stores, said this project is testament that combined efforts culminate into great achievements.
In 2020, MTN also signed a 2-year partnership with the Obwa Kyabazinga bwa Busoga Kingdom worth UGX 600 million with focus on the kingdom’s social, cultural, and economic programs in the areas of health, sports, and culture.
Police in Sembabule district is searching for unknown people who beat to death one person identified as Semwogere Anus (24).
It is alleged on Sunday evening, the OC station Asp Hiduja received information that some people were beating a thief. The OC dispatched a team but upon arrival at the scene, they only found the body of the deceased.
The police were reportedly informed that the deceased had stolen a motorcycle Bajaj boxer from the playground in the district. Upon realizing that the motorcycle was missing, the owner informed his colleagues and the Tugende Company which had loaned him the ride and they started tracking it.
The owner together with other Boda Boda riders followed the thief and caught up with him just after Kidadala trading centre where they beat him to death.
The officers picked the body and conveyed it to Ssembabule health centre IV for Postmortem.
According to Muhammad Nsubuga the Masaka regional police spokesperson, the deceased was given Bail on 10th March for similar charges of stealing a motorcycle.
Hon Moses Kamuntu Mwongyera, the Rubanda County West legislator has directed members in this constituency to encroach on wetlands until President Museveni secures their compensation.
Wetland encroachers in Rubanda district were in 2021 directed by the government to vacate them in order to restore the wetland and prevent further degradation. However, Hon Kamuntu advised his constituents to arrest any government official who will dare chase them from the wetlands again, quashing the directives.
Hon Kamuntu who made the comments on Monday while commissioning the construction of Nshanjaare/Ndego road at Ndeego trading center claimed that he had met the President over the wetland matter, and His Excellency was still gathering money to compensate wetland occupants in Rubanda.
“I met the president and he is still looking for money to compensate you. Please occupy the wetlands again, use them as usual. Arrest for me anyone from NEMA who will attempt to disrupt you,” Kamuntu ordered.
In November 2018, President Museveni took to his twitter handle @KagutaMuseveni and prmised wetland encroachers a modest compensation if they vacated. However, in February this year, he took to the same Platform and warned the public against wetland encroachment for purposes of environmental conservation.
“No one should build or buy land in the road reserves or wetlands. You will lose your money and we shall NOT compensate anyone. Your titles will be canceled. Tampering with wetlands is not a good practice for our environment. Even those planting rice in swamps should desist.”
In November 2018, President Museveni promises the encroachers a modest compensation if they vacate.In February 2022, President Museveni warns the encroachers saying they won’t be compensated.
As per the Regulations, any person who, without prior appropriate approval, undertakes an activity that is likely to have adverse effects on a wetland, commits an offence and is liable to a prison sentence or to pay a fine as stipulated in the law.
Wetlands serve an important part of the ecosystem as a habitat for various animal and plant species, they regulate the quality of water, reduce soil erosion and aid in flood control.
Despite these important ecological functions, wetlands continue to be a soft target for settlement, agriculture and other developments in several parts of the country.
Police in Bugiri district has in custody four youths suspected to have participated in the murder of a 32-year-old man identified as Ivan Mukisa.
Steven Lwembawo, the Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigations in Bugiri district, revealed that Mukisa was a renowned businessman dealing in music systems and electronic appliances. Adding that he was also popular amongst the youthful population in Bugiri district.
Mukisa is said to have met his death on Tuesday night at the hands of unidentified youths who rounded him up as he headed towards his home in Katawo zone in the Eastern division in Bugiri municipality.
The deceased sustained injuries on the head, bark, neck and chest and bled to death before the assailants hid his lifeless body in a bar within the area only to be discovered by area residents who realized that the handle of the bar entrance was covered in blood and bloodstains spilt along the roadside.
The suspects whose identities have been withheld in order not to jeopardize investigations are currently in custody at Bugiri central police station awaiting prosecution.
Lwembawo says that a team of detectives is still hunting for some prime suspects who are still at large.
An ex-convict identified as Kombozi Behangaza, (28) has accused the Uganda Prisons Service of not paying him his earnings over the last 14 years.
Behangaza was convicted for rape in 2012 and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment which he spent at Bulawula prison in Kayunga district.
Behangaza who says he worked on both private and gov’t farms claims he was to be paid 500 shillings for every day he worked.
Uganda prisoners working at a farm. (Courtesy Image)
Frank Baine, the Uganda Prisons Service-UPS spokesperson explained that skilled prisoners are entitled to 500shs, semi-skilled prisoners 250shs, while unskilled earn only 100shs per day of work which is all recorded in the prisoners’ logbook.
Baine added that upon release the prisoner is entitled to a transport fare by public means back to the point of his arrest.
Behangaza says he was demanding UGX 1.4m but he was given only UGX 40,000 to transport him up to Katuna in Kabale district which was also not enough. He says he hoped this would be the money he would invest to start over and not engage in crime when he eventually got out of prison.
Behangana added that even the farming equipment he was entitled to including a hoe, maize grians, a panga, an axe which is given to support the prisoners to start over was never given to him to which Baine responded saying it is upon the discretion of the Officer-in-Charge and on the goodwill of the commissioner general but not a must.
Behangaza, is currently stuck in Kampala but hopes to return home to Katuna in case he is paid.
Police in Oyam district is hunting for a pastor and seven other people over the death of 72-year-old Albina Okoi, a resident of Ajaca A village, Okomo parish, Ngai sub-county in Oyam district.
It’s alleged that on Friday 4th March 2022, a congregation led by the Pastor identified as Lawrence Aguga were conducting prayers when the ‘holy spirit’ reportedly pointed them to Albina Okoi as someone practicing witchcraft.
The congregation led by Pastor Aguga descended on Okoi and forced her to run for a distance of 6kms to the prayer ground while being beaten. The police report indicates that the deceased collapsed and died before reaching the prayer ground.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson confirmed the incident saying the matter was reported to police by the deceased’s son. “Benedict Arac, 29 yrs old medical personnel and a son to the deceased informed police at Oyam CPS the following day and our team of detectives visited the scene which was documented, relevant statements were recorded,” said Okema.
Police say one person has since been arrested and is in custody at Oyam Central Police Station to aid the investigation. The 8 other suspects including Lawrence Aguga, the church leader, Patrick Arom, Francis Ebong, Silvesto Akejo, George Otim, Tony Odongo and others only identified as Ongoda and Ocen are reportedly on the run.
Okema says efforts are under way to have them apprehended.
The body of the deceased has since been handed over to the family for burial.
