Kitagwenda district councilors have refused to convene a planning council meeting over non-payment of their ex-gratia and committee allowances.

The decision followed a closed meeting between the councilors and Kitagwenda chief administrative officer (CAO) Richard Ssebandeka at the district offices on Monday.

The boycott which was announced around 1pm prompted an emergency meeting of the district top leadership, including the CAO, LC V Chairman Ismail Mushemeza, speaker James Baguma, DPC Henry Mugarura, the RDC and DISO.

After the meeting that lasted about an hour, Mushemeza said the money was already on the district general account but they have no rights to access the money.

Although the councilors refused to discuss the matter with the media, sources indicate that the councilors were protesting non-payment of their ex-gratia and sitting allowances for attending committee meetings and council and committees on empty stomachs.

The other grievance, the source said, was lack of implementation of a number of council resolutions, including failure to provide council a list of all district employees to weed out ghost workers.

Councillors are entitled to a pay of UGX 175,000 each per month as ex-gratia while their council and committee sitting allowance is got from 20 percent of local revenue collection in the district.

Meanwhile Kitahwenda CAO, Richard Sssebandeke, explained that the issue of delayed ex-gratia is a national challenge that is being experienced by other districts across the country, adding that the ministries concerned are working to address it.

On the way forward, district speaker, James Baguma said the leadership has agreed to hold the aborted council meeting on September 29.

Police in Kazo have arrested one suspect in connection with the kidnap of a one day old baby from Kyenshebashebe-Ntambazi parish, Kazo Sub-county, Kazo district on Sunday.

John Lukooto, the Kazo district Police Commander (DPC) confirmed the incident and identified the suspect as Twinamatsiko Hope. 

Twinamatsiko reportedly connived with the woman who took the baby.

Ninsiima Joviitah, the mother to this baby says that another suspect (who is still at large) went to her home and asked to take them to the hospital to give them help of food and money.

Ninsiima says that she then called two boda bodas; one carried the mother of the baby while another carried the suspect with the baby.

Ninsiima adds that while on their way, the suspect directed the boda boda man to ride  towards Ibanda  leaving the mother on the way to Kazo health centre IV where upon reaching, the woman who had carried the baby was nowhere to be seen.

Kamazoba Leonard, the grandmother to the baby revealed that the suspect came to their home and offered to take all mothers with newly born babies to hospital for help.

Laurence Twinamatsiko  , the chairman of LC I Kyenshebashebe cell who condemned the act said that he got information from his defence after church service and asked the security to intervene in this matter and bring the suspect to book.

Lukooto noted that investigations into the matter are still on-going.

Residents of Kazo town council in Kazo district have expressed concerns about increased rampant cases of theft in town.

Mwesigye Edson, a resident and landlord in Byeshembe cell, Kazo Town council revealed that on Thursday night, thieves broke into one of the rooms rented by lawyer Enock Tumwine and made off with television and many other items.

Asingwire Apollo, a bar owner also revealed that on Thursday night, thieves broke into the bar and walked away with most of his belongings such as TV sets, bottles of alcohol and an unspecified amount of money.

Asingwire noted that these unknown thieves target when electricity is off.

By press time, police had not given a comment about these reports.

Residents of Nyabitooma cell in Kagazi Ward, Kabujogera Town council in Kitagwenda District have today staged a peaceful demonstration and camped at Town council headquarters protesting the poor state of roads in the area.

Irahuka Seregio, the chairperson LC1 Nyabitooma cell said the road is currently in sorry state and the Town council Authorities are not doing much to rescue them from the current situation.

A section of residents who talked to our reporter accused the Town council chairperson Buganda Joseph Ruweza of being arrogant and undermining them.

Locals led by  Tesigye Patrick, Mugisha Vicent Tooto, Bakyenga Christopher ,Herbert
Kasabule and Kahoza Ndyabarema among others said that are currently blocked from accessing essential services from  the neighbouring Ibanda District.

Komugisha Jeniva, one of the residents revealed that as mothers they have been getting immunization and antenatal services from Ibanda District but now they are blocked since the road that connects them to Ibanda is now in sorry state.

In a bid to calm down the aggrieved reasidents, Bwambale Benard, the Town clerk Kabujogera Town council urged them to calm down and pledged to work hand in hand with
District leaders to restore the situation very soon.

Police in Kazo in conjunction with the Ibanda Police have arrested two suspected cattle thieves.

John Lukooto, the District Police Commander (DPC) Kazo District has confirmed the development and identified the suspects as Lukwago Eddy aka Tumwiine, 42, and Ainebyoona Nicholas.

According to Lukooto, the suspects were intercepted by the police from Ibanda after getting tipped off by the concerned residents of Rwemengo parish in Kanoni sub-county.

Samuel Mugisha Katugunda the chairman LC V told journalists that several farmers in the entire district have lost animals like cows, goats pigs to these animal thieves and the crack down continues.

Katugunda asked the area residents to be vigilant and ensure that they work together to protect their animals from these thieves.

Lukooto revealed that the suspects will be charged in courts of law and the search for other cattle thieves continues.

Following the beginning of third term 2022 on Monday this week, Akengyeya Primary school found in Akengyeya Parish, Kyampangara Sub-county, Kazo district has registered a low turn up of learners.

Learners, parents and staff blame the low turn up on lack of proper pathway as the path that connects Akengyenya to Rwakakungu in Rwemikoma sub-county and Kagaramira in Nkungu Subcounty is currently impassable.

Baryamujura Emmanuel, a resident and a parent revealed that they mobilized themselves and constructed a temporary bridge, however, when it rained heavily, it was destroyed.

Baryamujura called upon the concerned authorities to intervene in this matter.

Speaking to our reporter, James Byabajungu, the chairperson school management committee blamed the district leadership for the laxity in handling this issue.

Abert Tukahirwa, the Head teacher Akengyeya Primary school asked the Government to intervene since the term is the determinant and is very crucial and the biggest number of pupils comes from Nkungu and Rwemikoma sub-counties.

Resident of Kyenshebashebe in Ntambazi, Kazo sub-county and Kakindo in Kakindo, Engari sub-county all in Kazo district were left in shock after the body of a yet to be identified man was found floating on the waters of Orushango water stream on Thursday morning.

Benon Kaffero, one of the residents and an eye witness said as he was going to work, he was notified through a phone call that there was a dead body in the stream and he rushed to the scene.

Musinguzi Patrick, the chairman LC I Kakindo revealed that he received information from the people in the trading center telling him that there is an unidentified person in the water and immediately reported to police for intervention.

Muhebwa Jackson, the chairman of LC III Kazo sub-county also expressed his concern about urging parents to always monitor their children and ensure that they avoid going near a water source.

Police from Kazo Police Station led by the OC CID, Twesigye Amudan visited the scene and transferred the deceased body to Kazo health center IV for postmortem as the investigations into the matter continue.

Residents in Akengyeya Cell, Akengyeya Parish, Kyampangara sub-county, Kazo District were left in shock after they found a body of a 23 year old man hanging on a tree.

The deceased has been identified as Kwesiga Aston, a resident of Kyampangara II, Kyampangara parish, Kyampangara Sub-county, who is believed to be mentally ill and he allegedly committed suicide.

Henry Mbehitsya, a father to the deceased said Aston went missing on Monday evening but they suspected him to have gone to visit his sister which was not the case.

Mbehitsya added that on Tuesday around mid-day, they found his body dangling on a tree.

Mugabi Benard Kafure, the Sub-county chairperson condemned the act and asked all those who are depressed or stressed to always seek counseling services urging the citizens to avoid these kinds of acts because they depict a bad image.

Police from Kazo Police station visited the scene and registered the case under reference number 07/06/09/2022 and handed over the body to the family for burial.