By Racheal Nuwahereza

Authorities in Kiruhura and Mbarara districts on Thursday witnessed the launch of a UGX 10b project that will oversee the reconstruction works of Kyenshama dam in Ankole sub region to serve the two districts during season of drought.

The function that was conducted in Kyenshama, the Kiruhura and Mbarara districts’ border was graced by leaders from the two districts, officials from the ministry of water and environment, the contractor; the Global International Services Limited under the management of Kwesiga Francis and the locals.

Dan Mukago Rutetebya, the LCV chairperson Kiruhura district who presided over the launch, called upon the ministry of water and environment to ensure the contractor provides site book for people monitoring the implementation of the project to sign and write down their comments during the eighteen month-long construction period.

Basil Bataringaya Rwankwene, the Member of Parliament Kashari north, Mbarara district explained that as the team had discussed with the contractor the water is mainly for production for crop and livestock farming and not for domestic use.

Mukago also urged the people to utilize just the water facility very well to remain clean and control siltation.

Twimobusingye Jovanice Rwenduuru, the Kiruhura district Woman Member of Parliament appreciated the government for thinking about it’s people by reconstructing Kyenshama dam that has been used as watering point for animals.

Rwenduru said women who have been spending a lot of time to come and fetch water from the dam now will be fetching water from nearby their homes and have time to do more domestic business.

She added that the improved dam, can be used for other important economic activities like fishing, promoting tourism and investment which were not there before.

Tayebwa Herbert, the Member of Parliament Kashongi requested local leaders to teach and guide the population to be hard working.

Kasagara Edward, the Chief Administrative officer (CAO) Mbarara district informed the public that memorandum of understanding between Kiruhura and Mbarara district on the sharing of local revenue from Kyenshama weekly market is yet to be approved and signed by solicitor general in Kampala to ensure amicable coexistence.

The construction of the dam comes as a fulfillment of the pledge by President Yoweri Museveni, for the 2021-2026 presidential term where Government proposed increased commercialization & competitiveness of agricultural production & agro-processing for increased export value of selected agricultural commodities.

This included the establishment new bulk water systems for multipurpose use for dams in select areas; Kyenshama Dam in Mbarara district, Geregere Dam in Agago district and Kyahi Dam in Gomba district among others.

Story from Frederick Anyine

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Authorities in Kitagwenda district have given encroachers in Kikoyo wetland an ultimatum of 21 days to vacate the swamp or face arrest and prosecution.

Responding to accusations by residents in Kitagwenda district, that the district only targets ordinary people for evictions from degraded wetlands, Anthony Karyegira, the Kitagwenda district natural resources officer said the encroachers who include big shots in the district were issued restoration notifications last week.

“We are giving them the benefit of doubt, if they refuse to comply, then we will move in fully and forcefully remove them, “said Karyegira in an interview on April 21.

Kalyegira reaffirmed their neutrality, explaining that there is no rich or poor in environmental conservation as all are under one law.

Notably, Nulu Byamukama, the Member of Parliament for Kitagwenda County was one of the encroachers whose eucalyptus trees were mowed down during last year’s massive eviction exercise from Kikoyo wetland where several acres of mature eucalyptus trees that were illegally planted in the swamp were cut down by the district and the regional wetlands office.

Currently, the district is planning to evict half a dozen other illegal occupants from River Mpanga gorge, said Kalyegira. 

Kalyegira revealed that the operation seeks to rid the river buffer zone within a range of 100 metres on either side as well as the entire stretch from Nyabani up to the point where River Mpanga pours its waters into Lake George, an estimated 800 hectares, of illegal activities like brick-making, vegetable growing and planting of eucalyptus trees and settlement.

From Stephen Nuwagira

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Residents of Kyarukobwa B cell, Kyaruhanga Ward, Kagongo Division, Ibanda Municipality in Ibanda district were on Tuesday evening left in shock after 20 year old man slit his throat with a sharp knife and bled to death.

The deceased identified as Andrew Lubega is said to have been working in a stone quarry site in Katoma for a long time.

An eye witnesses told our reporter that at around 6:30pm on Tuesday, the deceased picked a knife from children who were slicing cabbage and slit his throat and started running while he bled, until he collapsed and died.

Atuhaise Evelyne Nalongo who has been Lebega’s supervisor said that on
that fatefull day, Lubega turned up for work as usual and later in the evening requested for UGX 5,000 from his supervisor and after receiving the money, Lubega committed suicide.

Tophas Kabakama Muganda, the chairperson LC1 Kyarukobwa B cell said
that the deceased has been a well-known humble person in the village who had been sober since morning but the incident left them all in shock.

Elias Ahimbisibwe, the father to the deceased told our reporter that he last saw his son before Easter Celebrations and had since been staying with his mother in the trading center until Tuesday late evening when he received a call from people informing him about his son’s death.

The reasons behind his decision remain unclear.

Police from Ibanda Central Police Station rushed to the scene and took the body to Ruhoko heath center IV for postmortem as investigations into the matter continue.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police in Jinja are holding a man suspected to have killed his wife over the weekend. Moses Tenywa, a resident of Soweto village, Wakuluba- Masese, Jinja South Division is accused of having murdered his wife identified as Nalongo Annet Nabirye, 38.

Following a misunderstanding over a piece of land in Kaliro District, Tenywa, is said to have fatally stabbed Nabirye, with whom he had seven children and attempted to bury her in their home, just 20 metres away from their main house but was interrupted by the children.

Milly Gutu, a neighbour revealed that while the man resolved to sell the land, the deceased was against the idea, arguing that it was for their children.

Paul Batambuze, the area LC1 chairperson, said the couple has been having domestic issues for a while, especially after the sale of their land.

“This time, the wife demanded to know why he wasn’t putting their money to proper use and why he had sold their land, but he instead stabbed her to death before fleeing from the village,” said Batambuze.

James Mubi, the Kiira Region Police Spokesperson, confirmed the incident, saying after Nabirye learnt that he sold their land, the suspect fatally stabbed her on the cheeks, neck and the head and she died after bleeding profusely.

“It’s alleged that Moses Tenywa sold land and used money in things which don’t benefit the family and when the wife tried to blame him, he turned against her in anger and stabbed her to death,” said Mubi.

Police rushed to the scene and documented the evidence before ferrying the body to Jinja regional referral hospital and launched investigations into the matter.

Police, with help from the locals, launched a successful manhunt and on Saturday, the suspect was found in Buyengo Town Council, about 45Kms from the crime scene.

Mubi, said the fugitive was found unresponsive in a banana plantation after reportedly ingesting poison trying to commit suicide.

“He was rescued and arrested and is currently receiving treatment at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and he will be duly charged,” said Mubi.

Mubi, noted that they have deployed three officers to watch over the suspect to stop him from endangering his life.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police in Jinja have launched a manhunt for God Lwampala, a boda boda rider and resident of Buwekula, Bugembe, Jinja city for allegedly killing his wife identified as Betty Namukuve, a food vendor at Kyabazinga Market, Bugembe.

Abbey Ngako, the police spokesperson confirmed the incident adding that for the last four years, the man had suspensions that his wife was cheating on him with other men and he on several occasions promised to kill her.

“We got information that the man started a 10-days countdown for his wife before he eventually murdered her,” Ngako said.

Jamawa Kwegemya, the LCI Chairperson Buwekula said the deceased reported the matter to her office and she reconciled the couple after listening to both sides.

“She told us that the man intends to kill her, and I deployed the village defence secretary to monitor the situation but it’s so unfortunate that we have lost a life,” said Kwegemya.

Kwegemya added that cases of domestic violence are on the increase and blamed police for granting suspects bond after they have been arrested.

Ngako in response blamed local authorities for not reporting the matter to police on time because if they had, the man would have been arrested.

The deceased’s body was conferred to Jinja regional referral hospital.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

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.

From Katusiime Caroline.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

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.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

A Security Officer identified 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.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

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.

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.

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.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

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.

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.

“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.