By Racheal Nuwahereza

MTN Uganda has pledged its commitment to support Makerere University’s centenary celebrations through a sponsorship worth UGX 180million towards the events organized by the University to mark 100 years of its existence.

The sponsorship by MTN will be dedicated towards an exhibition showcasing the journey of Makerere at 100 scheduled to take place from 27^th September to 10^th October, 2022 at the Freedom Square, Makerere University under the theme: “A Century of Service to Humanity.”

Speaking during the announcement ceremony held at MTN Headquarters inKampala, Uganda on Wednesday 4^th May, 2022, Somdev Sen, the MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer said as one of the leading employers in the country, MTN has taken the opportunity to appreciate the esteemed institution for its contribution to educating a sizeable population in the job market.

“This support to Makerere University is also very important to MTN as it is synonymous with our core values anchored on empowering and skilling youth to achieve sustainable societies, which is a key pillar of our organization strategy,” he said.

The commitment by MTN follows a stakeholder mobilization event organized by Makerere University in November 2021 during which, a strategy for rallying key stakeholders to support and participate in the year-long anniversary celebration was launched.

Opening its doors to 14-day students in 1922, Makerere University has grown to become one of the most prestigious learning institutions in Africa.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Makerere University, lauded MTN for its support, noting that the company’s dedication to supporting youth in Uganda is of mutual interest to the institution.

Professor Alinaitwe highlighted that the sponsorship from MTN Uganda is aligned to the Makerere University’s strategic plan (2020-2030), focused on making the institution research-intensive. 

“MTN Uganda’s support to the Makerere@100 exhibition will in addition to enhancing the visibility of our research and innovations attract more partners from the private sector and business community to bolster our efforts to commercialize these research outputs,” said Prof Alinaitwe.

Adding that Makerere University welcomes MTN Uganda’s support through this partnership that will benefit both the students at Makerere University and the youth in Uganda as a whole.

“This gesture acknowledges that you cannot talk about Uganda’s development and socio-economic transformation without involving the youth. Makerere and MTN are both in the business of giving the youth a platform to achieve their full potential. This partnership will therefore inspire our students and the youth in general to innovate and contribute significantly to the transformation of Uganda,” said Prof Alinaitwe.

MTN Uganda for years has championed progress of the youth through various initiatives aimed at galvanizing their creative and entrepreneurial spirit with the most recent being the Nsindika Njake youth entrepreneurship show currently airing on NBS TV.

The exhilarating show mentors young people by equipping them with practical business and technical skills with the goal of enabling job creators to curb youth unemployment.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police is investigating circumstances under which a boat capsized on Lake Victoria on Wednesday night while ferrying passengers from Kasenyi landing site in Katabi Town Council, Wakiso district to Kisaba Island in Kalangala district.

According to a Police statement released on Thursday, the incident involved a boat which first dropped off some people at Lukuba Landing Site at around 8 pm, and on it’s way to Kisaba Landing Site on Lake Victoria, it got into an accident.

Rajab Ssemakula, the Kalangala LC V Chairperson says because of the bad weather, some passengers heading to Kisaba disembarked and used Boda bodas to Kisaba.

“When the boat left for Kisaba, the engines got stuck in the laid fishing nets and capsized,” said Ssemakula.

Uganda Police Marines has revealed that it swiftly responded to the boating incident and managed to ensure that all the 9 people who were on the boat all got off safely.

Preliminary reports by police indicate that the boat engines got entangled in fishing nets, causing the boat to fall into the water.

“Both engines have been retrieved from the waters by our marine officers,” read the statement in part.

The statement further revealed that the boat was then hit by strong winds up to the mainland near Lukuba.

Moses Musiitwa, a fisherman at Kasenyi landing site believes that the boat capsized between Lukuba and Misenyi island after being hit by unusual strong winds, which usually lead to large waves that have since Saturday been ravaging the lake.

“This could have worsened the situation after the engine stopped because the boat could not float freely,” said Musiitwa. 

Police cautioned that transport boats against moving at night saying charges will be preferred against the boat owner when all the facts have been established.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

A fatal accident has occurred along the Fort Portal-Kampala Highway on Wednesday at Sebitoli, Fort Portal –Kyenjojo Road, near Kibaale National Park.

The accident which occurred 2KMs from Fortportal city involved a link bus REG No. UBA 003S that was traveling from Fort Portal to Kampala.

According to eyewitnesses, the Link bus swayed off the road and overturned several times crushing into a tea estate.

Faridah Nampiima the Traffic Police Spokesperson confirmed the development saying so far 20 people have been confirmed dead, out of whom thirteen are adults while 7 are juveniles. Out of the twenty, 11 are male and nine are female.

Nampiima added that the territorial Police in Kyenjojo responded to the fatal accident and the injured have been rushed to Buhinga hospital for first aid while the dead are at the same hospital for post-mortem.

The particulars of casualties and cause of the accident are both yet to be established.

“A detailed traffic investigative report to be shared later,” said Nampiima.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police in Butaleja District are investigating a case of aggravated defilement of two juvenile sisters aged 10 and 17.

Moses Mugwe, the Bukedi Regional Police Spokesperson, identified the suspect as Jackson Mbisyo, 35, a Witch Doctor and resident of Faaga Village, Busabi Sub-County, Butaleja District accused of defiling the minors. 

“The suspect allegedly did child marriage with the elder sister but when she called her sibling to help her with home chores, the husband decided to aggravatedly defile her sibling,” said Mugwe.

One of the victims (names withheld) said to have dropped out in Primary Four at Napekere Primary school, revealed that she got married to the suspect in April 2021. 

“I saw my little sister moving in pain. When I checked, I discovered that she had been defiled several times,” she claimed.

Mugwe says after discovering her husband’s shameful act prompted the minor to report to police which responded quickly to arrest the suspect.

According to Mary Nafuna, the minors’ mother, the doctor who examined them confirmed that they were defiled.

Police observations indicated that the victims are yet to get to terms with what transpired and need emotional and financial support and as such both victims have been handed over to the Child and family Protection Unit (CFPU) for counseling.

Police said the suspect will be charged with aggravated defilement after investigations.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Police in Rukungiri has recovered the body of a businessman who had gone missing from a swamp.

The deceased identified as Sulaiman Mutabazi, (57) a businessman and resident of Omukagoro village, Bwambara parish, Bwambara Sub-county, Rukungiri district is said to have gone missing after misunderstandings with a witch doctor identified as Mugisha Sulaiman.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi regional police spokesperson said on 19th April, 2022, Mutabazi was seen entering the home of Mugisha, who is alleged to be a witch doctor.

Mutabazi is said to have accused Mugisha of failing to solve his problems before he went missing.

On 24th of April 2022, Buseni Kakuru, his son reported his father’s disappearance to Rwenshama police post.

Following the incident, five suspects were arrested in connection with the disappearance of Mutabazai, including Mugisha Sulaiman, the witch doctor as the main suspect, Shadia Kesande (25) Emily Kyomugisha (17), Silvan Barisigara (32) and Ramadhan Mugisha (17), all residents of Rwebinyonyi village to aid with investigations.

Upon interrogations, Mugisha, the witch doctor revealed the actual whereabouts of the victim.

Police visited the scene and retrieved the body from Rweshama swamp.

The deceased’s body was taken to Rwakabengo Health Centre III for postmortem.