Residents of Bushenyi district have been urged to conserve all the water catchment areas to ensure water supply to residents is not jeopardized.

Jaffari Bassajjabalaba, the Bushenyi District LC5 chairman made the call during the monitoring visit to assess the progress of the UGX 11.8bn water project at Warugo augmentation.

Bassajjabalaba cautioned the residents against vandalizing water sources and catchment areas for the sake of posterity.

Speaking during the project tour, the managing director of National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Eng Dr Silver Mugisha also urged NWSC staff to avoid any form of corruption but also keep off cases of indiscipline for better service delivery to the public.

Mugisha further noted that corruption and indiscipline dent the integrity of the cooperation that whoever is indulged in such messes will be dealt with. 

Eng Sam Kiggundu, the Bushenyi Area Manager NWSC said that once completed, this project will be key in distributing water to the sub-counties of Kakanju, Bitooma, Ruhumuro, Kyamuhunga and other surrounding areas in the district. 

The Member of Parliament Kazo constituency, Hon Dan Kimosho has challenged church leaders to mobilize Christians to engage in the government’s development programs aimed at fighting household poverty.

Speaking as guest of honour at fundraising and thanksgiving of Kajuzya church of Uganda in Nkungu Archdeaconry, Kimosho noted that churches are like other areas where people converge so church leaders should also mobilize their followers to work for the development not only praying.

Sejjemba Johnbosco, the Uganda National Roads Authority official who also attended the fundraising revealed that giving money towards church construction does not mean they have a lot of money but they are giving back to the community.

Christians attending the Thanksgiving Church Service at Kajuzya Church of Uganda.

Rev Canon Steven Mujuni, the Nkungu Archdeacon who led the sermon told the Christians that it is good for the Christian to thank God.

This function was graced by several Leaders in Nkungu sub-county including the LC III chairperson, Dan Muramuzi and collected over about UGX 15m towards finishing their church.

Grade One magistrate’s court in Ibanda has sentenced 23-year-old Muzafaru Ahimbisibwe to 10 days of community service for stealing mats from a mosque.

While appearing before her worship Esther Murungi on Tuesday, March 19^th, Ahimbisibwe, who hails from Kagadi district, confessed to stealing six mats from his place of worship at Yusuf Katonyamu Mosque in Katooma, Kagongo Division in Ibanda Municipality during the night of January 26^th.

The 23-year-old was subsequently convicted and sentenced by the court for the crimes of breaking into the Mosque and stealing seven mats valued at UGX 490,000.

Muzafaru Ahimbisibwe who was convicted for stealing mats from a mosque.

The magistrate sentenced him to five days of community service for each offence, which will run consecutively; one after the other.

Ahimbisibwe who was ordered to apologize to Katooma Mosque members, was also cautioned and given a suspended sentence of 12 months in default of the community service orders.

Prosecution led by Emmanuel Tian had prayed to court for a deterrent punishment, saying his actions were an abuse to “religion that is recognized by laws of Uganda”.

The convict had prayed for leniency, saying he had learnt his lesson from the time spent on remand at Nyabuhikye Prison.

The convict faced up to 17 years for both crimes; seven for burglary and 10 years for theft.

During the same sitting, Thomson Karugaba was also sentenced to four days of community service after he confessed to have stolen two bunches of bananas worth UGX 30,000 from Nyakateete Primary School banana plantation on January 2.

Leaders in Sheema south constituency, Sheema district have expressed concern about the low turn-up of youth in the recently concluded registration exercise for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

During a meeting held at Bugongi town council Headquarters to ascertain the progress of the NRM registration exercise in Sheema south constituency, Sheema district, the leaders observed that most of the youth in the sub-counties of Kitagata, Rugarama, Kasaana, Bugongi town council, Kitagata town council and Bugongi town council did not turn up for the exercise.

The leaders attributed this to limited time that the NRM secretariat had set for the exercise, asking that the registration exercise to be extended for at least one week.

Sheema south constituency, has registered 42,899 NRM voters compared to 37,317 that were registered in 2020.

Tugume control, the LC III Chairperson for Bugongi town council said that they have managed to register 5,045 voters which is slightly low compared to 6,633 people who were registered 2020.

He noted that most school-going children who are above 16 did not take part in the exercise because the the school term is still ongoing and that the registrars did not register them because they not have access to their schools. 

While addressing the leaders, Professor Ephraim Kamuntu, the senior presidential advisor on Manifesto implementation who is also the Sheema south constituency NRM flag bearer promised to report the concerns raised by the leaders to relevant authorities for follow up.

Kamuntu called upon the leaders to maintain the allegiance and loyalty to the NRM party and to have a common position on the outcome of the NRM registration exercise. 

Grade One magistrate’s court in Ibanda has sentenced a 48-year-old man to six years in prison for breaking into a woman’s house and stealing her groundnuts.

Court heard that the suspect identified as Vincent Tumuhereze, 48, committed the crimes on June 27, 2023 at Karindiriro Kashangura when he broke and entered into the house of Mildred Kamasanyu and stole a half basin of shelled groundnuts valued at UGX 100,000.

After a lengthy hearing of the case, court found the suspect who is a resident of Nyamuswiga, Kashangura in Kagongo Division, Ibanda Municipality guilty of the offences.

Tumuhereze was subsequently convicted and sentenced to three years in jail for each of the two counts. The jail terms will run consecutively; one after the other. 

While reading the sentence, her worship Esther Murungi said the convict was not remorseful despite the compelling evidence against him.

Earlier, when the court asked him to say something before his sentence, he prayed for a jail term of nine months.   

However, prosecution led Emmanuel Tian had prayed for 17 years in prison. Tian argued that although the convict was a first-time offender, he had wasted the court’s time through a lengthy hearing. 

Theft contravenes section 254(i) and 261 of the Penal Code Act and the crime carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, when one is convicted.

At least 10 people have been confirmed dead and several others injured in a fatal accident that occurred along the Iganga-Tororo highway at Kibimbi, after the bridge in Bugiri District.

According to a statement issued by the territorial traffic police in Bugiri, the accident involved six motor vehicles which were all moving in the same direction towards Tororo, except for one vehicle, REG No. KAE 254c/ZA 5971, a tanker loaded with molasses, which was traveling in the opposite direction towards Iganga.  

According to the police statement, preliminary information indicates that the Motor vehicle REG No. UAW 963m, a Toyota Hiace, attempted to overtake a queue of vehicles.

The driver noticed an oncoming vehicle while still overtaking and swerved to the left to yield, unaware that the oncoming vehicle was a trailer tanker loaded with molasses and pulling another trailer. The rear part of the trailer collided with the taxi, crushing it against another trailer, KBJ 155c/ZD 2621, a Mercedes Benz. Consequently, the trailer tanker lost control, overturned, and caught fire.

The 10 people, including 8 passengers of the taxi, its driver, and the trailer tanker driver, died on the spot.

The traffic police responded to the scene immediately, and the bodies were transported to Bugiri hospital mortuary for postmortem examination.

Police in Bushenyi are hunting for a motor vehicle driver for knocking a 5-year-old juvenile dead.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Rosomiyo Joseph, 5, a resident of Ryanshana 1, Kashenyi ward, Ishaka division.

Tumusiime noted that Rosomiyo was knocked dead by a speeding motor vehicle Premio white in colour REG No. UBD 055J on Saturday evening at Kashenyi ward, Ishaka division, Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality. 

It’s alleged that the errant driver was from Ishaka heading to Kitagata driving at high speed when he carelessly knocked a male Juvenile who was walking along the road at Kashenyi along Ishaka-Kagamba road. 

The police led by IP Baguma, the Officer in charge of traffic at Ishaka visited the scene and drew a rough sketch map plan to help them in investigations.

The motor vehicle was towed and taken to Ishaka police station pending IOV inspection, while the body of the deceased was taken to Ishaka Adventist Hospital for postmortem examination.

Following numerous attacks on residents by machete wielders, residents have decried extortion of money by police to review the CCTV footage.

The residents say, even when the attacks happen near the CCTV cameras, when they go to the police to seek help, they are instead asked for money.

Reuben Ainomugisha, alias Lauben Rutegwa, a Kabale-based local radio station news editor, one of the victims, said he was attacked by machete wielders along Nyerere Avenue near Kabale Secondary School in the wee hours of Thursday, 29th February 2023, while he was on duty.

He was robbed of his belongings, such as phones and money equivalent to UGX 170,000.

However, when he went to the police in the morning to review the CCTV camera footage, he was asked to first pay UGX 400,000.

Byamugisha Robert Kakuru, the executive director of Kick Corruption out of Uganda, a non-governmental organization that fights corruption, confirmed that extortion in the police force is real yet the service should be free.

He added that the police also don’t have personnel to operate the cameras, and some cameras are no longer working, which has increased criminality.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi police spokesperson, condemned police personnel who ask for money from victims and asked the public to always report whoever asks for money to view CCTV cameras.

Maate asked victims to always follow the right procedures by first reporting their cases to the police.

Residents of Bisya cell in Rwemikoma sub-county in Kazo district have been advised to stop dividing their land into small pieces.

This message was delivered by Naboth Nandeeba, a development champion in Kazo district, while speaking at a meeting with Bisya Kwetungura group which was held at Bisya trading center with the aim of improving sources of income for their families.

Nandeeba noted that division of lands reduces income in the  communities since most high-income generating projects like farming, cattle keeping require more land.

Sarah Baguma, the Lady councilor representing Rwemikoma at the sub-county encouraged the residents of Bisya to work together so that they can avoid conflicts in their families.

Nassani Mungizi, a chairperson of Bisya Kwetungura group said they started the group to save and invest, support one another socially among other reasons.

Byamukama Ephraim, one of the members of Bisya Kwetungura group said that this group helps them so much economically when they are meeting their basic needs and socially during events.

Communities around river banks in Mbarara city, have been urged to stop degrading the environment, to ensure there is supply of clean and safe water in their areas.

These remarks were made by Enock Mwanjje, the Manager South western Uganda, during a press conference held today at the Ministry of water and environment Headquarters in Mbarara city.

The press conference aimed at alerting people about Uganda water and environment week which is being celebrated from 3rd to 6th March 2024 under the Theme; “Rethinking collective action and innovation solutions to Water, Environment, and climate change Crisis in Uganda“.

One of the partners of Ministry of water and Environment Sarah Loyce Tusingwire from Excel hot consult has appreciated the water ministry for engaging the community about its activities.

Tusingwire also pledged to continue sensitizing the masses about the dangers of degrading the environment and benefits of planting trees in their areas in order to conserve the environment.

The Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK) is a weeklong event that is organized annually by Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), spearheaded by Water Resources Institute (WRI).

It was initiated in 2018, to contribute towards the attainment of Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation in collaboration with various partners and stakeholders for knowledge exchange and improvement of Uganda’s water and environment resources