Ibanda Grade One magistrate’s court has sentenced Harriet Akello, 30, to two years in prison over theft of a laptop bag.

The mother of three was arrested in July last year on accusations of stealing a laptop bag containing a national ID card, job appointment and confirmation letters, a sweater, a work ID card, passport size photos and a Stanbic Bank money purse in Ibanda town in February 2022.

The items belonged to Margaret Tumushabe, a nursing assistant from Buhanda in Kitagwenda district.

Court presided over by Her Worship Esther Murungi heard that Akello was the sole breadwinner for her three children where she prayed for a lenient jail term so she could return home in Northern Uganda to “ensure they get the basics of life and also stay on the right path.”

Her Worship Murungi answered her prayer and handed her a two-year prison sentence, less of the time spent on remand which means that Akello will be reunited with her children after just over one year in jail.

Theft, which contravenes sections 254 (i) and 261 of the Penal Code Act, attracts up to 10 years in prison upon conviction. 

Coffee farmers have been cautioned against the habit of harvesting immature coffee berries and poor ways of drying ahead of the upcoming coffee harvesting season which may affect the coffee market in the country.

Scovia Bongyereire, the chairperson Rukondo-Kyarushakara coffee farmers cooperative society limited made the call during a meeting of coffee farmers held at Kitagata town council offices in Kitagata town council, Sheema district.

Bongyereire noted that some farmers have failed to use modern ways of drying coffee like the use of tarpaulins, use of drying beds but instead they dry it on the ground which she says has reduced the quality of coffee in the district.

Karakure Allan Buhanda, the Sheema District commercial officer, challenged farmers to form cooperatives so as to attract many coffee buyers.

Buhanda added that this will bring competition in the market hence bringing more money to the coffee industry.

Ibanda Grade One magistrate’s court has sentenced a notorious thief and jail escapee to six years in Prison.

Isaac Rukundo, from Kabale district, is believed to have been behind the thefts of bananas in Kyabugeija cell, Bufunda Division in Ibanda Municipality.

However, his luck ran out when he was caught red handed stealing bananas from Humphrey Muhwezi Kyabire’s plantation in the wee hours of the morning on 4^th January 2023 by the village security team.

The village had formed this security team following a spike in banana thefts in the area, resulting in the arrest of Rukundo, who was not known to residents.

State prosecution led by Deus Kyomya told court that the security team found Rukundo with 10 bunches of bananas – nine from Kyabire’s plantation and one more from Paddy Mwesigye’s plantation.

Police were informed and they came and took him to custody where he made a statement and was charged with theft, a crime that breaks section 254 (i) and 261 of the Penal Code Act.

Court also discovered that Rukundo had escaped from prison in Mbarara where he was serving a three-year jail term, and he was slapped with six years behind bars.

Her Worship Esther Murungi said the convict would have to serve his earlier sentence and then do three more years in jail for theft of Kyabire and Mwesigye’s bananas in Ibanda.

Complainant reaction

Kyabire welcomed the sentence, saying it will send a clear warning to other people that want to reap where they never sowed.

He however urged them to stay on guard in case there are other thieves still at large.  

The Ibanda District LC V chairperson, Happy Herbert Mayanja has threatened
to stage a peaceful demonstration should the Government through Uganda
National Roads Authority (UNRA) delay to work on Ibanda-Kagongo-Kitagwenda road
which is in a sorry state.

Speaking to our reporter, Happy Herbert Mayanja said that recently he
wanted to work on the road using District graders but unfortunately
UNRA threatened to arrest him and his team.

He added that currently the road in question is a threat to pregnant
mothers from different areas that use it to access antenatal services
from Ibanda Hospital.

Mayanja further urged the area members of parliament to work hand in hand with
the Minister for works and transport, Gen Katumba Wamala to make sure that the road is
worked on or else he will continue with the peaceful demonstration.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak has been confirmed in Mbarara district after confirming one case.

The development was confirmed by the Mbarara Resident District Commissioner, Emmy Katera Turyabagyenyi who revealed that the case was found on Mungonya’s farm in Rubaya Sub-county.

The RDC added that Mbarara as a district, has collaborated with Kiruhura district local government to close Kyenshama cattle market in order to contain the outbreak.

This comes barely one week after the Outbreak of Foot and mouth disease was reported in Kazo and Kiruhura districts.

Bushenyi district has officially launched Parish Development Model revolving fund worth UGX1.9billion to 1195 beneficiaries across the 39 Saccos.

While launching the program, Gordon Tumuhimbise, the Bushenyi District production officer who doubles as the PDM focal person revealed that Bushenyi district is composed of 56 parishes with 54,000 households.

Tumuhimbise noted that 6,600 people are currently living below the poverty line representing 12% of the population and they were selected to benefit from the PDM program and each Sacco received UGX 33m.

Raphael Magyezi, the Minister of local government who officiated the launch warned government workers or well-off people against getting involved in this program saying it is targeting low income earners.

Magyezi also urged leaders to read the beneficiaries on air to enable communities to identify who the right beneficiaries are compared to the selected list.

Jovline Kalisa Kyomukama, the national PDM coordinator urged beneficiaries to treat the PDM program as business if they are to be successful.

“If you get problems after receiving the money, you should not go into hiding, rather you should report to the Sacco leaders and the parish chief to handle the matter with the district technical committee,” said Kalisa.

Jafari Basajjabalaba, the chairman LC V Bushenyi hailed government for allowing people to access the money saying they were almost loosing hopes about the money due to its delay.

Authorities and veterinary staff in Ibanda district have called for vigilance among livestock owners and residents following the confirmation of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Kazo and Kiruhura districts.

Dr Hilary Arinaitwe, Ibanda district veterinary officer (DVO) said all parish chiefs and local leaders across the district, especially in sub-counties and town councils bordering Kiruhura and Kazo have been alerted as a preventative measure to deter spread of the contagious viral disease. He also urged farmers and the general public to cooperate with veterinary officers in their localities to fight the spread of FMD into the district.

The DVO said this seeks to protect businesses and people whose livelihoods depend on livestock production and related activities and services.

The viral disease affects cloven hoofed livestock and wildlife including cattle, goats, pigs, sheep and buffalos.

Cases of FMD have been confirmed in Buremba sub-county in Kazo and Kikatsi and Rwenshande sub-counties in Kiruhura district.

It should be noted that during the 2021 FMD outbreak the economies in the three districts were hard hit as livestock markets were closed and trade in livestock and livestock-related products banned following quarantines that were enforced for a long spell.

FMD Vaccination

Dr Arinaitwe revealed that the district has 6500 doses of anti-FMD vaccines and has started vaccinating animals in Keihangara, Kikyenke, and Nyamarebe sub-counties, as well as Rushango and Kanyarugiri town councils, and Bisheshe Division in Ibanda Municipality, which border with Kazo or Kiruhura districts.

According to the records, Ibanda has an estimated 50,000 heads of cattle, with sheep at about 30,000, while goats are in the region of 80,000 and 40,000 pigs.