Police in Mbarara have mounted a search for three people who went missing after a canoe carrying them capsized while crossing River Rwizi on Monday evening.

Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi region Police Spokesperson, identified the missing persons as Rukundo Amutuhaire, a 19-year-old student, Timothy Kakuru, a 23-year-old medical lab student, Lozio alias Rastaman, who was the owner of the canoe.

Willy Musa, a 33-year-old resident of Nyakaizi, is the only survivor.    

It is alleged that the canoe was hit by water waves, causing it to capsize.   

Kasasira noted that the directorate of Fire Prevention and Rescue Services, and Marine police are searching for the missing persons with hopes of finding them as they maintain the deployment along the river.

He also warned the residents against using a canoe on the river as water levels remain high. 

Assy Abireeba Tumwesigire , the Mbarara City Clerk, said that the bridges were either washed away or destroyed by the rains, and the council has submitted these concerns to the Ministry of Works to come to their rescue and construct the bridge. 

Police in Buhweju District are investigating circumstances under which a 22-year-old man was stabbed to death by un known people.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson identified the deceased as Innocent Nuwagaba 22, a farmer and resident of Kitoke Ward, Nyakaziba town council in Buhweju District.

Tumusiime said preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was yesterday stabbed by a group of people accusing him of having an affair with a girl.

His body was taken to Nsiika HC IV for Postmortem examination and results showed that he was stabbed on the left part of the chest.

The Mbarara Catholic Archdiocese Archbishop, His Grace Rev Fr Lambert Bainomugisha has challenged students, teachers and community members to expound on causes of indiscipline.

Speaking during the function to open and consecrate the Pope John Paul II Chapel at Ntungamo high school in Ntungamo town, Fr Bainomugisha argued that they are simply looking at its surface as violence and noncompliance, ignoring its broad picture which is eroding the nation’s reputation.

He said indiscipline is showed through the way people drive recklessly on the road, how people are impatient, how they talk to others, in church and banks no one is patient to wait for service without looking at the phone, taking photos, recording voices without self-restraint in the public.

Fr Bainomugisha challenged the students to follow four pillars of Faith, skills, hard work and discipline as anchors of their life other than enjoying a luxurious and empty life.

The Prelate said schools need to start teaching students their mother languages to identify with their heritage.

The archbishop also confirmed 81 students of the school and the neighboring Little Angels primary school.

The Ntungamo resident district commissioner, Geoffrey Mucunguzi appreciated the archbishop’s words saying indeed the government needs to listen and implement such demands as they mean well to the heritage of the country.

Residents from Nyakaizi ward in Mbarara City south on Tuesday held a demonstration over the dangerous state of Kanyeite Bridge.

Kanyeite Bridge connects Nyakaizi in the former Kakoba division to Karugangama in Katete former Nyamitanga division and is the main link between Karugangama and Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara city and Isingiro district.

The bridge offers the shortest route to Masha Sub-County in Isingiro district for hundreds of school-going children, university students, vendors, most especially milk dealers, all use the bridge daily, and risk drowning.

Michael Arinaitwe, a resident of Kakoba said the state of the bridge is disturbing and makes the area appear not to be in the city.

He added that some of the students from Bishop Stuart University who have been renting in the area have relocated to other areas for fear of risking their lives.

A section of residents, who spoke to our reporter, noted that the bridge is very essential as it connects the area to Mbarara city central business district.

When contacted about the matter, Mbarara city Mayor, Robert Kakyebezi advised residents to stop using the bridge at the moment as it might endanger their lives adding that the issue was forwarded to the ministry of works and transport they are also waiting for the response.

Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of the joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has hailed the government of Uganda for its concerted effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS. 

In her remarks at the recently concluded 98th Rotary district conference in Mbarara City, Byanyima said the government has tremendously contributed to the HIV awareness and increased testing in the face of severe challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

She also observed that there has been increased testing and reduced new HIV infections since the introduction of the presidential fast track initiative on ending HIV & AIDS in Uganda by 2030.

Some of the guests pose for a photo during the 98th Rotary District Conference in Mbarara City. (Courtesy Photo)

Robert Kanusu, the Deputy Resident city commissioner Mbarara city north division commended Rotary club for helping out communities in need.

Peace Taremwa, the district governor for Rotary Uganda noted that in their five-year-plan, they want to focus on environmental protection.

The Kasi Fabian, the managing director centenary bank, one of the sponsors of the 98^th district assembly conference  said they do the various activities with the intention of helping people in the communities.

Micheal mukasa, the chief finance officer Roke telecom noted that they will keep supporting the activities of the rotary club.

Sheema district inspector of Schools, Ssempa Muzafaru has vowed to scrap drunkard teachers in the district from payroll for failure to perform their duties.

Ssempa made the remarks while meeting primary Head teachers in the district for a meeting at district headquarters, intended to forge a way forward on how to improve pupil’s performance in the coming PLE exams.

He noted that some teachers spend most of their time in bars and fail to teach pupils which he says may lead to poor performance in the district. 

Mujurizi Charles, the Sheema district UNATU chairperson said as teachers, leaders they condemn the habit of alcohol abuse and asked teachers to stop it.

Residents of Nyaruzinga and Nyadozo in Bumbaire sub-county Bushenyi district have staged a demonstration by planting bananas in the middle of the road protesting the sorry state of Nyaruzinga-Bumbaire road.

Residents say that the most affected part is at border of Bushenyi Ishaka municipality and Bumbaire in Nyaruzinga Swamp where the culverts were washed away by the water.

Residents said they have on several occasions talked to leaders about state of road but have kept deaf ears and now over 5 vehicles were stuck in the road and they decided to plant bananas in the middle of the road to show their disappointment. 

Jafari Basajjabalaba, the Bushenyi LC V chairperson apologized for delay but promised that the road will be worked upon staring next week.

Basajjabalaba said that more roads are impassible attributing the challenges to budget cuts on road funds noting that since government has increased money for road fund, they are going to work on the road immediately as an emergency.

The Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality Member of Parliament, Derrick Kabuura has implored parents to invest in educating their children in order to transform their communities.

Kabuura noted that education is only way to eliminate wrong doers which will enable the upbringing of responsible citizens.

He made the remarks during the fundraising for the construction of the head teacher’s house and renovation of Rwatukwire primary school held at school premises in central division Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality.

Rev Didas Natweta, All Saints Greater Archdeacon asked the organizers, PTA and school administration to do the work expected and ensure accountability of people’s money as a way to inspire them to continue supporting the school.

John Nkamwehanga, the school head teacher said that the school’s structure got destroyed as a result of being incomplete and with this support raised; it is guaranteed that the school will be renovated.

Shilton Naturinda, the chairman organizing committee said that they have achieved their target and assured parents and well wishers that the money raised will be put to proper use.

The Mbarara district Khadi, Sheikh Abdallah Mukwaya has cautioned Muslims against indulging in habits like alcoholism and fornication following the end of the fasting season.

Mukwaya made the remarks while addressing hundreds of Muslims during Eid-al-fitr prayers held at Nyamitanga mosque in Mbarara City.

He said the majority of Muslims always resort to bad habits after the fasting season instead of repenting.

At Global High School where hundreds of Muslims gathered for Eid-al-Fitr prayers, Abdul Fatar Isaac, the Imam Abubakar Jamia mosque asked the leadership of Mbarara city council to address the imbalance in job allocation.

He said that recently, Mbarara city service commission shortlisted ninety names for different job slots at Mbarara City council but surprisingly no Muslim made it to the list.

Addressing Muslims at Global High School, Robert Mugabe kakyebezi, the mayor Mbarara city revealed that due to public outcry over the allocation of jobs by the city service commission, he suspended the recruitment process following corruption tendencies by some actors on the commission.

Kakyebezi also asked Muslims to maintain the purity they gained during the month of Ramadan.