The National Union of Women with Disabilities of Uganda (NUWODU) has donated 10 wheelchairs to selected young female disabled able children in Bushenyi district.

NUWODU is a non-governmental organization that aims at advocating for equal rights and treatment of women living with disabilities in Uganda.

Speaking at the handing over event held at Bushenyi district multipurpose Hall, Justine Burisadi the Bushenyi district coordinator of women living with disabilities urged parents of children with disability to take good caring of their children.

“Give them equal rights and treatment as other children as this will empower them in their living,” said Burisadi.

Eunice Asiimwe, the national coordinator for women living with disabilities in western uganda said as NUWODU, they lobby for the maligned young and old women with disability, advocate for education sponsorship from partners and impart economic knowledge to them under the slogan disability is not inability.

Asiimwe asked parents of children with disability who received the wheelchairs to use them help the needy vulnerable children access school, market, church as well as taking good care of them.

At the same event the deputy RDC Rosemary Atuhaire appreciated NUWODU for giving out the wheelchairs to the young women living with disability in Bushenyi.

She asked parents to educate their children regardless whether disabled or not where she assured them that NRM government have given full support to people living with disability, giving them financial assistance through different government programs like PDM and Emyooga and many others.

Civil Society Organizations have expressed fear over the increased over-aged pupils in primary schools in Sheema district.

Rodgers Mugisha, the programs director Assessment of Lifeskills and Values in East Africa (ALiVE) made the observation during a one-day workshop for Uwezo and other partners which was aimed at increasing awareness of students on moral behavior and question-answering while at school and in their homes.

Mugisha revealed that 67% of Sheema district students who are 13-17 years are still in primary schools which he says may increase school dropouts especially in girls.

Jemimah Buhanda, the Sheema district chairperson, challenged parents to respect their neighbors as this will make their children learn from them.

Zipporah Nshemereirwe, the Sheema municipality education officer, noted that the government has introduced a new curriculum which will help students improve their skills at an early stage.

The Rwampara district woman Member of Parliament, Molly Asiimwe in conjunction with Nile Humanitarian Development Agency have provided a consignment of relief items to support the families affected by a hailstorm that hit some areas of Ndeija Sub-county in Rwampara district.

Over 500 families in this specific area that were hit by the deadly hailstorm received the relief items that include salt, sugar, rice, and posho among others.

Asiimwe who delivered the consignment through her political assistant, Centenary Mbamwiine said that although she has given the support of the relief to the affected families, she feels it is not enough.

Mbamwiine also requested families that received the relief items to use them accordingly other than exchanging them for money.

The residents praised the woman Member of Parliament, Molly Asiimwe for remembering them during this critical moment.

Residents neighbouring Karinju, Kasyoha Kitomi and Imaramagambo natural forests have blamed the security personnel for conniving with encroachers to destroy the natural forest.

Speaking at a one-day workshop organized by Anti -corruption coalition in partnership with Worldwide Fund for Nature, participants said that security personnel have kept deaf ears to encroachers even when they report to them, no action is taken.

Didas Amanya, one of the participants pined officials from the National Forestry Authority saying rangers who are manning the forests are protecting wrong doers and when they report to authorities, the officials start threatening to shoot them.

While closing the workshop, Robert Atuhairwe, the RDC Bushenyi district admitted that there is a security gap in manning and reserving the forest saying as the security committee in the district have already requested the UPDF to boost the manpower and improve security on the Forest.

Statistics showed that over 1580 hectares were destroyed in Karinju Kasyoha Kitomi forest.

In a bid to prevent the spread of non-communicable diseases, Uganda Cancer Society in partnership with Ministry of Health have embarked on a 3-year sensitization and advocacy campaign dubbed the Uganda Blue Print for Innovative Healthcare Access Program in 3 districts in Ankole region.

Speaking to stakeholders at Bushenyi district headquarters, Denis Olodi, the Executive Director of the Uganda Cancer Society said that they are targeting to equip communities with knowledge to fight against non-communicable diseases.

Olodi said that non-communicable diseases are on the rise because people are still considering them as witchcraft and by the time of they are detected, it is too late to be treated with some people even labeling them as diseases of rich people.

Dr Edward Mwesigye, the Bushenyi district health officer urged people to change on their eating habits saying non-communicable like diabetes and cancer are food related illnesses.

This program will run in Bushenyi, Mbarara and Sheema districts.

Authorities in Bushenyi district have expressed concern about a sharp rise in malaria cases in Igara west constituency.

Speaking to journalists, the district health inspector, Gregory Tushabe noted that malaria cases are on the rise among children 6-10 years compared to past years where it was so rampant in children below 5years and pregnant mothers.

He attributed this change to people’s failure to adhere to preventive measures designed by ministry of health like sleeping under the treated mosquito nets, clearing of bushes and stagnant water around homes among others.

Wilber Arinaitwe, the malaria focal person in Bushenyi district however attributed the challenge to people waiting for the government to provide new treated mosquito nets saying the old ones are no longer able to kill the mosquitoes.

Arinaitwe said seven out of every 10 patients in the Kashabya health center III, Bitooma health center III and Kyamuhunga health center III test positive for malaria.

One person has been confirmed dead and two others critically injured in a fatal accident that happened today along Kagamba-Kitagata road.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the incident and identified  the deceased as Mareeba Deogratious,48, a resident of Rukungiri district while the two injured passengers were Yolanda Gumisiriza and another yet-to-be identified woman.

Tumusiime said the accident involved a Bajaj Boxer REG No.UFU 582E whose rider lost control; the motorcycle overturned and killed the rider on spot.

Tumusiime attributed the accident to over speeding and reckless riding.

The body of the deceased has been taken to Kitagata hospital mortuary for postmortem and both the injured victims are currently admitted at Mbarara regional referral hospital.

Police in Mitooma have arrested a 36-year-old man for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl.

Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson confirmed the development and identified  the suspect as Ambrose Ashaba, a business man and resident of Katwe cell, Kigarama Parish, Bitereko sub-county in Mitooma district.

It is alleged that on 31^st March 2023, the victim revealed to her mother, Justine Nabasa, 35 that during the month of January 2023, the victim was defiled by the Ashaba who owns a bar  the area.

On the fateful day, the juvenile was sent by her father to pick him a panga which he left at Ashaba’s bar and upon entering into the bar the suspect closed the door and defiled her and said the suspect has been using her since January.

The victim’s mother then informed the husband, Tugabe Benon who reported the matter to police at Rutookye police station which prompted his arrests.

According to police, investigations into the matter continue.

Town council mayors in Mbarara district have expressed their disappointment over the delay by the central government to release the local revenue collected that amounts to over UGX 500 million.

The concerns come after government introduced the new system in July 2022 named integrated Revenue administration system (IRAS) in all districts for collecting tax.

The concerned town council includes Nyabisirira, Bwizibwera-Rutooma, Rwanyamahembe, Rubindi-Ruhumba and Bucuro.

Chairing the meeting at the district headquarters in Bwizibwera, Patrick Tumuhimbise Bigabwensi, the mayor Bwizibwera-Rutooma town council said that since September 2022 up to date they have never received money from the local revenue collected under IRAS.

Bigabwensi noted that as of now they don’t have a single coin to do any activities in their areas of jurisdiction.

Juliet Nabakoza, the vice chairperson Mbarara district promised to follow up the issue saying that without money services cannot reach the people.

The State minister for Health in charge of general duties Hannifah Kawooya has threatened to sack health workers over indiscipline and lack of professionalism at work which has caused poor health service delivery.

Kawooya said this yesterday while presiding over the Commissioning of Kashozi Health centre III and Kitojo Health centre III in Sheema municipality which were built by the government of Uganda through the Ministry of Health.

Kawooya said that it was discovered that staff absenteeism from workplaces and unprofessional ethics towards patients have greatly affected service delivery.

State minister for Health in charge of general duties Hannifah Kawooya commissioning Kashozi Health Center III newly upgraded from a HC II.

Dickson Kateshumbwa, the Sheema municipality Member of Parliament told the minister that municipality health centers are challenged by understaffing in terms of health workers, delays in receiving drugs from National medical stores and also lack staff quarters at the health facilities which negatively affect the health sector.