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.

Officials from the Ministry of Health and Uganda AIDS Commission under the President’s office have made a move to address the increasing HIV infections in Bushenyi district.

According to the records, HIV prevalence in Bushenyi district currently stands at 6.4% and this has surpassed the national prevalence rate which stands at 5.8%. Bushenyi district has an estimated 19,616 people living with HIV, 18,212 people identified with HIV, 17,018 people on ART.

During the midterm review meeting of the National HIV Strategic Plan, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, the chairman of Uganda AIDS Commission under the President’s office implored leaders to use all the available communication avenues to disseminate the information regarding prevention against HIV. 

Nobert Gumisiriza, the Bushenyi district HIV /AIDS network forum attributed the high rate of HIV in the area to health workers who chase people who are willing to have voluntary HIV tests that the testing kits are for only in targeted hotspots. 

Dr Nelson Musoba, the director general Uganda AIDS Commission under President’s office, however, clarified that the commission and the Ministry of Health have limited testing kits for all population urging people to use other preventive measures, like use of condoms before engaging in sex, being faithful to one partner and abstinence among others.

Shock and grief has engulfed residents of Rwampara district after a fresh graduate from Makerere University hanged herself to death.

Clare Arinaitwe, the OC/CID Rwampara confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Flavia Nagasha whose body was on Thursday found by a passer-by, inside Kagarama Daystar Church in Rwampara District.

“Nagasha climbed drums to suspend her body on the roof in the middle of the church where her deceased mother usually led her for prayers,” said Arinaitwe.

Our reporter established that Nagasha recently completed her Bachelors Degree of Business Administration at Makerere University but she was unable to attend the graduation ceremony in February 2023 due to mental disorders and often sought exorcism.

Phionah Nimusiima, a sister to the deceased revealed they had sought different born-again churches to save her life but all in vain.

By press time the body of the deceased had been handed over to her family for burial.