Day

By Our Reporter

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MOGADISHU-The Ministry of Health of Somalia has announced 55 new suspected cases of cholera, with no deaths, for epidemiological week 20 (13 to 19 May) in 2019.

No suspected cholera cases were reported between epidemiological weeks 1 and 7 due to the closure of main cholera treatment center, from which the data is collected. The cumulative total number of suspected cholera cases since the beginning of this outbreak in December 2017 is 7290, including 46 associated deaths.

During this reporting period from February 19 May 2019, all of the cases were reported from 16 districts in Banadir region. Of the 55 cases reported during week 20, 65% of the cases (24) are children below 5 years of age.

The cholera outbreak has been contained in the districts of Jubaland, Hirshabelle and South West States following the implementation of oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaigns and other health interventions in these areas.

However, the active transmission is still being reported in Banadir region (Darkenly, Daynile, Hodan, Madina, Hamarjabjab, HamarWeine, Howlwadag, Bondere, Kahda, Waberi, and Warta nabada).

Since the beginning of 2019, 153 stool samples have been collected and tested in the National Public Health Laboratory in Mogadishu. During this reporting period, 11 cases were confirmed for Vibrio cholerae, serotype O1 Ogawa by culture.

WHO and the Ministry of Health continue to monitor outbreak trends through the EWARN system and promptly investigate and respond to all alerts.

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By Our Reporter

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In Kampala

A whistle blower has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga to ban parliament’s new Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) from re-investigating Bank of Uganda especially over Shs478 billion that the central bank officials failed to account during the first probe carried out under Abdu Katuntu as chairperson.

The Committee chairman Mubarak Munyagwa re-opened the probe into BoU’s closure of Crane Bank Limited (CBL) early this week, which was closed on October 20, 2016 and put in receivership until January 25, 2017 when the central bank transferred some of its assets and liabilities to Dfcu bank at a paltry Shs200 billion, despite the central bank claiming they injected in CBL Shs478 billion as liquidity support during the receivership.

Unfortunately BoU officials as established in the first probe failed to account for about Shs320 billion of that money as presented by the Auditor General.

Munyagwa allowed in parliament Deputy Governor Louis Kasekende On Tuesday, asking him about the auditing of BoU’s accounts.

He also sent him back to bring accounting documents after BoU failed to account for billions of shillings injected into CBL and blow. The fist COSASE did this work very well to the extent of faulting BoU for poor recording keeping as some documents could not be traced.

Watchers say MP Munyagwa is trying to play on the minds of fellow legislators, to give Dr. Kasekende a chance to table accountability of Shs478 billion which BoU failed to account for during Katuntu’s probe that begin late October 2018 and ended in February 2019, with Katuntu presenting a report of the probe to parliament .

Since the Katuntu report was Okayed by MPs, some BoU officials have been working hard to cover their guilt as exposed by the first Cosase probe that let Ugandans to know how incompetent BoU managers were, and how carelessly closed CBL and six other banks.

At the time CBL was closed it only needed Shs150 billion to remain afloat according to Ben Sekabira, a senior manager at BoU.

In his petition to Kadaga dated May 29, 2019, the whistleblower argues that the first committee had interaction with the BoU top officials from which observations and recommendations were made, and are awaiting corrective actions to be taken. He is surprised that Munyagwa wants to push back the process especially as regards Shs478 billion mismanaged.

“It’s our humble appeal that you direct your committee to concentrate on other institutions other than interfering with the previous Committee observations and recommendations than wasting tax payers’ money on a single institution,” he says.

The whistleblower also requested Kadaga to stop the Sub Committee selected by Cosase from interfering with BoU operations before a treasury memorandum is laid before parliament.

“Rt. Hon Speaker, we request urgent action and guidance of your committee saves tax payers money and embarrassment of the Institution of Parliament.” he says.

General John Muwanga declined to do another audit of Shs478 billion at the request of BoU Deputy Governor Kasekende. Muwanga declined to a second because BoU officials in the first audit failed to present to him all documents related to the use of the money they claim was transferred to CBL in receivership.

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By Our Reporter

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In Kampala-

The government has declared Wednesday, June 5 a national public holiday in recognition of Eid Al Fitr as celebrated by Muslims in the country and other parts of the world.

In a notice from the ministry of Public Service, the government gives a reason for a public holiday as an opportunity for Muslims to mark the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan

“The Honorable Minister of Public Service informs the general public that Wednesday 5th June is Eid Al Fitr,” reads the statement issued by Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire the PS public service ministry.

She added that the day will be observed as a public holiday throughout Uganda asking the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and National Guidance to relay the information on the state-run channel, the UBC.

Eid al-Fitr means “festival of breaking the fast” and marks the end of Ramadan. Eid is an official holiday in all Muslim-majority countries, but the number of days varies by country.

Muslims across the world begin Eid day celebrations by partaking in the yearly prayer service that takes place shortly after dawn.

This is preceded by the giving of alms to the poor, or Zakat, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.

It is common for the capitals of Muslim majority countries to decorate their cities with festive lights and hold carnivals to commemorate the end of the holy month, with children dressed in new clothes, offered gifts and money to celebrate the joyous occasion.

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By Joel Kaguta

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In kasese

The government of Uganda announced plans of rehabilitating the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training Institute in Kasese district into a center of excellence for wildlife and training in Africa.

Professor Ephraim Kamuntu, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, confirmed that the ministry will soon conduct a feasibility study for rehabilitation of the Institute located in Katwe Kabatoro Town Council.

He said that this will guide government to determine what kind of research and the form of infrastructure to be erected at the only training institute in the country.

According to the minister, government is already negotiating with World Bank to provide funds that would be used to finance the project as a center of excellence at a tune of 7.5million USD equivalent to ugx21bn.

He noted that part of the money will be earmarked for the completion of a modern infrastructures, equipment and staff capacity development in addition to realizing research function of the institute.

“There is no way you are going to teach and train these students out here if the teachers are not trained sufficiently, we must have the best staff here, because if you want to educate others, you must be educated first”, Kamuntu said.

Kamuntu said that after completion, the institute would transform and become a self sustaining center of excellence, to carryout wildlife research and train Ugandans.

He disclosed that the governing council for the institute chaired by Dr. Arthur Mugisha and the ministry have already identified and agreed to collaboratively work with a number of prestigious universities from within and abroad to always guide the institute.

Professor Kamuntu also said that the two offices have signed memorandum of understanding with Kent State University in the US, Makerere, Kyambogo and Mbarara universities specifically to help the institute on research among others.

 “Once the research arm of the institute is fully functional and training capacity is upgraded, the institute will meaningfully contribute to finding solutions to the complex conservation challenges that include human wild” Kamuntu adds.

He was on Friday presiding over the 9^th graduation ceremony of 208 grandaunts at the institution’s playground in Katwe Kabatoro Town Council.

He said that government already committed transforms the institute because of the key role it ought to play in tourism industry, urging the graduates to be innovative in order to achieve a strong human resource base.

According to Kamuntu, tourism which is based on natural endowment is the leading foreign exchange earner for this country, earning more than 1.4 billion dollars much more than the traditional exports of coffee cotton, tea and tobacco. 23.5 percent of total export of Uganda comes from tourism, creating jobs for more than 3000 people under Uganda Wildlife Authority.

He therefore challenged leaders to sensitize the communities neighboring game reserves in the country to refrain from poaching because animal and human populations are all increasing amidst land being fixed.

The institution’s Chairperson for the Governing Council, Dr. Arthur Mugisha also did not hide his happiness about the funds.

Mr. Mugisha said that the institution would observe the need to scrutinize thoroughly while admitting new students together with dedicated teaching staff to produce good quality of researchers and professionals.

“There is a lot to do as far as the development of tourism as sector but more importantly wildlife because the enhancement of the resources cannot survive unless the people have knowledge”, Mr. Mugisha stresses.

Bwambale who was awarded with a diploma disclosed that the institute still lacks equipment including binoculars, wide lenses and research component to enable the learners to graduate as the people with solutions to wildlife related challenges.

Robert Baluku, the Institution’s Principal, said that government has so far spent at least ugx2bns in terms of infrastructures. He is optimistic that the additional funds will enable the institute to solve some of the operational problems met by the instructors.

By Allan Mugabe

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In Kisoro

Police in Kisoro district are investigating circumstances under which fire lit and gutted people’s properties worth unspecified amount of money.

According to police, the fire broke out on Friday morning at around 2:00 am from the corridor of two kiosks that belong to Robert Twishimye and Charles Kyakabare at Kyanika trading centre Kyanika boarder Kisoro district, destroying 12 wooden kiosks and all the merchandise therein to ashes.

The Kigezi region police spokesperson Elly Maate said that the other burnt kiosks and merchandise belonged to Innocent Niyonzima, Alisen Nsenga, Rogers Mbabazi, Emmanuel Sebirembo, Geoffrey, Rwanika and Ivan Kiiza.

Maate added that according to eye witnesses, a stranger was sighted in the burnt kiosks at around 11:30 pm, the kiosk owners tried to follow him up but the stranger disappeared from them.

The victims and witnesses said that they took it lightly and went back in their kiosks and slept only to realize the fire shortly after.

“No suspect has so far been arrested in connection to the incident as inquiries to establish the cause and motive of the fire are ongoing,” said Maate.

The case has been registered at Kyanika police under file reference number SD 02/31/05/2019.

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Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106