Day

By our reporter
www.mknewslink.com
In Kampala
The Minister for Water and Environment Sam Cheptoris has inaugurated four new NWSC Board members at the NWSC IREC building in Bugolobi.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Cheptoris expressed joy towards the excellent service delivery levels and the management of NWSC.
“I’m extremely happy with the performance of NWSC and i appreciate the strategic guidance the previous board has offered to the management team. I implore you to work towards serving more Ugandans as we work towards access to safe water for all.” he said
He called upon the new board members to use the previous success stories of the outgoing board as a foundation for exemplary performance and new frontiers at the corporation.
“Nothing was illegal about the recruitment process of the new board members as I have read in some media reports. The term of the chairperson and Vice Chair are still running until mid this year. We followed a very rigorous vetting process to select the other new board members.” he said

NWSC Board chairman Dr.Eng Christopher Ebal welcomed the new board members. He appreciated the Minister for exercising his mandate under the water act to constitute new board members for business continuity at NWSC.
On behalf of the board, he reiterated their commitment to provide policy and strategic guidance to NWSC management.
Eng Ebal called upon the new Board of Directors to accustom themselves with the legal framework, exercise team work, tolerance, equitable and inclusive when implementing policies, efficient and effective in their mandate.
NWSC MD Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha applauded the previous board for the strategic leadership, oversight and policies that enabled the corporation achieve the following in the last 5 years; increased connections from 270, 000 customers to 650, 000, increased turn over from 150B to 445B, NWSC used to extend 80kms of water mains each F/Y. The company now lays 2800kms per year; surplus for reinvestment has increased from 38B to now 96B, total network length was 6500kms. It is now 18000kms, asset base from 650B to now 3.1Trillion.
According to Dr. Silver, the NWSC act mandates the board as a policy making body of NWSC which provides oversight to the MD and the management team.
He shared that the outgoing board in quorum approved the corporate plan, Strategic Direction, Budgets; Performance contracts with GoU among other policy documents which have enabled the corporation achieve exceptional results.
“Service Delivery is a moving target! As we implement projects, the populations keep growing and as hence demand for services.
The corporation is working towards 100% access to clean water and sewerage services for all, significantly contribute towards protection of the environment and CSR initiatives.” he added
The NWSC Board of Directors are;Board Chairman Dr.Eng Christopher Ebal, Vice Chair- Ms Ruth Kanyarunju, Rt. Col Stephen Mwesige Basaliza- Board Member,Onyiru Sarah- Board Member, Runge George Muzungyo- Board Member,Racheal Kiconco Mbabazi,Ms Faridah Mpiima Mayanja-Board Member, Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha- MD, Edith Kateete- Deputy Managing Director Board Affairs/Corporation Secretary.

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By Yosam Gucwaki

www.mknewslink.com

In Masindi

Cosmas Byaruhanga , the Masindi district LCV chairperson and his brother Fred Bahemuka have been dragged to court for fraudulently acquiring over 20 acres of land from one William Bitamazire a resident of Balyeijukira Village in Bwijanga Sub County Masindi district.

According to Bitamazire, the duo rented 8 acres of land in 2014 with the aim of planting sugar cane for three harvests at a fee of 5 million Uganda shillings and the contract was to expire in 2017.

Bitamazire adds that when their contract expired in 2017 the duo refused to vacate the land. He also adds that by that time he had acquired a loan worth 5 million Uganda shillings from centenary bank and he had mortgaged 16 acres part of the land he had rented out to the Cosmas Byaruhanga and his brother.

He says he cleared the loan in 2017 and there is no one demanding him at all adding that he is wondering to see  his 16 acres of land and more 8 acres being bought by Cosmas Byaruhanga and his brother Fred Bahemuka.

He also accuses Byaruhanga of conniving with centenary bank to also attach other 8 acres of land which was not part of the land he rented out to Byaruhanga nor the land he mortgaged to centenary bank.

He explains that in April 2019 he sued Masindi centenary bank Masindi branch for illegally selling his land measuring 24 million at a fee of 20 million without his knowledge and yet he had no debt with them.

According to the land sale agreement seen by our reporter, Centenary sold the land with all the developments including the house mortgaged by William Bitamazire to pay the outstanding loan arrears which had accrued from the 5 million loan he had acquired from centenary bank Masindi.

But Bitamazire maintains that the 8 acres of land which was included on the 16 acres he mortgaged in centenary bank was not part of it. He says that was where his house was and his gardens.

He says right now he has nowhere to sleep, he has no food and yet he has a family of over 20 people.  He also explains that his 2 acres of banana plantation were destroyed and his residential house demolished.

He adds that through his lawyers of Luzige,Lubega Kavuma & CO Advocates dragged  Cosmas Byaruhanga, his brother and centenary bank to court in March 2019 such that court could compel them  return his 24 acres of land which were acquired fraudulently also pay the losses he has gone through.

Biatamizire adds that in in October last year Masindi grade 1 magistrate first referred the matter for mediation but it never materialized since Cosmas Byaruhanga and his team never turned up.

Today the case was supposed to take off at Masindi grade one’s court but it never preceded since the magistrate wasn’t around. The clerk told the two parties to come back to court on the 17^th oMarch 2020.

When contacted the LCV chairperson Masindi district Cosmas Byaruhanga explained that he is an innocent man but what he knows is that his brother bought land which was in the bank.

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By Sylvia Kugonza

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In Fort portal

A body of a 33 year old has today morning been discovered floating on River Mugunu in Kisenyi Fort Portal municipality Kabarole district.

The deceased identified as Wilson Kyaligonza resident of Kiyombya Nyamiseke Bunyangabu district has been a casual laborer along Magambo Street Fort portal municipality.

The deceased was seen floating at around 7am by the residents who were passing by then tipped off the police.

According to Lydia Tumushabe the Rwenzori region Police spokesperson, the cause of the death is not yet known as Police carryout their investigations.

The body has been taken to Fort portal regional referral hospital for post mortem.

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Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106

By our reporter

www.mknewslink.com

In Ntungamo

The Ntungamo District speaker Elijah Atuhaire has today morning been sprayed with pepper by the unknown assailants who forced their way into his office at the district head quarters.

It’s alleged that two youths attacked speaker Atuhaire when he had just entered the office for the official duties to prepare for the council meeting that was scheduled for 11 am today.

According to Atuhaire, two people opened the door of the office swiftly and started spraying pepper and that’s when he lost the sight.

The speaker claimed that it is nothing else but a political attack after announcing to stand as district chairperson in forthcoming general elections 2021 with his former ally the district chairperson Dennis Singahache.

The drama came after the allegations that councilors are planning to table the motion aimed at impeaching the District chairperson Dennis Singahache from the office citing nepotism and corruption in the district.

The Rweikiniro sub county councilor Mupenzi Ashel condemned the act and blamed it on the rival, the district chairperson because he anticipated the censure motion in the council today.

The councilor for Nyarutuuntu and Ntungamo sub counties Naboth Mpireirwe alleged that the move was planned by the district chairperson son in law Joga Bright the town clerk Nyakyeera town council and the young brother Kazoora Venanciao the senior accountant Rubaare Town council.

When contacted on their known telephone numbers, they were off at the time of press.

However, the DPC Ntungamo, Katwesiime Damian when contacted said that two people from Rutunguru village Karagama town council Kajara County have been arrested for interrogation to ascertain their motive but he could not reveal the details.

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Tel: +256702680106

By Felix Twinomugisha

www.mknewslink.com

In Mitooma

Mitooma district council has appointed a three-man committee to investigate the alleged corruption charges against the Kanshenshero town clerk.

Arthur Nzeyimana was interdicted in December last year after he was accused of allegedly mismanaging shs.38m from the road fund.

Silvester Tumukurate, the Acting chairperson Mitooma district confirmed the interdiction and the setting up of the committee to investigate the allegations against the town clerk.

He said that the committee will investigate among other issues the alleged removal of the town engineer as signatory on the road funds account, the double receipt of released funds, failure to pay Ex- glacial to local council one chairpersons, and failure to show accountability for the financial year 2017/18.

Tumukurate said that the committee will take fourteen weeks to give back the report.

Nzeyimana blamed his interdiction and accusations on some civil servants he never mentioned who missed working for over fifteen days and connived with councilors that turned the issue tribal.

When our reporter contacted the chief Administration officer for a comment he refused to speak to us.

This is not the first time Mitooma district officials are interdicted and arrested over corruption, Last year three Mitooma District officials including the principal personnel in charge of district Service commission Amon Byamugisha was arrested by Mitooma police as he started his work in his office on charges of corruption and he later pleaded guilty.

Others were Saverino Beyendeza, the District Community Development Officer, Sarah Kiconco Community Development Officer Katenga Sub County were also arrested by the IGG’s office.

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By Our reporter

www.mknewslink.com

In Kampala

The outgoing Deputy Governor of Bank of Uganda Louis Kasekende had a hard time on Friday as he exited his office at BoU at the end of his contract.

According to sources from BoU, after cleaning his office of any personal belongings, Dr. Kasekende called one of his body guards and handed him a bag containing ‘personal’ documents but what was termed as personal documents were two critical files relating to some undertakings involving BoU and one of the files relates to the Office of Prime Minister (OPM) which saw the former Principal Accountant, Godfrey Kazinda imprisoned.

BoU and Ministry of Finance were heavily implicated in that scam. The second file is reported to be involving a scam to do with compensation in which BoU was put on spotlight.

However, as the body guard walked out on the second floor of the building, security asked him to search the luggage which he surrendered. As they opened the bag, the VVIP police detectives landed on the documents hence retaining the officer before calling the director security.

As the scuff ensued, Kasekende’s guard alerted his boss about the incident to which he responded fast and asked why his bag had been opened, the director security interjected and informed him about the security details of the bank.

However, it is said Kasekende couldn’t take any of the directives as he demanded that the two files taken away from him be returned. “He shouted at director in charge of security as if he is child as other staff looked on but we realized he was annoyed that his contract hadn’t been renewed nor extended”. The source said.

According to security replayed CCTV cameras from the point when Kasekende gave the body guard the luggage up to the security point at exit , the files had been inserted into bag by Dr. Kasekende himself. Security retained the two files before they handed over the other documents to his guard to proceed his way out of the bank.

Executive Director/Executive Assistant to the Governor Bank of Uganda Ms Joyce Okello, wife to State Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of International Relations, Okello Oryem is one such person Kasekende will never forget in his life.

Sources at BoU reveal that Kasekende blames all his trouble of not being granted an extension/ renewal to Ms. Okello to whom it is claimed pushed hard to make sure he doesn’t remain at BoU.

Sources further say that Kasekende alleges that Ms Okello fought out in order to be appointed as his replacement.

Sources further reveal that at one time a fight almost broke out between a clique of senior staff who are pro Kasekende and another which is pro Mutebile/ Okello. The pro Kasekende clique that had some elements of disgruntled staff who were aligned to former Executive Director in charge of Supervision Justice Bagyenda wanted to rough up Ms Okello claiming she is responsible for misguiding the governor and sidelining Kasekende from getting information from his boss.

Kasekende tried without any success to have his contract renewed. He first sent former Minister of Finance, Gerald Ssendaula and other clerics to meet President Yoweri Museveni at his country home in Rwakitura with a view of requesting him to extend it. Subsequently he turned to Mr. Keith Muhakanizi, the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Minister Matia Kasaija persuading them to prevail upon President Museveni to have his contract renewed but the two didn’t do much as they feared it would backfire.

However, with no response, Kasekende shifted his lobbying to a top Catholic prelate in Kampala but the presidency handlers refused to enlist him with Kasekende for a meeting because their agenda wasn’t clear. Towards the second week of January, he allegedly tried the Vice Presidency but it did not yield fruits before he was crafted by two city lawyers to have him meet the Kabaka of Buganda so as to use the royal family lobby for him but his contract came to an end before any of the schemes could yield fruits for him.

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Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106