Day

By Aggrey Twesigye

www.mknewslink.com

In Mbarara—

Godfrey Mbetegyerize the Mbarara Resident District Commissioner has expressed worry following the death of two more people who lost the battle to COVID 19 in a space of one week.

While addressing journalists yesterday during the cultural day celebration, Mbetegyerize said that people have become reluctant in as far as observation of COVID 19 SOPs is concerned.

He noted that this week two people both in their late 80s have succumbed to COVID 19 in the areas of Kashari, Mbarara district.

The RDC said that people no longer observe curfew and bars in the district operate normally.

Mbetegyerize is now appealing to the people of Mbarara to ensure strict observance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) before COVID 19 infections intensify.

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Tel: +256702680106

By Innocent Atuganyira

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In Masindi—

Masindi District Local Government is reportedly being investigated by experts from Ministry of health following an increase in maternal deaths in the district.

Reportedly, government health workers in the district have advanced unethical habits like booking patients especially pregnant mothers who need operation in pursue for money, opening the Masindi hospital theatre late at night without the consent of the hospital authorities, extorting of money from patients, absenteeism among others.

The deadly habits are reportedly numerous at Bwijanga Heath Center IV and Masindi Main hospital.

Speaking during her meeting with various district political and technical leaders at the district health boardroom last evening, the Masindi district RDC Rose Kirabira wondered how heath workers have abandoned the ethics of their jobs in pursue for money.

She said that the district is hounding for all unprofessional staff including those who are holding offices with no obliged academic qualifications.

She hinted on how the district has been put under scrutiny over the rising case of mothers dying while giving birth.

However, all the government health workers in the meeting denied extorting money from patients and the other alleged vices.

In his remarks, the district LC V chairman Cosmas Byaruhanga turned furious and warned health workers against taking matters of life lightly.

www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106

By Innocent Atuganyira

www.mknewslink.com

In Masindi—

Chaos yesterday afternoon erupted at the official handover of Imam of Taqwa mosque located along Commercial Street in the heart of Masindi town. This forced the security team to intervene into the matter to calm the situation.

Sheik Yahaya Mugisa the District Khadi Masindi Muslim District explains that last week Imam Swalleh Nkonjo was summoned to appear in the district committee but declined to attend it.

Yahaya told the members that they resolved to suspend the Imam Nkonjo from carrying out his duties at the mosque since he didn’t respond to the letter summoning him to appear in the meeting.

According to Sheik Yahaya, Nkonjo has plans of selling off the building where the mosque is sitting.

“The building belongs to Uganda Muslim Council, and is managed by the Masindi district Muslim Khadi Office, we shall not allow him with the team to grab the Muslim property,” he vowed.

However in his defence, Imam Swalleh Nkonjo said that he has no intentions of selling off the building rather the district Khadi is the one after it for sale.

“They are fighting hard to throw me out of the office so that they can get another Imam whom they can easily deal with to achieve their motives,” Nkonjo.

“I’m ready to resign as long as my followers decide so, but if not I won’t resign because Islamic law doesn’t allow Imam to resign when the followers want him, and with no clear intentions,”Nkonjo said.

Robert Alani the Officer In charge of Operations at Masindi Central Police Station asked for cooperation, and appealed to them to seek for lawful way for changing leadership rather than causing chaos in the area.

The police officer also noted that many worship places have been closed due to such situations, and if they don’t solve their issues on a round table, security will end up closing the mosque

The handover is expected to take place today after Juma at the same mosque, and both parties have called for cooperation, and peaceful handover.

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Tel: +256702680106

By Ambrose Kweronda

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In Kabale—

Security minister Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi has said he owes his life to Hope Kivengere’s courage and loyalty.

Kivengere, President Yoweri Museveni’s longest-serving press secretary died at Nakasero Hospital on October 19 and will be laid to rest in Kabale district on Saturday, October 23.

Her funeral service will be held at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rugarama village, Buhara sub-county in Kabale at 10:00am before her body is lowered into the grave.

Muhwezi, a former bush war fighter, said Kivengere sheltered him at great personal risk during the five-year war that brought them to power in 1986.

“She was willing to risk her life and worse to fight for what she believed in and dedicated her life to her country and its people. She leaves the world a better place than she found it,” he said this Thursday.

“I mourn the loss of my sister, but also the loss of my compatriot and hero. Hope was a principled woman, who fought for truth, justice and freedom,” Muhwezi, who is also the Rujumbura County, tweeted.

Kivengere started out as a teacher, before joining the National Resistance Army/NRM struggle in 1981.

After the war, she worked as the President’s press secretary for 16 years, before moving on to writing his speeches for four years.

She then left the government for the African Mission in Sudan. Her next stop was Somalia, with the African Union Mission in Somalia for five years.

She has also worked with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and was a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa committee of elders, which engages in mediation and election observation.

In an interview in 2019, Kivengere explained how she entered into politics almost by default.

She said she was a lecturer of French at the Institute Public Administration (IPA), which is now Uganda Management Institute when four young men who had delivered arms to the bush were arrested.

“They were detained at Jinja Road Police, right next to IPA, where I had a room. After about three days, they broke out at night. One of them was my cousin, Jim Muhwezi. As they escaped, I think one of them was shot and died on the spot,” she recalled.

“There were gunshots. Jim hid in my room, the other, David Tinyefuza (now David Sejusa), fled. By morning, there were more soldiers around IPA. I disguised him as a woman, he shaved his moustache and I gave him a wig I had never worn. He was wearing a long skirt and a blouse,” Kivengere said.

“The area behind the hostel was clear, so we pushed him through a window on the first floor. A few hours later, I was summoned and detained at Jinja Road Police for about a week, then transferred to Central Police Station. After that, I went to court and was released,” She recollected.

She said every week they had to stamp her slip.

“After three months I went to Kenya, because they were adding some trumped-up charges. In Kenya, I started working with the group. We would support any way we could; receiving the wounded soldiers, doing publicity, mobilising women to support the Movement, funding, any work,” she said.

Sejusa, the former coordinator of intelligence services in the country, on October 20 paid tribute to Kivengere.

“Many times, when we talk about the National Resistance Army (NRA) struggle, people like Hope Kivengere rarely get mentioned! Yet, they forsook and risked a lot for the struggle and their contribution is engraved in stone (blood)!” Sejusa wrote on his Twitter handle on Wednesday, October 20.

The four-star general sent his deepest sympathies to Kivengere’s family.

“Rest in peace, combatant!” Sejusa, who has kept a low profile in recent years only restricting his activities to twitter, prayed.

www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106