Day

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Rukiga

Patients seeking for services at Kashambya health center III in Rukiga district have expressed concern over their lack of privacy.

Patients complain that both male and female patients share a ward at the health facility.

The concern was raised yesterday by the woman district councilor for Kashambya sub county Tweheyo Ronah Rwebandira during the Rukiga district budget conference that was held at Rukiga district council hall.

Rwebandira said that she was disappointed after finding out that Kashambya health Center III was not considered in the Rukiga district health officers’ presentation.

Rwebandira noted that Kashambya health center III has only one ward where both male and female patients are admitted and lack privacy.

In his response the Rukiga district acting health officer Gilbert Ahumuza said that he has already talked to the facility in charge and when they get money they will partition the ward and separate the male and female patients because the district doesn’t have enough money to build another ward.

The Rukiga district chairperson LCV Mbabazi Robert Kakwerere directed the DHO to act as quick as possible to create privacy

Kashambya health center III serves six parishes of Kitanga, Kitunga, Nyakashebeya, Rutengye, Bucundura and Kafunjo.

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Kisoro—

Thousands of people from the Democratic Republic of Congo have fled their homes following the outbreak of fresh fighting.

The refugees are fleeing to Uganda and have entered Uganda through the southwestern district of Kisoro.

The refugees are now being received and screened at Nyakabande refugee’s reception Centre.

According to the Kisoro Resident district commissioner, Dan Ndikumana the fighting in Eastern DRC intensified over the weekend.

Sources from the DRC indicate that the army camps were overrun by rebels who are believed to be of the M23 Rebels.

Abel Bizimana the Kisoro district LCV chairperson revealed that the situation is alarming with the influx getting out of control.

Heavy and light weapon fire was extended overnight until early morning Monday, causing widespread panic among the population, sources in the region say.

According to Radio Okapi, the same source claims that the army, in reduced strength, made a “strategic withdrawal to Kisiza, 2 km from Chanzu”.

The Congolese government forces have despite withdrawing from the frontline declined to comment on the matter.

Sources corroborating in Rutshuru claim that a large part of Chanzu’s population has fled to Bunagana, a town on the border with Uganda and the Catholic parish of Jomba.

Residents of Kinyangurube, Ndiza, Mbuzi and Jomba villages have all fled their villages. The hills of Chanzu and Runyonyi have been occupied by the attackers.

A local nongovernmental organization says that the FARDC  -Congolese government forces have been seen to arriving in Bunagana as reinforcements.

The fighting has also paralyzed all the businesses in the area and more people could be seen fleeing from the area.

Gen. Sultan Makenga the M23 commander could not be reached for a comment as his known contacts could not be reached.

Who are the M23 rebels?

The rebels are named after a peace agreement they signed with the Congolese government on March 23, 2009 when they were fighting as part of a group calling itself the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). Many CNDP fighters were integrated into the Congolese army, officially known by its French initials FARDC.

The rebels belong to the minority Tutsi ethnic group and have close ties to the Tutsi in neighbouring Rwanda. Their rebellion began in April 2012 when they mutinied. At that time, the CNDP was led by Bosco Ntaganda who is now at The Hague in the Netherlands where he is awaiting trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the north east of the country from 2002 to 2003.

The group’s senior leaders include Bishop Jean-Marie Runiga Lugerero who serves as its president. General Sultani Makenga heads the movement’s military wing.

International human rights groups say M23 fighters have been responsible for widespread war crimes, including summary executions, rapes, and the forced recruitment of children. In March 2013, following infighting between two M23 factions, Ntaganda turned himself in to the United States embassy in Rwanda and was extradited to The Hague.

Why the rebellion?

The rebels say they started their rebellion because they were not happy with the pay and conditions in the Congolese army. But Congolese government officials and analysts say the mutiny began when the government came under pressure to arrest Ntaganda and hand him over to the ICC.

Given the fact that M23 is a ragtag army, and the vast 1136km distance between Goma and Kinshasa, it is highly unlikely that the rebels can topple the government. But they have continued to fight, sometimes emerging victorious after battles with poorly trained and ill-equipped soldiers. Many say the rebellion is fuelled by the presence of vast mineral resources in eastern DR Congo, claiming the rebels want to win control of them.

What is the role of neighboring countries?

A ceasefire that was signed earlier this year was brokered by neighboring countries, including Uganda, which borders DR Congo to the west. Rwanda, accused by DR Congo of backing M23, was also involved. Kigali denies the accusations of backing the rebels but both Kinshasa and UN investigators insist the M23 have received support from the Rwandan military.

Many also wonder how Ntaganda managed to cross into Rwanda and get to the US embassy in Kigali if he did not have any help from the Rwandan government.

What is the UN peacekeeping mission doing?

The United Nation has had peacekeepers in eastern DR Congo for more than a decade, but they have done little to pacify the region. However, in March the Security Council approved the creation of its first-ever “offensive” combat force to “neutralize and disarm” M23 and other Congolese rebels and foreign-armed groups in DR Congo. In August, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission ordered peacekeepers to take the “necessary action” to protect civilians and prevent armed groups from advancing in the North Kivu province in response to the renewed fighting

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By our reporter

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In Kamwenge—

Police in Kamwenge district are hunting for unknown assailants who raped and later murdered a 48 year-old woman.

According to Kamwenge DPC Daina Nnamutunzi, the deceased is Medius Ayebare, a resident of Nyanchwamba1 cell, Masaka ward, Kamwenge Town council in Kamwenge district.

It’s alleged that on 06/11/2021, the deceased had a bar brawl with Kiconco, who almost hit her head with a stone.

The DPC told the press in statement that the deceased later went home and her husband Fulgence Beyanga also joined her but he realized in the middle of the night that his wife was missing.

However, Ayebare was on 07/11/2021 discovered dead in the banana plantation with her legs wide open, naked and blood oozing from her private parts a sign that she was raped before her murder.

Diana said that the scene of crime was visited but suspects could not be traced since the scene had been tampered with.

The body was taken to Rukunyu Hospital mortuary for postmortem while the police arrested two suspects to help in investigations.

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Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106

By Aggrey Twesigye

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In Rwampara—-

Rwampara District RDC Emmy Katera Turyabagyenyi has ordered for immediate arrest of; Rwampara district and Rugando Community Development Officers over failure to account for UWEP and Youth livelihood program funds.

The RDC together with Rwampara social services committee, were yesterday during the  monitoring  shocked to find out that there are ghost youth groups in Lugando Sub County.

The RDC further stressed that they are these ghosts groups that were allocated funds by the both District and sub county CDOs.

Kateera noted that people who received money lacked guidance and sensitization on how to use the funds but they rather used it luxuriously.

He said that almost 100 million shillings is still unaccounted for by the District Community Development Officer and his counterpart of Lugando Sub County.

However, Musiime Lemegio, Rwampara District Community Development Officer told the press that most of the  youth groups who received the funds invested it in other programs.

He denied allegations by the RDC that the youth lacked guidance adding that as the district they brought a team of procurement officers who sensitized the youth on how to use the funds.

He further blamed extension workers and Community Development Officer on the Sub county’ level for failure to follow up the funds on the ground.

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Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106