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By Aggrey Twesigye

www.mknewslink.com

In Mbarara—

Mbarara District Local Government has set up Village Monitoring Committees dubbed the Quality Assurance Committees to monitor government projects under construction.

The committees that will consist of retired professionals in constructions and Village Local councils will work closely with School Management committees and Health Centre management committees to do the monitoring alongside the engineering department.

William Bananuka, the Mbarara District Engineer says the current committees lack knowledge and expertise in constructions to identify shoddy works before completion.

He says the committees that are charged with the management of Schools and Health Centres will now be working closely with the Quality Assurance Committees to oversee the construction works.

The Quality Assurance Committees commenced their work immediately after the launching of over 1.3 billion shillings’ projects to benefit the Education and Health sectors in six Sub Counties of Rubindi, Rwanyamahembe, Kagongi, Rubaya, Bukiro, and Kashare, and three Town councils of Rwanyamahembe, Rubindi-Ruhumba and Nyabisirira.

Bananuka says contractors do shoddy work because the monitoring and supervision are always either less or not there noting that the quality assurance committees will be fully at the sites because they are neighbors to the projects in their areas.

Didas Tabaro, the Chairperson LC V Mbarara District warned contractors to be mindful of quality work to avoid risks of terminating their contracts and being blacklisted in future.

Edward Kasagara, the chief administrative officer says the projects that were supposed to commence last financial year were delayed because of the president’s directive to award projects to the Engineering department of UPDF.

Some of the projects include the construction of a two-classroom block at Rukanja Primary school and a three (3) unit staff house at Rwamuhigi Primary school, both located in Rubindi Sub-county at UGX 145 million, Construction of a two-classroom block and a five stance pit latrine at Nyakayojo II Primary school in Rwanyamahembe sub-county, at UGX 101 million,

Other projects are Construction of ; a three-unit staff house at Nombe Primary school in Kashare Sub County , a three-unit staff house at Rweshe Primary School in Kagongi Sub County at UGX 153 million, an Out-Patient Department Building, five stances lined VIP latrine and a Placenta Pit at Kashare HC III in Kashare Sub County at UGX 325 Million.

The 2021/2022 financial year Projects are funded through School Facilities Grant (SFG), transitional grant and UGIFT will last four months to complete.

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Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106

By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante

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In Kampala/ Bushenyi—

Former woman MP for Bushenyi district Mary Karooro Okurut has pledged to mobilise at least 5 investors who can buy 1000 shares from Butuuro SACCO.

Karooro made the pledge while speaking as a chief guest at an investors’ dinner organized by Butuuro SACCO on 12^th Dec. 2021 at Eureka hotel Ntinda Kampala.

The dinner was attended by over 150 people and over 80 of them committed themselves to buying 1000 shares each at 10000 shillings.

Prof. Eli Rwakishaya Katunguka who was the guest of honor expressed his satisfaction with Butuuro and advised the guests to always pay back their loans in time.

Some of the people who attended the investors’ dinner

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The board of directors chairperson Benson Barigye Mbugane revealed that the Sacco has 44 large shareholders.

He added that their main plan this year is to grow the large shareholders to 100 people from current 44

He noted that in the next five years, they will graduate the Sacco into an MDI

According to Peter Tumuhimbise the SACCO general manager, the SACCO will continue to conduct more investors’ dinners and this time around in Mbarara city or Bushenyi Ishaka municipality.

He thanked all the people that attended Kampala investors’ dinner adding that without their presence, the dinner wouldn’t have been a success.

The general manager urged all everyone to join Butuuro SACCO as they prepare to transit from a SACCO to an MDI.

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Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Kabale—-

Kabale District leaders have joined voices with their counterparts in Rukiga District to protest the Government’s policy of taking over management and taxation of all Community water schemes.

The water schemes were founded by Non-Governmental Organizations with help of the local communities.

In a statutory notice made on 4th July 2019, published in the Uganda Gazette on 31st January 2020, Government declared that it had gazetted areas in Districts coinciding with the boundaries of several towns as water supply and sewerage areas.

Areas gazetted were marked as water supply systems and they included Kanyante , Kyase A , Muyebe and Kabahesi water supply systems in Kabale District. In Rukiga, the areas marked as water supply systems included Noozi, Kitoojo, Nyarurambi, Nyakagabagaba, Kabumbiro, Ibumba, Karowa- Nyabirerema, Ibugwe-Nyampikye, Rutonde- Kariba, Nyakasiru, Ahakashaija-Kihimbi-Bukinda, Rurengye, Bucundura, Nyakashebeya, Kitunga, Kafunjo, Rugyeyo, Kigungo and Kataraka.

In exercise of powers conferred upon him by section 46 of the Water Act. Cap.152, The Minister of state for environment, Kitutu Kimono Mary Goretti who was also holding the portfolio for Minister of water and Environment appointed the South-Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation as in charge of the water supply and sewerage services in the areas mentioned above.

The same was done for water supplies gazetted in other 23 Districts including Bulisa, Nakasongora, Kitgum, Alebtong, Amuru, among others.

The South Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation consequently took over management and started billing the community water schemes located in the gazetted areas by installing meters on the gravity piped water, which has not gone down well with affected communities since then.

Most of the water schemes affected were constructed by Faith-Based Organizations especially the Diocese of Kigezi which started several water projects for the Greater Kabale District in the early 2000s.

The locals contributed free land and labor to supplement donor funds for the water projects channeled through the Diocese of Kigezi under the Church of Uganda.

Upon completion of the construction projects, the water schemes would be handed over to select committees to manage sustainability programs of the water by ensuring the safety of the water, repair of damaged equipment, until Government took over in 2020.

However, in May this year, Rukiga District leaders raised concern after residents in the Rwamucucu sub-county protested the billing of water that was initially accessed for free.

While speaking during the Rukiga District Council that sat on 6th May 2021, Eddy Mugisha who was then the LC.5 Councilor Rwamucucu sub-county reported that the people had failed to raise the money being charged.

Mugisha explained that the South Western Umbrella had introduced shs.100 for a jerrycan of water, and locals had resorted back to using water from the swamps for domestic use, which put them at risk of acquiring water-borne diseases.

In Kabale District, trouble started last month when locals in Kyanamira and Kamuganguzi sub-counties started cutting pipes to tap water before it reached the meters installed by the South Western Umbrella of Water and Sanitation.

The matter was brought up in Kabale District Council by the Kyanamira Subcounty Councilor Joshua Musinguzi who said that it was wrong for Government to start billing community water without explaining to the locals why they were doing so.

He argued that Government should stop prioritizing the collection of taxes at the expense of people’s lives.

The Central Division Councilor Leopold Twesigye castigated government officials who flamed the policy to take over community water supply systems arguing that they should have engaged all stakeholders before starting to implement the policy. He vowed to rally his colleagues in the fight against the policy.

Ms, Flavia Kanagyizi, the speaker of Kabale District Council revealed that she had also received numerous complaints about taxes levied on the water.

She called, upon parliament to review the policy and ask the government to make adjustments that fit the interests of the people.

The Kabale District LC.5 Chairperson Nelson Nshangabasheija told the council that he had held consultation meetings with the Bishop of Kigezi Diocese Rt. Rev. Eng. George Bagamuhunda, Kabale District area MPs, and the Ministry of Water and environment assured him that they would make a follow-up and make appropriate clarifications on the matter.

Meanwhile, In an interview with our reporter, Moses Godfrey Bujure, the Manager of South Western Umbrella of Water said that he was aware that people were paying water user fees, but it was only for the maintenance of the schemes, adding that it was the umbrella’s mandate to make sure the scheme is properly maintained.

Mr. Bujure however, denied accusations that authorities were not consulted. He said the South Western Umbrella of Water held several meetings with locals, sub-county authorities, and representatives from the Diocese of Kigezi.

” Authorities in the District should understand that whatever we are doing is within the law and the interests of the government. So, since they are also part of Government their responsibility as authorities is to comply with requirements of the law,” he said.

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Tel: +256702680106

By Ambrose Kweronda www.mknewslink.com In Kanungu— Police in Kanungu are investigating circumstances under which a 36 year old woman was murdered by her husband. Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson identified the deceased as Gloria Tushabomwe a 36 year old resident of Kabatu village, Kashojwa parish, Rugyeyo Sub County in Kanungu district. It’s alleged that on 13th/12/2021 at unknown time the deceased developed a misunderstanding with her husband Vincent Arinaitwe which prompted him to pick a panga and cut his wife then disappear to yet unknown destination. Maate said that neighbors become suspicious in the morning of 14/12/2021 when they saw the door open very early in the morning and when they checked they saw the deceased lying into the pool of blood with a deep cut in the throat. Police visited the scene where they recovered a killer weapon ( panga) near the dead body . The body was taken to Katate health centre IV  for postmortem as police hunt for the suspect . .  

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Rukungiri—

High Court at Rukungiri presided over by Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi has dismissed a murder case against Kiiza Alex Ndindiri a former boda boda cyclist.

Kiiza Alex Ndindiri 38, is a resident of Nyamabale cell, Karangaro Ward, Western Division, Rukungiri Municipality.

It was alleged that on 18th August 2018 while at Omukaceeka Cell, Rukungiri Municipality two men shot Natukunda Adrine a business woman dead before they stole 5million UGX from her.

It was alleged that Ndindiri who was a boda boda rider at Central market boda boda stage transported the two men suspected of having committed the crime.

Court set him free after learning that he had no expertise in shooting but only rode a motorcycle

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Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106