Day

By Glorias Rukundo

www.mknewslink.com

In Kampala—

Uganda National Examination Board has directed school administrators to drop the requirement of parent’s National identity cards before a student is registered for final exams.

“They do not need to submit National identification Numbers of their parents to register” UNEB directs.

In the press statement signed by executive director Dan .N. Odongo, UNEB clarified that the requirement for a parent’s National Identification card to register a candidate does not apply to the candidates of 2022.

“This is therefore to allay the fears of candidate, parents, guardians and school administrators that no one will be disqualified from registering for the 2022 examination because of a National Identification card. The normal registration process is currently underway until May 31, while late registration, which attracts a surcharge, will take place in June, 2022” UNEB noted.

According to the New Vision of Monday April 4, 2022, students that enrolled under the revised competence based lower secondary school curriculum will be required to obtain learner identification numbers (LINs) using their parent’s National Identification Numbers(NINs).

UNEB added that for candidates of 2022, the information/data requirement at primary school level is the learner’s authentic bio data particularly; correctly spelt names in the right order, as well as the date of birth. A copy of a genuine birth certificate may be provided to the school to facilitate accurate data capture and ensure consistency.

The registration also requires passport photographs taken by the school according to the photo resolution prescribed by UNEB.

UNEB added that at secondary level, the main information/data requirement is the learner’s index/student’s number and year of sitting for the preceding series of UNEB Examination.

It recommended that the learners should present the previous result slips to the schools at the time of registration and learners who sat for examination not administered by UNEB, should first bring their results to UNEB to determine their equivalence before they are allowed to register for the UNEB Examination.

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

By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante

www.mknewslink.com

In Bushenyi/ Kampala—

The Archbishop of Church of Uganda Stephen Kazimba Mugalu has finally responded to West Ankole diocesan Christians led by Emmanuel Karasi concerning the ‘unlawfully’ constituted synod.

A section of West Ankole diocese Christians last month wrote a letter to the Archbishop of Church of Uganda Stephen Kazimba over ‘unlawful’ 11^th synod constituted on 12^th March 2022.

Christians led by Emmanuel Karasi pinned Bishop Johnson Twinomujni of allowing Mbarara and Kampala chapters to have representatives in the synod which is against the constitution of the West Ankole diocese.

They also accused the Bishop of wrongly appointing the diocesan chancellor Marvin Baryaruha.

They contended that instead of the bishop nominating the chancellor, he was rather nominated by a synod member Anthony Katwarana which is also against the West Ankole diocese constitution.

They wanted the head of laity elections to be rendered null and void since the synod that elected them was unlawful.

The Christians demanded that the diocese reconstitutes a new synod as per the law established and wanted to meet with the archbishop to formally discuss some of the issues pertaining their diocese.

Now, in a letter dated 4^th April 2022 addressed to Emmanuel Karasi, the archbishop acknowledged receiving the undated letter on 18^th March 2022 and noting its content.

“As you will appreciate, the allegations contained in your letter pertain to matters at diocesan level and not provincial level. Accordingly, I will need time to get detailed brief from the Diocesan Bishop and the Diocesan Chancellor before I full respond to the allegations in your letter,” Archbishop Kazimba wrote.

The archbishop added that he trusts and prays that Karasi and ‘concerned Christians’ on whose behalf he (Karasi) wrote will ensure that calm ensues in the diocese as he awaits a briefing from the Diocesan officials.

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

By Ambrose Kweronda

www.mknewslink.com

In Kabale—-

A section of Christians from Greater Kabale have petitioned the Archbishop of Uganda Stephen Kazimba Mugalu over what they termed as irregularities in the nomination and election of Rev. Gad Akanjuna the next Bishop of Kigezi Diosese.

The petition dated 31st March 2022 refers to the election in which Akampurira, the Archdeacon of All Saints church in Kabale District, was chosen to replace Rt. Rev. Eng. George Bagamuhunda whose official retirement is scheduled for 30th June 2022.

The disputed election was held on 9th Feb. 2022 after Bagamuhunda announced early retirement last year, following his meeting with Archbishop Kazimba Mugalu. Bagamuhunda where he reportedly mentioned health challenges as the reason for his intention to throw in the towel at 63, before attaining 65 years which is the official retirement age for bishops as stipulated in the church canon laws.

However, through their lawyers of Nzige, Jamero and Company Advocates, a section of Christians have disputed the legality of Akanjuna’s election arguing that the whole election process was fraught with irregularities.

They argue that Akanjuna does not have academic qualifications for the office, while the Electoral College that elected him was also not properly constituted as per the guidelines of the church canons.

In the petition, the complainants quote Canon 3.7 of the Church of Uganda Constitution which indicates that any candidate for the appointment to the office of the Bishop “shall be a holder of at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology or Divinity or a first degree in any other field, with a Post- Graduate Diploma in Theology or Divinity.”

The Christians accuse the Synod of Kigezi Diocese of nominating Akanjuna who was later elected by the House of Bishops when they were aware that he did not have a degree in Theology or Divinity, yet he also had no postgraduate diploma in any of the fields, as stipulated in the Canons.That Akanjuna only holds a Bachelor’s degree in education and an ordinary diploma in theology.

In a phone interview with this Media House, Lead lawyer Drake Twebaze said he was approached by “Very Prominent Christians” from Greater Kabale who asked him to pen down their grievances and send them to the Archbishop who is the chief custodian of the Church Canons.

Among other allegations, Mr. Twebaze said they had reliable information that Bishop Bagamuhunda’s early retirement was orchestrated by a section of top officers in the Kigezi Diocese, to close out a certain reverend who had expressed interest in the office.

According to Twebaze, the reverend whose name he refused to reveal, would clock 45 years of age in November 2022, and therefore Bagamuhunda and his cohorts planned to prevent his candidature as early as possible.

The Church constitution bars Christians below age 45 from being elected as Bishops. Twebaze also alleged that there was a section of people who did not want to change to a bishop they’d not know well

Twebaze added that Archbishop Kazimba had received the petition and accepted to hold a meeting with the petitioners, scheduled for 7th April 2022 at 9:00 am, and among their demands was the cancellation of Akanjuna’s election because it was null and void, followed by a fresh nomination and election of the new Bishop.

The Deputy Speaker Rubanda District, Mbabazi Pierre Nyetegyereize revealed that he was one of the petitioners. He said that among the irregularities was the illegally constituted Electoral College that deliberately avoided church premises and held the nomination activity in a bush place on Rushaga Island in Kisoro District.

He said they would proceed to courts of law in case the meeting with Archbishop Kazimba failed to address their grievances. Among other complaints was one against Kigezi Provincial Chancellor and Chairperson of the Electoral College, Bruce Kyereere who was accused of staying in office beyond the 12 years stipulated in the Church Constitution.

Our reporter talked to the Kigezi Diocesan Secretary Rev. Erasmus Turyatunga who claimed that he had not seen the petition.

This is not the first time such conflicts have emerged in Kigezi Diocese. In 2013, during the election period for the Incumbent Bishop George Bagamuhunda, a number of people including church leaders, were arrested as they protested the election process to replace Bishop Emeritus George Katwesigye.

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

By Aggrey Twesigye

www.mknewslink.com

In Kiruhura—-

Police in Kiruhura District are investigating a double homicide by shooting under which a UPDF soldier shot his lover dead before killing himself.

According to Rwizi region police spokesperson ASP Samson Kasasira the incident took place in Rugaga Trading Centre Kikatsi Subcounty in Kiruhura District.

Kasasira told www.mknewslink.com that Private Dickens Nuwamanya 27 years attached to SFC Commando brigade in Ruhegyere shot his lover patience Kamarembo a bar operator in Rugaga Trading Centre thrice in the chest killing her instantly before turning the gun on his head.

The police mouthpiece added that the cause of the homicide shooting is yet to be ascertained but both bodies have been taken to Kiruhura Health Centre IV for a postmortem report.

Kasasira further said that the murder weapon SMG AK-47 was recovered from the crime scene and inquiries into the matter are at hand

This is not the first incident in which a Soldier has shot his partner; on 23.Feb.2021 a UPDF Soldier Private James Niwagaba attached to Ministry of defense while in Mbuya Zone 5 a Kampala suburb shot and killed his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself after a protracted domestic squabble.

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

By Innocent Atuganyira

www.mknewslink.com

In Masindi—-

There was a drama at Masindi district council sitting on Tuesday when Hon. Simon Byaruhanga the district Male Youth Councilor was kicked out of the council sitting by Hon. Moses Kirya the Masindi district speaker over indiscipline.

“Hon. Simon Byaruhanga for misconduct and disorganizing the council sitting, you’re suspended out of the council with maximum sentence,” Kirya suspended Byaruhanga.

The suspension came after Hon. William Mwambu the Councilor representing the PWDs raised a motion that the council should adopt the committee resolution of the social services since the committee had already resolved that the compensation money for Kyema Technical College worth 90million should remain at the district and the councilors agreed unanimously.

Following the construction of roads in Bunyoro sub region, Uganda National Roads Authority compensated the Uganda Technical College – Kyema shillings 90 million for widing the Masindi – Kigumba road.

However, when Hon. Simon Byaruhanga the district Male Councilor who also doubles as the Chief Whip wanted to comment on the motion, Hon. Moses Kirya the district speaker denied him a chance thus causing tension in the council sitting hence exchanging words.

This forced the speaker to suspend Byaruhanga from the council sitting for maximum sentence which disrupted the council sitting for over ten minutes

Following the suspension of Byaruhanga, some councilors including Goodman Farouk the district councilor representing Nyahgahya division and Patrick Bright Tibigamba the district male councilor representing Mirya moved out of the council in protest for the suspension of their colleague.

Speaking to journalists after his suspension, Hon. Simon Byaruhanga said that the council members were supposed to pass the resolution which wasn’t made.

He also claimed that the speaker and district chairperson have been allegedly meeting the committee chairpersons to pocket the 10 million which is part of the 90 million compensation money for Kyema Technical College.

Byaruhanga claimed that the authorities had allegedly withdrawn 10 million part of the 90 million from the account to bribe the councilors but they {councilors} had refused saying they are going to go to the relevant authorities to find out the reality about the 10 million and demand for bank statement from Kyema Technical College.

Hon. Goodman Farouk who moved out of the council protesting over the suspension of Byaruhanga claimed that in the morning {Tuesday} was approached by someone whom he didn’t disclose to meet him in the speaker’s office.

He explained that the main reason for meeting him in the speaker’s office was to neutralize him to accept part of the compensation money to move the motion which he rejected.

However, when journalists approached Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi district chairperson after the council sitting over the allegations, he declined to comment on the matter.

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