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By Twesigye Aggrey
in Mbaarara

High court sitting in Mbarara City has sentenced a 29-year-old man to 27 years imprisonment over aggravated defilement.

Court presided over by Hon.Justice Tadeo Asiimwe heard that while in Rwebimunyu cell ,Rwanyangwe parish in Kiruhura district on 11th.july.2021 ,the accused, Denise Nuwabeine forcefully grabbed a twelve-year-old teenager who was returning home from school and allegedly defiled her.

Hon.Justice Asiimwe said the two years and five months spent on remand will be deducted meaning the accused will only serve twenty seven years,in prison.

The accused was given four days to appeal the sentence.

Same court also adjourned a case of aggravated defilement to 14th.Sept.2023 for ruling on premafacie so that the accused begin defense over same allegations.

Court heard that while at Kategyeto cell , Rwenjeru ward in Mbarara city North on 26th.Nov.2022 the suspect, Ronald Byaruhanga forcefully performed sexual acts on a thirteen year old girl.

By Innocent Atuganyira
in Hoima—–

Police in the Albertine region have warned the general public against the ongoing bomb plants in the county and be on alert and report any suspicious objects in their areas.

While speaking to www.mknewslink.com reporter yesterday in his office, Allan Julius Hakiza revealed that the terrorists are targeting places like churches, mosques and many other public places and as security they have decided to strengthen security.

Hakiza warned the public against picking objects they don’t know or report anything they do not understand in their area to police.

He said what happened on Sunday in Kampala at miracle center church does not exonerate Albertine region thus they have decided tighten security around the region.

By Ambrose Kweronda
in Kabale—-

Police in Kabale District are currently on the hunt for an unidentified driver who tragically struck and killed a 51-year-old pedestrian at Kyobugombe Trading Center along the Kabale-Mbarara highway.

The incident occurred at Kyobugombe Trading Center in Kabale district, with the driver abandoning the motor vehicle at the scene.

The victim, Kanyarutokye Johnson, aged 51, a resident of Kayorero village in Kaharo sub-county of Kabale district, lost his life instantly in the collision.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region police spokesperson, disclosed that the vehicle involved was a Mitsubishi Fuso with registration number UAN 393Z.

Maate shared that the accident took place at Kyobugombe Trading Center along the Kabale-Mbarara highway on August 22, 2023, at approximately 09:00 AM.

The scene was visited by Corporal Kambale and his team. The victim’s body was transported to the Kabale Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination before being released to the family for burial arrangements.

Following the incident, the police, led by Corporal Kambale and his team, proceeded to the location. They retrieved and secured the motor vehicle with registration number UAN 393Z, which was parked at the Kabale Central Police station yard.

The vehicle will undergo inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles as inquiries are undertaken to ascertain the possible cause of the accident.

A case regarding the hit-and-run incident has been formally registered at the Kabale Central Police station under reference number TAR 86/2023.

Ambrose KWERONDA
in Kabale—-

The Kabale territorial police are currently hunting for Isaac Ndyamuhaki, also known as Yesu, in connection with the alleged murder of his 63-year-old mother-in-law, Provia Kenyange.

The incident occurred on 04/08/2023, around 07:00pm, in Karuhuma village, Kyanamira sub-county, Kabale district.

According to Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region police spokesperson, it is believed that the suspect attacked the mother-in-law with a panga, causing fatal injuries to her head and neck.

The victim, Kyampaire Florence, had been married to the suspect for ten years, and they have two children together. The couple had been facing domestic issues, which led Kyampaire Florence to leave her husband.

Maate said that on 04/08/2023, around 06:30 pm, the suspect finally found Kyampaire Florence in the garden with their two children. He chased after them with a panga and tragically killed the mother-in-law on the spot.

The children rushed home to inform their grandfather, the husband of the deceased, who then contacted his son, Arineitwe Rogers. Rogers reported the incident to Kabale police station.

A team of officers, led by the in-charge of operations, arrived at the scene, documented the evidence, retrieved the body, and transferred it to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination. As of now, the suspect remains at large, and investigations are ongoing.

The murder case has been registered at Kabale district police station under reference number CRB 603/2023.

By Aggrey Twesigye
In Mbarara…..

Police in Mbarara City are investigating a fire incident at New Mwengura Suits along Ntare road in Kamukuzi division,which destroyed property worth millions of shillings.

According to the property proprietor, Charles Kananura ,the fire started at around 11PM Tuesday night from the store of chairs and tents before spreading to the rest of the make shift structure.

“We tried to use available small fire extinguishers,but could not do much.Alot of valuable assets like furniture and tents all went up in flames,”Kananura explained.

Fortunately ,no life lost as the fire was contained on time before spreading to the guest suits.

SP, Samson Kasasira the Rwizi Regional Police Spokesperson,said a team of Police Fire and Rescue Services was dispatched in time and managed to extinguish the fire stopping it from spreading to other buildings.

Kasasira added that police has now commenced investigations to establish the cause of the incident.

The latest police report reveals that fire incidents increased by 16 percent in the past year compared to 2021.The Director of Police Fire and Rescue Services, James Apora in February,Said 1,258 fire incidents were reported in 2022 compared to 1,058 in 2021.

The police report further added that the majority of fire incidents(976cases) were in Kampala metropolitan area

By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante, Alvin Twebaze
In Sheema……

President Museveni has said it is very so sad when young people die so prematurely.

He passed this on his condolences message to Ian’s mother, Mrs Joy Ibarah and to Pamela Muhereza, Ian’s wife during the burial at Ibarah Home in Kitagata.

Ian died on Sunday 2nd July 2023 at Kitagata Hospital from infection related to malaria at the age of 54years.

In a condolence message which was delivered by senior presidential Advisor Hon.Mary Karooro Okurut, president Museveni said” when NRM came to power in 1986, the life expectancy was at 65years.This was mainly because of the immunization programme against the six killer diseases”

He said although Ian has gone when still young, he had accomplished a lot in his short life.

President thanked Mrs. Joy Ibarah for being a strong, hardworking woman.

He added that mr. Ibarah has passed on several years ago but Joy has managed to keep the family together and maintained the home very well.

“Joy is like a wife in proverbs 31, a virtuous woman, a woman of velour.”

Mrs. Joys father,the late canon Banyenzaki was god father to President Museveni.

Canon Bejura,the Kitagata Archdeacon who led the funeral service said that funerals are like meetings,there is always an item of matters arising. Therefore, people should always ask themselves what matters have arisen from the testimony given about the person who has passed on.

In that way,they will be able to learn something that will better their lives

The president gave ten million shillings towards the funeral organization and expenses and money was handed to Mrs. Joy Ibarah and Ian’s widow Pamela by Hon.Mary Karooro.

Hundreds of people attended the burial including opinion leaders like former ministers Richard Kaijuka, prof.Ephraim Kamuntu, Chris Rwakasis and Miria Matembe

By Libino Byamukama
In Kabale…

The Kabale High court sitting in Kisoro has today sentenced a 58-year-old Niyonzima Gad to 35 years’ imprisonment. He is a resident of Gatwe cell in Bunagana town council, Kisoro district.

The Appellant was on 27th June this year convicted of murder contrary to Section 188 and Section 189 of the Penal Code by the same court high court led by Hon. Justice Samuel Emokor.

The background of the offence was that Niyonzima killed her wife Nyiransekuye Pophia in the night of 2nd January 2020 by cutting her head using a garden hoe as children witnessed the horrible act.

While delivering his sentence today, the Resident Judge Hon. Justice Emokor Samuel backed his ruling on facts that the offender became an assailant of his family and his children will never be the same and that he also showed no signs to court that he can change his character both during hearing, conviction and ruling hence a need to deter persons of that nature from the community.

Nyonzima will spend only 31 years, 6 months and 11 days because the court deducted 3 years, 5 months and 20 days that he had spent on remand.

Justice Emokor said that Niyonzima has a right to appeal within 14 days if he feels that the judgment is unfair or if the sentence of 35 years is harsh.

Niyonzima’s elder daughter, Nyirabemera Sylvia expressed her gratitude to court’s decision to sentence her father to 35 years in jail adding that more years in jail would be better because he may serve the sentence and hunt for the rest of the children that testified against him in court.

She noted that her father was never a good husband to their mother as he could fight her regularly especially when drunk.

She noted that her mother had accepted to live a miserable life for want of taking care of her children but the father decided to end her life and all young children are now suffering.

By Byamukama Libino
In Kabale………
Batwa Development Organization (BDO) has raised strong concerns over the exclusion of the Batwa minority group from government-led developmental programs, prompting calls for immediate action.

Mr. Semajeri Gad, the Executive Director of BDO, has criticized the government for its persistent neglect, citing the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, Operation Wealth Creation, and other employment opportunities as programs that have consistently failed to benefit the Batwa community.

The absence of government interest in addressing this issue has further deepened the sense of betrayal felt by the Batwa.

Speaking passionately to our reporter at the White Horse Inn in Kabale Municipality, Mr. Semajeri highlighted the Batwa’s unwavering loyalty to the government despite being consistently overlooked. He emphasized that the recent Parish Development Model (PDM) campaign disregarded the Batwa entirely, denying them the chance to benefit from this crucial initiative.

In an effort to rectify this dire situation, Mr. Semajeri revealed his plan to write a letter to His Excellency the President of Uganda, urging the creation of a special wealth creation program specifically tailored to uplift the Batwa community.

He emphasized that the ongoing plight faced by the Batwa is largely a result of their lack of representation at both local and parliamentary levels. As indigenous people, the Batwa endure systematic discrimination from the government and various sectors of society, with their rights being neither recognized nor respected.

Currently, the Batwa community owns a meager amount of agricultural land, predominantly situated in hard-to-reach hilly terrain near the forest. Unfortunately, these lands are also the least productive.

Prior to the designation of the Echuya forest as a central government reserve, it had already suffered from extensive encroachment.

Traditional activities such as hunting, honey collection, mushroom picking, water sourcing, bamboo harvesting for basket making, and gathering building materials like poles and firewood were shared between the Batwa and non-Batwa dominant ethnic communities.

Lack of alternative protein sources has forced the Batwa into illegal hunting within the forest. Furthermore, the forest holds significant cultural importance for the Batwa, who engage in religious rituals and sacrifices honoring their gods.

However, when decisions were made to exclude the Batwa from the forest, they were neither involved in the decision-making process nor consulted or compensated for their displacement.

Consequently, a substantial portion of the Batwa population has been rendered landless, thrust into extreme poverty, and reduced to a life of destitution as squatters on lands owned by non-Batwa individuals.

In their desperate quest for survival, many Batwa have resorted to begging, engaging in cheap manual labor, prostitution, and theft.
The current circumstances faced by the Batwa community epitomize their marginalization, internal displacement, and environmental refugeedom.

Urgent attention is required to address their dire plight, which includes immediate recognition of their rights, provision of alternative livelihood opportunities, and the implementation of comprehensive development programs specifically tailored to their unique needs.

It is of utmost importance that the government takes prompt action to ensure that the Batwa, as an integral part of Ugandan society, are granted equal opportunities for progress, development, and representation.

By Ambrose Kweronda
In Kanungu..

Police in Kanungu District are currently in pursuit of an 18-year-old man who assaulted his biological father, leading to his father’s death a few days later in Biizi village Southern Ward Rutenga Town Council.

The suspect has been identified as Ndeeya, an 18-year-old male resident of Biizi village, Southern Ward, Rutenga Town Council in Kanungu District.

According to a local resident Mugenyi Ezra, on the 13th of June 2023 at approximately 9:00 PM, a domestic dispute erupted between Begumanya Phenahansi, a 57-year-old male, and his wife Twongeirwe Charity, a 52-year-old.

In the course of the altercation, their 18-year-old biological son, Ndeeya, grabbed a heavy stick and struck his father three times on the head, resulting in multiple injuries.

Mugenyi confirmed that initially, the victim was treated at home by his family members, who did not report the incident to the police.

However, on the 26th of June 2023 at around 10:00 AM, the victim’s condition worsened, prompting his family to take him to Kisiizi Hospital in Rukungiri District. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries on the 28th of June 2023 at approximately 2:00 PM while still at the hospital.

The body was subsequently transported from the hospital back to the family home for a proper burial.

ASP Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region police spokesperson, confirmed the incident today.

A team of detectives led by D/Aip Tumusabe Francis from the District SOCO Kanungu and No.44956 Cpl Okochii, the O/C Rutenga Police Post, visited the crime scene.

Maate stated that the body has been examined while the suspect remains at large.

By Libino Byamukama
In Kabale

26-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years in jail by the Kabale high court presided over by Resident Judge, Hon. Justice Emokor Samuel after pleading guilty of defiling an 8-year-old girl in 2021.

The convict has been identified as Duhimbaze Richard a resident of Mugwata village, Sooko parish in Muramba Sub County. The victim whose name has been withheld because she is a minor is of the same resident.

The High court sitting in Kisoro yesterday heard that on the 2nd November 2021, Duhimbaze who was by then 24 years old forcefully had carnal knowledge with the victim at Mugwata.

Prosecution led by Grace Nabagala Ntege heard that Duhimbaze Richard while at Mugwata village scared off three girls between 5 to 8 years as they returned to their homes in the early evening hours. He further states that while the young girls tried to run away, the victim was caught and then was sexually assaulted.

The accused pleaded guilty of the offence, thereby being convicted of Aggravated Defilement contrary to Section 129 (3), (4) (a) and (b) of the Penal Code Act.

Hon. Justice Emokor Emanuel sentenced Duhimbaze to only 15 years in jail because he did not waste the court’s time. He said that 1 year and six months that the convict has spent on remand will be deducted from the sentence.