Category

Grant Ahumuza
www.mknewslink.com
In Kigezi

The Kigezi Region Police Spokes Elly Matte has said that Police will not tolerate any defiance to the president’s directives in a bid to curtail the spread of Corona Virus.
In order to prevent the spread of COVID 19 a disease caused by the Corona-virus, on Wednesday last week President Yoweri Museveni ordered all schools in Uganda to close and also suspended prayer services in Churches and Mosques for 32 days.
Last night at 8:00 pm, the president banned all public transport means including boda boda ,taxi drivers and directed people with private vehicles to only carry three passengers.
However, these directives seemed like jokes to some leaders and they have continued to do their business as usual.
According to Kigezi region police Spokesperson Elly Matte, a lot of calls have been made to several police stations requesting the security force to arrest pastors/ priests holding religious gatherings as well as teachers who are conducting studies amidst the presidential directive.
On Sunday Mutolere Dean, Rev Fr John Bazimenyera was briefly arrested at Central Police Station in Kisoro and the Kyabagyerwa C.O.U priest Rev Eldard Twikirize was also arrested in Rukungiri while both holding mass.
Speaking to www.mknewslink.com reporter ,Matte revealed that most bars and Boda Boda riders in Kigezi region has insisted on working as usual which is controversial to president’s message and appealed to the public to adhere to the laws set up by the ministry of healthy to curb the disease.
He noted that they shall arrest any president Museveni’s message defiant without any mercy adding that security have been deployed to every corner in the region to penalize those who are still ignorant against the laws.

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

By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante
www.mknewslink.com
In Kampala

The ministry of health has today 25 march 2020 at lunch time announced five more cases of Corona Virus confirmed in Uganda.
The confirmation was announced by Henry Mwebesa the director of health services at the ministry of health during a press conference held at UBC head quarters in Kampala.
The ministry official noted that the total number of people that have tested positive in Uganda are now 14.
He added that among the new five cases, include an 8 month old baby from Iganga whose father returned from Kenya recently.
He added that another person is a 63 year old man from Najjanankumbi in Kampala who recently returned from Germany.
The director of health services concluded by revealing that Two Chinese nationals have been under a quarantine.
No one has died of corona virus in Uganda.

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

By Felix Twinomugisha
www.mknewslink.com
In Mitooma

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A woman who came from Dubai has today Tuesday March 2020 caused panic at Mitooma Health Centre IV in Mitooma district.

The woman is a resident of Nshenga in Mitooma town council Mitooma district who arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Thursday 19, March 2020 and dodged quarantine.
However, when residents learnt that she had just arrived from the risky city (Dubai), they alerted the police who picked and isolated her at Mitooma central police station, according to the Mitooma RDC Ms Ada Naasima.
Our reporter visited Mitooma Health Centre IV today morning and found the security team led by the RDC and the health team looking for a wider place where they can isolate any other suspected patients since the hospital has no adequate facilities to handle such cases.
The RDC said, the said suspect had not been tested and she was also pending transfer to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for testing.
At the hospital, there were other two isolated Ugandans, one was a woman who came from Rwanda and a boy who had earlier arrived from Kenya but the RDC said they were to be dispatched since their quarantine period is over and they had no signs.
RDC said they have formed surveillance teams at sub county level and hope these will help them in sensitizing the public and following up the suspects.
On scene, most patients were seen scared and some would be seen peeping the security and health team as they distanced themselves from the small isolation place.
Uganda currently has 9 COVID-19 confirmed cases.

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

By Felix Twinomugisha
www.mknewslink.com
In Mitooma

Ruhinda county Member of Parliament Capt. Dononzio Kahonda has warned parents on allowing their children to loiter in towns while they were sent home as a way of stopping easy spread of corona virus.
Kahonda who was speaking to www.mknewslink.com reporter today Monday 23rd March 2020, said it’s unfortunate to find children loitering in towns, crowded at the village playing grounds, making unnecessary visits and yet schools were closed to avoid such crowding.
“This problem has affected us all so it’s better if we work together, we fight it and then get back to normal life”, he said
His words come 3 days after closure of schools on Friday 20th March 2020 following the President’s directive on March 18th 2020.
Kahonda said Ugandans should adhere to the rules set by the Ministry of Health and President Museveni such as limiting use of public transport, avoiding crowded venues, washing hands regularly, and avoiding handshaking among others.
Night Bars and Clubs, churches and mosques have also been put on a lock down for 32 days.
President Museveni on Sunday, during the 3rd address since the outbreak of COVID-19 warned Ugandans against defying to the laws as set by the ministry of health and ordered for closure of all borders.
Uganda Airlines has on Monday suspended all its operations until further notice as part of government’s measures to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
The national carrier said on Sunday that it would suspend operations effective Monday until further notice.
This comes two days after Uganda registered its first Covid-19 case on Saturday 21st March 2020. A 36-year-old Ugandan arrived in the country from Dubai aboard Ethiopian airlines and tested positive for the virus.
Coronavirus broke out in Wuhan Hubei Province China in December 2019. It has now affected more than 210,000 people and more than 14,700 are reported dead and so far spread to more than 176 countries country wide.

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

By Grant Ahumuza
www.mknewslink.com
In Kabale

Security officials on Saturday dispersed mourners with teargas and rubber bullets at the burial of the late Amon Paddy Amanya, a businessman in Kabale town.
Amanya was found killed by yet to be identified assailants on Tuesday and his body dumped on the roadside near highland tea factory in Kitumba parish/Sub County. He was last seen on Monday evening leaving his business premises.
As hundreds of mourners gathered at Emmaus Bile School playground in Bugongi, Northern division security personnel led by Darius Nandiinda, the Kabale Resident District Commissioner and Patrick Besigye Keihwa, Kabale District LC5 Chairperson stormed the funeral service to demand an explanation why locals had gathered with Bishop Johnson Bakashaba, the Bishop of Revival Outreach Ministries in defiance of the President’s directive.
On seeing security officials Bakashaba fled fearing arrest. The officials were also surprised to find the funeral service with police officers attached to Kabale police station.
On interrogation, Sargent Kenneth Asiimwe, a police officer attached to Field Force Unit at Kabale police station who was later arrested said that they were deployed on orders of Dan Byaruhanga, Deputy Kigezi Region Police Commander.
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Nahamya, the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) Commander of 19th Battalion wondered why locals could not take the President’s directive serious yet it is aimed at protecting them from Corona Virus.
Nahamya said that locals should have complied with the directive than gathering for such a burial which it puts them at risk.
Nandiinda condemned Bishop Bakashaba for misleading the public by presiding over such a big gathering and for crossing to Uganda from Rwanda without being screened by Katuna border health surveillance officials.
Nandiinda said that Bakashaba will be arrested and quarantined in a hospital then later be charged with defying President’s directive.
Evas Mugabi, one of the mourners faulted security officials for dispersing the mourners instead of focusing their energies on arresting Amanya’s killers.
Security operatives immediately resolved to deploy at the home of Bishop Bakashaba to make sure that all his family is quarantined for 14 days.
Bakashaba’s Revival Tabernacle Church in Bugongi was closed until further notice.

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

By Domisiano Ayebare
www.mknewslink.com
In Bushenyi

Traders of Kabagarame weekly pork market are worried on how they will pay back loans they acquired from financial institutions.
Some of them say they are likely to go to prison after they fail to pay these loans now that they do not have where to get money from.
Traders are worried after their market was directed to close following a directive by the president in a bid to curtail the spread of deadly corona virus
In a letter dated 19th March 2020 signed by the municipal town clerk William Makune and copied to all district authorities, the market was ordered to close for 32 days.
Now, traders are requesting banks to reduce on loan interests because they don’t have any source of income minus Kabagarame .
Innocent Mwebaze the chairman Kabagarame told www.mknewslink.com that they will have to follow a directive since it doe snot only affect Kabagarame but the whole country.
He noted that prevention is better than cure adding that Kabagarame attracts people from all corners of the country so one may not know what they may carry with them as far as the disease is concern.

By Our reporter
www.mknewslink.com
In Kampala

The Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has suspended all court hearings and proceedings for a period of 32 days with effect from March 20, 2020.
The suspensions follow the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday,President Yoweri Museveni ordered for closure of all teaching institutions, Churches, bars in a bid to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus. Currently Uganda has no confirmed case of the Wuhan virus. The virus is currently spread to over 160 countries.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, the virus has claimed 8,648 people and 207,855 confirmed to have tested positive.
According to directives, Katureebe said prisoners and suspects on remand will not be presented to Court and where possible, proceedings will be conducted via a video link.
“All execution proceedings are here by suspended for the same period of time except where attainment has already taken place. For the cases at stage of submission, the respective Courts may advise counsels to file written submissions.” He said
He said Courts will continue to handle certificates and taking plea for serious cases and bail applications, “Only the applicant and his lawyers or in case of bail application, sureties will be allowed in court.”
During this time, judicial officers will continue being on duty however, there will be no open court appearance. Judicial officers with pending judgement will use this period to finish them and where possible judgments will be issued to parties online or via email.
All conferences, workshops, meetings and training programs, local foreign have also been suspended for a period of 32 days and there shall not be foreign travel for all judicial staff save for exceptional circumstances.
In addition, Katureebe said sanitizers and other preventive measures have already been put in place. Digital thermometers are also being purchased and will be deployed at various court premises.

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

By Grant Ahumuza
www.mknewslink.com
In Kisoro

Police in Kisoro district have shot and injured two residents in a traders protest that paralaysed business yesterday.
According to the Kigezi region police spokes person Elly Matte,It’s alleged that at around 0530hrs the oc Station Kisoro ASP Ogwang Stephen deployed police officers at Gitimba Market located in Kisoro Main Village, Central Ward, Central Division, Kisoro district.
Matte added that deployment was made as a result of the request that was made in a letter dated 18th day of March, 2020 by town clerk Kisoro Municipal Council Peter Matsiko requesting Police to deploy at the said market in an activity aimed at reorganizing the Gitimba Market located in the centre of the town that is congested by lorry trucks selling matooke.
He noted that main purpose was to make all matooke vendors including trucks of matooke out of Gitimba market to Rusiza market located in Bigina village, Hospital ward, Southern Division, Kisoro Municipality from where they are supposed to shift to sell their products.
Following this deployment, the scuffle erupted at around 0830hrs at the said location where the traders protested the move by blocking the main road and pelting stones onto the deployed officers.
Matted clarified that in the process, no.24236 Sgt Emuku Joram was critically hit by a pelted stone on the right arm/ribs unconscious and is currently admitted at Kisoro Hospital.
The situation prompted no.48640 Pc Oriekot William armed with AK 47 rifle no.UG.POL.563684120 to discharge two bullets to disperse angry traders where in the same process a stray bullet hit Habyarimana Aloyse 25yrs, a turn man resident of Gisiza village Buhoozi Parish Busanza Subcounty in Kisoro District on the neck and Mwesigire a resident of Kayenje Village, Kayenje Parish, Rwikiniro Subcounty in Ntungamo District who was also hit by a stray bullet on the right thigh of the leg.
Matte also told our reporter that all Victims are admitted at Mutolere Hospital in Kisoro District.
The case was registered at Kisoro main police station under reference number CRB 196/2020.

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

By Elly Karenzi
www.mknewslink.com
In Ibanda

Transport fares in all districts of Uganda have today 19th March 2020 been increased following closure of schools by the president in a bid to prevent corona virus.
All schools ,universities and churches were yesterday directed by the president to close for 32 days as preventive measure against corona virus.
Students from different schools visited by our reporters were seen walking on foot heading to their respective homes while others boarded taxis and the transport was raised according to different destinations.
The senior school inspector of schools ,Ibanda district Kosam Bainomugisha urged the students to use this short holiday to revise their notes by reading their books.
Mean while the NorthWest Ankole diocese in Ibanda district has suspended prayers in open places including in churches.
The Bishop Rt.Rev. Amos Magezi said in radio announcements that for the time being, prayers in churches and night prayers should stop until the situation improves.
At St. Lwanga Catholic church Bubaare parish some faithful Christians who have this morning turned up for morning glory wee schocked when the church leaders told them to go back and follow the government directive about COVOID-19 until after one month. The Christians later went back.

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

By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante
www.mknewslink.com
In Bushenyi

Apollo Lee Kakonge’s lawyer Julius Turinawe has vowed to challenge Bushenyi chief magistrate’s judgement that dismissed the case in which Kakonge had sued Bushenyi Ishaka municipality for refusing to release information to him.
Turinawe told the press today 17th March 2020 at 4:30 pm that Jane Mugala’s judgement has deffects for example she claimed that the town clerk William Makune should not have been sued but in real sense he is the chief execuitve officer thus responsible for giving out information to the public.
He added that on the issue of paying 20,000 non-refundable fee to process the documents , he contended that money is paid when the office accepts to give one the information.
Didas Muhanguzi the deputy town clerk who represented the town clerk noted that he was happy with the ruling and that he was willing to implement the chief magistrate’s judgement.
Apollo Lee Kakonge took Municipality to Bushenyi chief magistrate’s court last month under the access information act after the town cerk William Makune refused to give him information on procurement sector and department of works for 2019, 2018,2017 financial years.
Jane Mugala today dismissed the case with costs though kakonge’s lawyer vowed to appeal in high court.

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