PARLIAMENT ORDERS KYENJOJO DISTRICT TO RECOVER 1.5M FROM SOLICITOR GENERAL STAFF

PARLIAMENT ORDERS KYENJOJO DISTRICT TO RECOVER 1.5M FROM SOLICITOR GENERAL STAFF
December 6, 2013 7:09
Local government public accounts committee sitting in Masindi district has ordered solicitor general to return 1.5 million shilling that was paid to its staff while trying amicably settle court cases for Kyenjojo district.
According to the vice chairman of parliamentary local government public accounts committee Odo Tayebwa, solicitor general staff are paid by their office but not the local governments where they once in a while go to offer legal advice.
The committee which is on its second tour of the region in less than a month is scrutinizing accountabilities of the districts of Masindi, Hoima, Kyenjojo and kyegegwa. The others are the two municipalities of Masindi and Hoima. This exercise is for the financial year 2010/2011.
The solicitor general staff was settling a court case worth 55 million. The committee according to Tayebwa ordered the chief administrative officer Kyenjojo to immediately recover the 1.5 million shillings from solicitor general’s office and failure would lead to disciplinary action
“The solicitor general staff should stand warned that double payment in terms of allowances must stop and if it continues, they will be dealt with according to the law” Tayebwa quoted the decision of the committee where he is a vice chairman.

MPs Need 125 Signatures To Censure Tumwebaze

MPs Need 125 Signatures To Censure Tumwebaze

December 6, 2013 

BY AGENCIES
The latest reports reaching us indicate that Members of Parliament have today, Thursday, embarked on a signature collecting exercise in a move to censure the minister for the Presidency and Kampala city, Frank Tumwebaze.
The clerk to parliament, Jane Kibirige, has granted permission to the MPs seeking to censure Kampala & Presidency minister Tumwebaze over his actions during the impeachment of the Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago.
According to rule 98 of the Ugandan parliament, the petitioners now have 10 days to collect at least one third of signatures (125) and if those days elapse without the required signatures, the censure will be no more.
According to an inside source, the censure team led by the Kween county MP, Abdi Fadhil Chemaswet, the MPs so far have only three signatures.
Those who signed are Chemaswet himself, Gerald Karuhanga, the Western Youth MP, who is said to be the brain behind it all but tactically chose a majority ruling NRM member and another not yet established.
“We are confident that we will collect the required 125 signatures to censure Tumwebaze,” Karuhanga was quoted as saying.
On Wednesday, the NRM caucus tabled the censure move but some MPs disputed it apart from Chemaswet who argued that Tumwebaze’s conduct at City Hall was “a blunder because it inflicted pain on many people”.
“I can’t drop what I have started given what happened at KCCA,” h

NELSON MANDELA DIES

NELSON MANDELA DIES

December 6, 2013  2:12 am - Home-Slider, Politics - no comments

BY AGENCIES
South Africa’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died, South Africa’s president says.
Mr Mandela, 95, led South Africa’s transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison.
He had been receiving intense home-based medical care for a lung infection after three months in hospital.
In a statement on South African national TV, Mr Zuma said Mr Mandela had “departed” and was at peace.
Continue reading the main story
1918 Born in the Eastern Cape
1943 Joined African National Congress
1956 Charged with high treason, but charges dropped after a four-year trial
1962 Arrested, convicted of incitement and leaving country without a passport, sentenced to five years in prison
1964 Charged with sabotage, sentenced to life
1990 Freed from prison
1993 Wins Nobel Peace Prize
1994 Elected first black president
1999 Steps down as leader
2001 Diagnosed with prostate cancer
2004 Retires from public life
2005 Announces his son has died of an HIV/Aids-related illness
“Our nation has lost its greatest son,” Mr Zuma said.
He said Mr Mandela would receive a full state funeral, and flags would be flown at half-mast.
MKNEWSLINK ANGENCY correspondents say Mr Mandela’s body will be moved to a mortuary in Pretoria, and the funeral is likely to take place next Saturday.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was one of the world’s most revered statesmen after preaching reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years.
He had rarely been seen in public since officially retiring in 2004.
“What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves,” Mr Zuma said.
“Fellow South Africans, Nelson Mandela brought us together and it is together that we will bid him farewell.”
US President Barack Obama said Mr Mandela achieved more than could be expected of any man.
He hailed him as “a man who took history in his hands and bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice”.

Kabarole leaders shun face the citizen campaign.

Kabarole leaders shun face the citizen campaign.

By Francis Tusiime6/12/2013

Fort Portal

Kabarole leaders has today disappointed electorates when they shun face the citizen meeting who were beefed up with questions on service delivery in the district.

Face the citizen meeting is where leaders come and present their achievements and also answer questions from the public that they feel need to be addressed.

The meeting that was organized by Kabarole Research and Resource centre (KRC) which was targeting Members of Parliament,LC5,Mayor among others turned into south Division meeting, they need their voices being amplified by the top lead

Mugisa Habert the chair man South Division Fort Portal municipality said the division has achieved much in the areas of social infrastructure and other services.

By press time only Habert Mugisa chairman Lc3 South division, Joram Bintamanya councilor 4 presenting south Division, Mutegeki Geoffrey councilor bazaar ward, Kayondo Gilbert councilor Kasusu ward were present ,Ikagobya Moses Vice chairman, Katisa Paul councilor representing people with disabilities.

Kugonza Rest a business woman in Fort Portal town said she had wanted to ask the mayor as to why he has been promising street lights but no action has been taken

She also said Fort Portal Municipality council building is rotting on the ground and the electorates were informed that money was allocated to construct the council house but,no one was present to answer the question.

Baguma Ashraf a resident of Fort Portal Municipality wondered as to why the Kabarole members of parliament they don’t come out and talk about the constituency development fund, they have never got a clear explanation as electorates.

Mutunzi Robert the Administrative secretary FDC said the leaders had nothing to present to the voters since most of them have not been performing.

Mwanga Julius the Director KRC thanked the leaders who turned up for meeting but challenged leaders also always to present accountability to their voters.

Teachers interdicted over the mis use of UPE cash

Teachers interdicted over the mis use of UPE cash
Kasese
Two Primary Head teachers in Nyakiyumbu Sub-county Kasese district
have been implicated in the mismanagement of Universal Primary
Education fund from government meant to run school activities.

The due include Pascal Kule of St. Matia Mulumba Primary school and
Amon Baluku Muke of Mudongo Primary school were both implicated in the
scandal by the School Management Committee Chairpersons while
presenting their reports.

At St. Matia Mulumba Primary school the School Management Committee
Chairperson Benard Baguma in his report indicated that the Head
teacher had failed to make accountability for seven million.

He accused the Head teacher of pleading for teachers who he said were
issuing fake receipts to pupils the act he said had caused financial
problems to the school.

Baguma also reported that the Head was overcharging parents on exam
fee at a cost of 1500 but distribute them to other sister schools on
cheap price.

Pascal was also accused of having failed to settle the renting fee for
the school garden and yet parents were contributing every term.

On 8th august 2012, the Head teacher withdrawn 2.5million from
Centenary bank without the consent of the School Management Committee
Chairperson and on that fateful day he reported that 2million had got
lost between him and the bank teller.

More…….
Baguma noted with concern and reported that the school was supposed to
be collecting 13million per term but which he said was all in vain due
to the mismanagement.

In his remarks, the school Head teacher Pascal Kule said that admitted
that by the time he was appointed, the school had a debt of 13million
adding that at the moment it has a debt of 2.13million.

Meanwhile, at Mudongo Primary school, the School Management Committee
Chairperson Yofesi Baluku Kitholhu that the Head teacher Amon Baluku
Muke had caused a loss of 9.5million to the school.

Kitholhu submitted that the Head teacher be prosecuted to courts of
law for legal actions against the misappropriation of Universal
Primary Education fund.

In his remarks, the Sub-county Chairperson Bonny Baguma reported that
currently the sub-county is hit by breach of contract by contractors
citing St. Paul Primary School Bunyiswa where he said the school
structure was incomplete and in poor state.

He appealed to service providers to distance themselves from
individualism, selfishness and mismanagement of government funds meant
to boost development.

In his remarks, the Head teacher did not give genuine reasons that
could have led to the un accountability of the 9.5million.

During the two meetings, it was observed that parents had also not
complimented their responsibilities to provide meals to their children
at school which created an alarm that there was need for such parents
to also be cautioned.

Reacting to different concerns, the Deputy Resident District
Commissioner Aminadabu Muhindo directed the Head teacher to arrest
parents that would have not complied with the policy.

He said the district is currently hit with a challenge of
misconceptions of government programs by most parents and local
leaders.

He cited the high rate of corruption among civil and political leaders
as the major cause to the rampant misunderstandings in schools at both
levels.

Aminadabu vowed to crack down any servant that would be implicated in
the misuse of government that could cause financial losses to the
school.

At Mudongo primary school, the RDC expressed concern to why they had
proposed to censure out the School Management Committee Chairperson
without legal procedures.

He accused the Head teacher with the Chairperson PTA for fuelling
quack disagreements instead of directing the two sides to reach a
mutual understanding describing them as bad managers.

Aminadabu directed both Head teachers together with their treasures to
ensure the money that was misused be refunded immediately and accused
them of forging signatories to withdraw UPE fund the act he described
as null and viol.

The RDC was accompanied by the District Education Officer George
Mayinja, the District Chairperson for Social services and works
Richard Bomera who decried the way government funds were being
misused.

Vice president commissions Mpanga Market
By Francis Tusiime 2/11/2013
Kabarole
Ssekand Edward Vice President of Uganda has opened Mpanga Farmers market in East Division Fort Portal Town.
The market was constructed by Excel Engineering Services company with support from the African Development Bank (ADB).
The market is a two storied building on an acre of land projected to accommodate over 1,200 vendors and well equipped with firefighting equipment.
The market has modern facilities including cold rooms, parking areas, lock-ups, parking lots, bars, restaurants, clinics, and a day care for traders with babies.
This modern facility was borne as a result of Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement (MATIP); a program that was commissioned by the Government of Uganda (GOU) through the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG) in March 2008
Presiding over the function, Ssekandi lashed out at leaders who disrupt development programs in the country denying low income earners a chance to make a living and fight poverty.
The Vice president extended a welcoming handshake to Mayor Asaaba Edson Ruyonga,MP Alex Ruhunda Mp Fort Portal Municipality towards supporting development in the area.
Ssekandi faulted the law for enabling markets to be handed over to vendors after construction and said the best option would be the markets to be managed by the municipal Authority so that vendors do not own stalls for life.
Adolf Mwesige, the Minister of Local Government said the mission of the NRM government is to eradicate poverty adding that building markets like these would help vendors to fight poverty.
The Ministry intends to build 20 more markets in other divisions and districts which include Masaka-Nyendo, Mbarara, Arua, among others and boasted of the completion of markets in Hoima, Mbale and Gulu.
“We have requested government to allocate us shs121bn required to build other markets as already mentioned if land is available”, Mwesige said adding, “markets shall not be sold to private developers and local government shall develop and maintain the markets on behalf of the vendors”.
Municipality spelt out a 10-year strategy for the bank including raising funds for investment in infrastructural development, regional development, private sector, governance, skills and technology and pledged to review funding to the government of Uganda. He applauded vendors for their resilience and expressed gratitude to the government towards celebrating 51 years of independence.
Alex Ruhunda the Fort Portal Municipality MP said construction of the market is part of the Municipality programme to develop markets including Kabundaire, Kasusu markets into modern facilities.

Poor roads contribute to poor hygiene in schools in Rutete sub county- Kabarole.

Poor roads contribute to poor hygiene in schools in Rutete sub county- Kabarole.
By Francis Tusiime 2/12/2013
Kabrole
Despite farmer poor look at failing access markets because of poor roads in Rutete, The heads of schools have said that the bad roads has contributed to poor hygiene in the schools.
Monday Adolf head teacher advantage nursery and primary school in Rutete sub county Kabrole District said that pupils live their homes clean by the time they rich school they are very dirty because of mud.
He said when they enter classes the classes become dirty, and when the mad dry’s it creates dust which produce flies in the class rooms.
Speaking to parent’s leaders and parents at the end of term has made children suffer from jiggers; these make young children abandon schools.
The dust also causes cough and flue amongst young ones.
he called up on the leaders to put up good roads in the area this will enable them attract more children and stay in schools in the villages.
The head master also challenged government to support primary school both government and non government with classes which have floor, this will promote good hygiene among children.
Tugume Emanuel the area chairman LC3 said that as leaders they would love to see good roads in the area but they are constrained by lack of money as a local government.
he gave hope to the area residents that the roads will be worked on soon as the government release grants.

 

Kabarole RDC attacks sub county leaders for failing government programs.
By Francis Tusiime
Mr.Namuyimba Abdul the Kabarole Resident District Commissioner (RDC) has attacked the Kabarole sub county officials that they have failed some of government programs by failing to present relevant information to the concerned authorities.
The RDC addressing Media at his office in Booma Fort Portal revealed that, NAADs beneficiaries have defaulted technologies because the sub county chiefs and Sub county NAADs officials have failed to avail with the enforcement department with the report.
Namuyimba revealed that, while visiting sub-counties most of the officials had no up-to-date information about the government programs in the areas like NAADs.
This affects the office of the RDC while carrying out monitoring such programs, such officials will soon be dealt with or even be sacked.
The RDC revealed that a number of technologies like cows, goats, banana sacks; among others technologies have been distributed in the villages.
This has increased food production in the district; it has also increased local revenue in the district whenever the banana is sold outside the district.
Namuyimba decried a challenge of Banana bacteria wilt BBW disease that has affected many banana plantations in the district; he said they have intensified the sensitization programs in the district.
He called upon people to cut their plantations if they are affected, and also be conscious of the sacks they plant.

Katebwa sub-county to get electricity.

Katebwa sub-county to get electricity.

By Francis Tusiime 25/11/2013

Kabarole

Following the public outcry on lack of electricity in Katwbwa sub county Kabrole District, The Minister of local government Hon. Adolf Mwesige and MP Bunyangabu county constituency has launched a power extension project in the villages of Kagera, Kyamukube, Nsura, Rambya health center 3 and Katebwa sub county headquarters.

The minister also launched a fundraising campaign for soliciting shillings 30 million to facilitate the construction of Mabwe Hydro power scheme also in Katebwa sub county in Kabarole District.

Speaking to the residents yesterday at Katebwa sub county headquarters, the minister revealed that it has been discovered that electricity is the greatest factor in all areas in Uganda that support development very first

Minister also said many government institutions like schools, health centers are not performing well because of lack of electricity and he said it’s now his focus under his ministry of local government and the project of rural electrification, all villages must gate electricity.

Byokufa Mustafa the Katebwa chairman LC3 said that women have been producing at night on candles and touches since there has been no power in the area.

He said when the power is extended in the village some small industries will come up and also people will start business like salons among others.

Tension as Katebwa leaders tasked to present accountability.

Tension as Katebwa leaders tasked to present accountability.

By Francis Tusiime 24/11/2013

Fort Portal

Forum for Katebwa sub county advocacy group (KAFOC) anon government organization operating in Katebwa sub county In Kabarole district put area local leader on tension when it tasked them to present accountability to the electorates as a way of promoting transparency and accountability.

The call for presenting accountability follows increased reports of mis-use of tax payer’s money in the country.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting held at Kibate Primary school, Solomon Akugizibwe in charges of communications Tooro Development Net work said Ugandans are suffering poor services despietethey are  paying a lot of tax levied on goods and services they get.

He said the leaders who are stewards of the electorates money,have turned into diverting money to their personal gains yet they are supposed always to give explanation on how they have used their resources through giving quality services.

Aklugizibwe attribute mis-use of government resources on lack of information by the electorates and this make them fail to make follow up on the services.

He said this will address the problem of corruption that has resulted into poor social infrastructure in Rwenzori region and Uganda as a whole.

“I pay tax on a shirt I put on, tooth paste I use every morning, a trouser I put on, mineral water I drink, this is the tax the government it uses to construct a road in my village and in your village, it’s my role to ensure my leader use my money effectively “says Solomon.

A number of bridges have collapsed no drugs in the hospital, no clean waters in the village, no electricity despite all these are budget for and money is spent by some leaders.

Byokufa Mustafa the area chairman LC3 while presenting accountability applaud the role of Tooro Development Net work in empowering local NGO/CBOs to promote accountability in villages.

He said this has given him as a leader a platform to present what he has done to the people and face criticism that has enabled him to put right what is wrong in his area, this helps in efficiency in service delivery in the area.

Byokufa challenged other leaders to borrow a leaf in this initiative in their areas this will help them to promote bottom top planning for their areas.

Muhindo Ezra the director KAFOC, said the association major focus is to promote transparency and accountability in the area and this will help local leaders to give quality service to the locals.

He revealed that today behavior change has been observed amongst leaders in the areas as they have been tamed from mis-using government money and this has been observed on good service delivery.

                                          

                                          

Kansenene residents decry lack of water.

Kansenene residents decry lack of water.
By Gilbert Rwaheru 19/11/2013
Kabarole
Residents of Kanseneene village-Rwengaju parish-Busoro sub-county-Kabarole district are crying to Kabarole district Local government to provide them with clean water as the area is suffering with dirty water.
Rwaheru Gilbert co-ordination Kichwamba forum for development and service delivery advocacy group revealed that the area is lacking clean and safe water.
He said residents get water from rivers and natural wales which is not clean and healthy for human consumption.
He said this has caused disease like typhoid among other to the local residents in the area.
Rwaheru says a village with estimated of a round 200 families survive on dirty water and this has increased expenditure on medicines by the poor local families.
Students in the area also don’t go to school frequently due to poor water since they are sick all the time of fever and worms caused by dirty water.
Kansenene is one of the village’s in Rwengaju Model village which was named by president Museveni.
“I wonder how such a model village lacks clean water, there have been promises of extension of gravity water flow but no action has been taken “says Rwaheru
He call on the leaders to come in for intervention.

Kasese Municiapal administration construction to kick start.

Kasese Municiapal administration construction to kick start.
Kule Alex 10/11/2013
Kasese
Kasese Municipality Mayor has today confirmed the construction of the
Municipal Administration block is in high gear with the work to
commence next week.

He said the process was to be done in three phases saying that the 1st
phase was to be complete in 12 months.

Godfrey Baluku Kabyanga revealed the work plan while addressing
journalists in an exclusive interview in his Board room in Kasese
town.

He said the building which will cater for sixty offices of the
Municipality is estimated at a cost of 2.5billion of Ugandan shillings
funded from its local revenue.

The Mayor refuted claims by local residents that the Municipal Council
had connived with environmental degradation but it was to re-plant
more trees in a bid to preserve the environment.

Kabyanga who is emphasizing on ensuring Kasese town be granted a city
status revealed that work on the Kasese International Airport was also
to commence in January next year.

He called upon the general public to join hands towards fighting rich
men that were intending to grab public properties.

In a bid to make Kasese town clean, Kabyanga appealed to the people to
have love for their town adding that it was everyone’s responsibility

Katebwa Residents Panic As Heavy Rains wash away bridge

Katebwa Residents Panic As Heavy Rains wash away bridge
By Kogere Rechel 10/11/2013
Kabarole
Tensions are mounting in Katebwa Sub County, Kabarole District when heavy rains washed away the bridge on River Nsongya blocking transport system in the area.
The resident showed fear,only Nsongya Bridge connects them to health centers and schools especially those living in the mountains of Rwenzori.
Most people are now relocating to Katebwa trading especially those living near the river. Despite all this tension leaders have neglected the residents and no action has been taken in re constructing the bridge.
Kogere Rechel a partner in service deliver program in the areas of Kabarole working with Tooro development net work says that expectant mothers, school going children leave in panic when it rains fearing that the temporally structure may be washed away by the heavy rains.
“I call upon government and Kabarole District Local government to quicken the process of directing the river so that water can go back to its original course and also put up a strong bridge “says Kogere
Kalinguza William lc1Mabira Zone Katebwa sub county noted that some times the river has been showing signs of possible flooding and is confident that as the rains have now resumed, the river will flood again and destroy people’s property.
He said, the government should speed up the process of repairing bridges and roads that were destroyed during the October heavy rains.
“Most of the roads and the bridges that were washed away by the floods have not yet been worked upon and our people are using make-shift bridges which they erected themselves,” says Kalinguza
People while seeking to the media revealed that despite the bridge has been washed away no action has been so far taken.
She said the bridge was washed away by the heavy floods of River Nsongya that were caused by heavy rains early this year.
Kilembe zone Kasese district as river Nyamwamba starts to flood owing to the approaching heavy downpours in the a
Kogere says the deserter has left the local people's businesses and transport systems on a stand still.
The bridge connects the villages of people living in the mountainous areas of Rwenzori and other areas in Katebwa.
This road has been helping locals to access medical services, school among others and this has left people cut off from services and this has prompted local residents to const a temporally bridge.
The monitor how ever revealed that the local leader’s failure taking it as apriority has exposed locals to fall into water

Women to give birth in public due to congestion at the hospital.

Women to give birth in public due to congestion at the hospital.
By Ssenyonjo Mukwano 8/11/2013
Fort Portal
Women in labor are soon to give birth in public if the Mugusu sub county leadership fail to relocate the market that block ambulances caring expectant mothers to Mugusu Health Centre 111.
Ssenyonjo Mukwano a volunteer with Tooro Development Net Work in charge of monitoring service delivery in Mugusu revealed that on vendors come with Lories block the road to the health centre this has caused tension to the patients and care takers.
He observed that this has failed ambulances caring patients and pregnant mothers get stack on the way due to congestion.
“On Wednesday’s cars, market vendors, block all the streets of Mugusu sub-county headquarter and mugusu Health centre III when loading the fresh food and fruits like Bananas, Ovacadors, onions, cabbages among others, says Senyonjo.
The move for relocating the market on such a place has not been taken as apriority and also provided people who can manage and failure will cause a problem.
Ssenyonjo adds that the market being located on the road side will result into motor accidents which may even cost the lives of innocent people.
He called up on the leaders to intervene with immediate effect before thing occurs.

The state of service delivery in Kyegegwa district is alarming.

The state of service delivery in Kyegegwa district is alarming.
By Mukonyezi Abooki Wilfred 14 11 2013

Speaking to residents of Mpara and Rwentuha Sub counties revealed in that all sectors of service delivery are in a sole state, where water sector is performing poorly, healthy facilities they don't have enough medicine and understaffed, roads are impassable and water their are sharing water with animals.

That is puting their healthy in danger they are calling upon their leaders to come for their rescue.
When I contanted the sub county chief Rwentuha sub county chief he acknowledged the criss and the sub conty and the district are woking tirelessly to curb the situation, he added that sub vounty is getting funds that can not do every thing at once.