KASESE CELEBRATES WORLD AIDS DAY

Kasese on the weekend joined the rest of the country in celebrating the World HIV/AIDS day with the district occasion held at Katunguru landing site in Lake Katwe sub-county.

The Resident District Commissioner Milton Odongo was the chief Guest at the function under the theme; Re-engaging political leaders for effective HIV prevention.

The RDC emphasized the need for more men to go for medical safe male circumcision which has scientifically been approved as one of the mitigation measures of the highly prevailing scourge.

Odongo said that government has put all the necessary interventions to make sure the HIV/AIDS scourge is controlled adding that it is now a personal responsibility of every Ugandan to take care of their lives.

He added that medical safe male circumcision has been offered free of charge in government hospitals.

He urged the all stakeholders to put more emphasis in saving the lives of people living at the landing sites adding that most people there are reckless about sexual matters.

A case study in October this year by Uganda Fisheries and Fish Conservation Association-UFFCA indicates that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate at Katunguru landing site stands at twenty two point four percent far high than the national and district rates at seven point four and six point three respectively.

John Businge who represented the district chairman at the function said it was important for leaders at all levels to be exemplary by leading their communities in the voluntary testing and counseling.

He said that HIV/AIDS should be a key point of emphasis in any speech being delivered by a leader at every forum one is asked to speaker so that more people are able to know their HIV status.

The District health officer Dr. Yusuf Baseke accused men of failing the fight against the scourge by refusing to test with their wives when attending antenatal care.

The function was supported by several non governmental organizations that included NACWOLA, UFFCA, Save the children, Strides for family health, Hima Cement and Bishop Masereka medical center that carried out free testing and male circumcision services. END

OMUSINGA TRAINS CHAKA MCHAKA AT KISINGA

Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere on Friday took off some time to take trainees on a three week cadre course through militaristic drills and lectures at the Kisinga playground in Kasese district.

Close to 900 hundred youths that include both students and staff at Kisinga Vocational Secondary school in Kasese district have been undergoing a cadre course that is dubbed as patriotic training that ends on Monday.

King Mumbere who has a military background having been commander in chief of the Rwenzururu Movement struggle from mid 1960s to early 80s was invited by the Resident District Commissioner Milton Odongo to participate in the training of youths undergoing a three week cadre
course.
However, he did not appear in any military attire as he commanded the trainees through a few minutes’ drills.

Mumbere urged the trainees to be brave and guard the country jealously although they are not being penciled into the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces adding that it is a role of any patriotic Ugandan to guard the constitution.

 He advised the youths not to use the military tactics attained at the Chaka Mchaka to cause trouble for the innocent Ugandans but rather work hard to help the security agencies identify those holding illegal fire arms that have been used to terrorize most parts of Kasese of late.

This year alone, about five people including a journalist Amon Thembo have been victims of gun shots in night robberies especially in Bukonzo West constituency.

“You are not undertaking military tactics and secrets to terrorize the people but to help them remain peaceful. My appeal to you is that do not think you are now trained to attack people other than helping identify the wrong elements holding illegal fire arms that have been killing our people”. Mumbere said.

Responding to a claim by the area LC III Chairman Mr. Chance Kahindo that most of the Bakonzo are being affected by the current insurgency in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, King Mumbere said that a soldier needs to be brave if they are to defend their territories.

He said that militarily, Congolese soldiers are not brave to the extent that at times they abandon the people they are supposed to defend and run away.

In July, about 700 Congolese soldiers fled the battle field in their country at the advances of the M23 rebels and sought refuge in Uganda. They were transferred from Kisoro to Kasese district before being handed back to their country a week later.

“I soldier who swore to defend the territory of his country must not look a coward because the people you defend will have nothing to do if you are the first to run away. The Congolese soldiers must stand strong and brave to defeat the militia groups there”. King Mumbere said.

He warned the soldiers against using their military power by terrorizing civilians through rape and other forms of evil that are punishable by the court marshal.

The Kasese RDC Mr. Milton Odongo said that the aim of training the youth in a cadre course is to strengthen patriotism in a district that has seen waves of conflicts in the past.

On Saturday, the district Chairman Lt. Col. Mawa Muhindo was the chief instructor at the Chaka Mchaka where he urged the trainees to be vigilant throughout their lives adding that the country needs more courageous people to cause stability.

"ILLEGAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CLOSED IN KASESE

Authorities in Kasese district on Monday morning closed the offices of Capital Financial Services a company that has reportedly been dealing in finances illegally for nearly one month.

The Senior District Commercial Officer Mr. Simon Kasereka who had issued warnings to the company last week acted following continous advertisements running on the local radio stations about the services being offered.

Mr. Kasereka said that among the reasons the financial institution was closed is because they have failed to produce a certificate of registration from the Registrar of Cooperative Societies which allows one to deal with money.

“ We have closed their offices because the directors and managers have been adamant to heed to our advice to produce the certificate of registration fron  the Registrar of Cooperative Societies. It is not good for our people to be conned of their money when the district knows that the company was operating illegally”. Mr. Kasereka said.

Mr. Kasereka reveals that atleast 19m shillings had been collected from the people as savings and the money has been given back to the clients with immediate effect.

He said the only legal documents the officers of the Cresent Road-based bank show is a certificate of incorporation which in any case does not legalise handling of financial related services.

“What these people (capital financial services) are doing is to collect quick money from our people and then take off with it. They are likely to corn our people because they do not have the required
documents to deal in finances”. Mr. Kasereka said.

neither the director of the company Mr. Ambrose Mugisha nor the branch manager only known as Richard were available for a comment because all their known telephone numbers have been off since the weekend.

However, in a telephone interview last week, Mr. Mugisha who claimed to be at the head offices in Entebbe promised to bring the required documents to the district authorities by Friday November 16. But the commercial officer says the company owners have instead switched off their phones.

They only served the commercial officer and other district officials with a company profile as an attachment to an invitation to attend a sensitisation workshop at Margarita hotel on Friday which was never held.

“Yes, we have not yet informed the district leadership officially because they only have our profile. I have told the commercial officer that all legal documents will be availed on Friday.” Mr. Mugisha said
on phone from Kampala then.

Capital Financial Services according to their profile have head officers on Bazarabusa Drive in Entebbe, with branches in Jinja, Mbale, Masaka, Mukono, Kampala and Lira districts.

They are dealing in Business loans, Group loans, individual loans, school fees loans, salary advance loans and agriculture loans among others.

"ILLEGAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CLOSED IN KASESE

Authorities in Kasese district on Monday morning closed the offices of Capital Financial Services a company that has reportedly been dealing in finances illegally for nearly one month.

The Senior District Commercial Officer Mr. Simon Kasereka who had issued warnings to the company last week acted following continous advertisements running on the local radio stations about the services being offered.

Mr. Kasereka said that among the reasons the financial institution was closed is because they have failed to produce a certificate of registration from the Registrar of Cooperative Societies which allows one to deal with money.

“ We have closed their offices because the directors and managers have been adamant to heed to our advice to produce the certificate of registration fron  the Registrar of Cooperative Societies. It is not good for our people to be conned of their money when the district knows that the company was operating illegally”. Mr. Kasereka said.

Mr. Kasereka reveals that atleast 19m shillings had been collected from the people as savings and the money has been given back to the clients with immediate effect.

He said the only legal documents the officers of the Cresent Road-based bank show is a certificate of incorporation which in any case does not legalise handling of financial related services.

“What these people (capital financial services) are doing is to collect quick money from our people and then take off with it. They are likely to corn our people because they do not have the required
documents to deal in finances”. Mr. Kasereka said.

neither the director of the company Mr. Ambrose Mugisha nor the branch manager only known as Richard were available for a comment because all their known telephone numbers have been off since the weekend.

However, in a telephone interview last week, Mr. Mugisha who claimed to be at the head offices in Entebbe promised to bring the required documents to the district authorities by Friday November 16. But the commercial officer says the company owners have instead switched off their phones.

They only served the commercial officer and other district officials with a company profile as an attachment to an invitation to attend a sensitisation workshop at Margarita hotel on Friday which was never held.

“Yes, we have not yet informed the district leadership officially because they only have our profile. I have told the commercial officer that all legal documents will be availed on Friday.” Mr. Mugisha said
on phone from Kampala then.

Capital Financial Services according to their profile have head officers on Bazarabusa Drive in Entebbe, with branches in Jinja, Mbale, Masaka, Mukono, Kampala and Lira districts.

They are dealing in Business loans, Group loans, individual loans, school fees loans, salary advance loans and agriculture loans among others.

"ILLEGAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION CLOSED IN KASESE

Authorities in Kasese district on Monday morning closed the offices of Capital Financial Services a company that has reportedly been dealing in finances illegally for nearly one month.

The Senior District Commercial Officer Mr. Simon Kasereka who had issued warnings to the company last week acted following continous advertisements running on the local radio stations about the services being offered.

Mr. Kasereka said that among the reasons the financial institution was closed is because they have failed to produce a certificate of registration from the Registrar of Cooperative Societies which allows one to deal with money.

“ We have closed their offices because the directors and managers have been adamant to heed to our advice to produce the certificate of registration fron  the Registrar of Cooperative Societies. It is not good for our people to be conned of their money when the district knows that the company was operating illegally”. Mr. Kasereka said.

Mr. Kasereka reveals that atleast 19m shillings had been collected from the people as savings and the money has been given back to the clients with immediate effect.

He said the only legal documents the officers of the Cresent Road-based bank show is a certificate of incorporation which in any case does not legalise handling of financial related services.

“What these people (capital financial services) are doing is to collect quick money from our people and then take off with it. They are likely to corn our people because they do not have the required
documents to deal in finances”. Mr. Kasereka said.

neither the director of the company Mr. Ambrose Mugisha nor the branch manager only known as Richard were available for a comment because all their known telephone numbers have been off since the weekend.

However, in a telephone interview last week, Mr. Mugisha who claimed to be at the head offices in Entebbe promised to bring the required documents to the district authorities by Friday November 16. But the commercial officer says the company owners have instead switched off their phones.

They only served the commercial officer and other district officials with a company profile as an attachment to an invitation to attend a sensitisation workshop at Margarita hotel on Friday which was never held.

“Yes, we have not yet informed the district leadership officially because they only have our profile. I have told the commercial officer that all legal documents will be availed on Friday.” Mr. Mugisha said
on phone from Kampala then.

Capital Financial Services according to their profile have head officers on Bazarabusa Drive in Entebbe, with branches in Jinja, Mbale, Masaka, Mukono, Kampala and Lira districts.

They are dealing in Business loans, Group loans, individual loans, school fees loans, salary advance loans and agriculture loans among others.

FRANCIS POKOPOKO WEDS LODA

There was joy at the St. Paul’s Cathedral in Kamaiba this afternoon when famous businessman Francis Pokopoko turned up for a wedding ceremony where he exchanged vows with his wife Loda Mbambu.

Pokopoko and his wife all residents of Rusese in Isango sub-county and two other couples were purifying their marriages.

The wedding ceremony was solemnized by Bishop Jackson Thembo Nzerebende of the South Rwenzori diocese.

Other couples were Edward Masereka wedding Agnes Biira and Robert Turyagenda wedding Rovesi Tushemereirwe.

Pokopoko who has been married to three wives of late decided to wed with the most senior one but promised to cater for the welfare of the others.

In a statement addressed to the Bishop, Mr. Pokopoko said it was a tough decision to pick one of his lovely wives but promised that every woman and their children will share on his wealth.

Bishop Nzerebende commended the couples for deciding to marry officially in the church adding that they are now free to serve the church.

He urged them to keep loving, respecting and protecting each other despite any worldly challenges they may face. END.

KABYANGA WRITES TO NEMA OVER GREENBELTS

Kasese Municipal council has written to the National Environment Management Authorities to deal with investors developing the green spaces in the urban center without following the original proposal,
the Mayor Mr. Godfrey Kabbyanga has said.
Mr. Kabbyanga was on Friday speaking during a public dialogue organized by Kasese Guide Radio and Uganda Media Development Foundation under the theme; Deteriorating Greenbelts, challenges of
investment and Development.
The mayor said that the municipal council inherited the greenbelts problems from the former Kasese town council that had sold out plots to investors so cheaply and did not follow up the implementation of a re-planning proposal that was approved by NEMA.
“All the greenbelts had a re-planning proposal approved by NEMA but the former town council leaders never minded to do their part of making sure the investors do not destroy the green”. Mr. Kabbyanga
said.
Currently, the green belt on Kilembe road is being highly developed by investors who are erecting permanent structures which have angered most of the stakeholders in Kasese town.
Among the permanent structures that are currently in use include a shopping mall, the transmission house for one of the telecommunications companies and a residential house. Two other storied buildings are under construction in the green belt.
Participants at the dialogue held in Virina Gardens Hotel, accused the urban authorities for “acting careless to watch when the green spaces are cut down”.
Mr. Ivan Muhasa Mbondi an elder in Kasese town said that they are the top leaders of the Municipality that have messed up with everything by not acting according to the structural plan adding that such buildings need to be demolished as it has been done in Kampala.
Kampala Capital City Authority led by Executive Director Ms. Jeniffer Musisi have not spared any buildings build against the structural plan.
The Deputy Town Clerk of Kasese Municipality Mr. Seleverio Mukobi revealed that the approved re-planning proposal for the green spaces provide that any investor should make sure development is 60% and leave 40% of the green on every plot.
He said that only one of the investors has fulfilled the requirements-mentioning White House Gardens a recreational place along Kilembe road.
However, the Mayor re-affirmed that despite plots being sold fraudulently to the developers, there is no way the Municipal council will reclaim them because land tittles are already secured.
He said that the demolition exercise would start with towing away all the containers that have been used for business in the green space along the Kasese-Mbarara road.
He added that Kasese Municipal council will not re-plan the remaining green spaces as they embark on intensive tree planting campaign.