UPDF CAPTURES DEFECTOR CONGOLESE SOLDIERS.

The Uganda Peoples Defense forces (UPDF) have captured eleven Congolese soldiers suspected to have defected from the army and crossing into Uganda.

The UPDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda says that the UPDF also captured a Congolese colonel who was commanding the eleven-man force that had crossed to Kiraru parish in Kitholhu sub-county.

He identified the captured commander as Col. Eric Bisamazi.

Lt. Col. Ankunda says that the captured Congolese soldiers who have been disarmed are now detained at a UPDF unit in Kiraro as contacts with the Congolese counterparts as made to discuss their fate.

However, the Congolese combatants first resisted arrest by firing at the UPDF soldiers who eventually overpowered them. But there were no casualties in the Tuesday evening exchange.

The UPDF has recovered eight short machine guns, a pistol and two Rocket Propelled Grenades while disarming the Congolese combatants.

The gunfire that rocked the borderline on Tuesday evening caused anxiety in the area forcing hundreds of people from Kiraru parish to flee their homes. 

They reportedly spent the night in the bush before camping at Kathembo Catholic church about 3kms from the border.

The Kasese district chairman Lt. Col. Mawa Muhindo said he was working hand in hand with the UPDF to make sure the situation is calm.

Lt. Col. Mawa said that the people camped at Kathembo Catholic church were to be sent back home after the assessment of the situation at the border. END

KASESE OPPOSITION COUNCILORS ACQUITED OF INCITING VIOLENCE

It is said that only courts of law can find the truth in any legal matter. So it has happened for two Kasese district councilors who have been in court for one year over charges of inciting violence.

Mr. Elly Magwara representing Kyabarungira and Mr. Abdul Saad of Maliba sub-county are now free men after the Kasese Chief Magistrate court dismissed an inciting violence case against them.

Chief Magistrate Ms. Agatonica Mbabazi set free the two FDC politicians after prosecution continuously failed to produce witnesses to pin them on charges they allegedly committed on July 5, 2012.

Kasese Resident District commissioner Mr. Milton Odongo was one of the key witnesses in the case. He has never testified.

“The Resident State Attorney told court that the RDC was formerly served on august 15, 2013. He did not come. Case dismissed under section 119(1) of Magistrates Court Act. Both accused are discharged and I order refund of their bail deposits”. Ms. Mbabazi ruled.

Prosecution alleged that on July 5, 2012 while in the office of the leader of opposition at the district headquarters, the duo printed a letter and addressed it to the RDC with intend to attack the Basongora. This was after the Basongora had crowned their own King who was vehemently opposed by the Bakonzo under the Rwenzururu Kingdom.

This is the third time the same court dismisses the case on similar grounds-the first time being in August and December last year but charges were being reinstated by the state.

END

KASESE STUDENTS COUNT FINGERS AS DISTRICT FAILS TO MAKE SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

Wise men say that “Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”. But this is not yet a reality for Kasese district local government after failing to kick start the scholarship fund that was to prove hope for brilliant needy students.

During a committee meeting for the works and social services committee on Monday, the secretary for social services was accused of failing to coordinate the technical staff in the education department to start the scholarship fund that was approved by council last year.

Committee chairman Mr. Richard Bomera said the reason behind the establishment of a scholarship fund that was aimed at offering bursaries to science students whose families fail to raise university fees.

Ms. Pelucy Kabagenyi was accused of failing to implement her role as secretary for social services because she is meant to be the chair of the district scholarship committee. She told the committee that a scholarship committee is yet to be in place only to be challenged by the District Education Officer Mr. George Mayinja who told councilors that she had not funded the interim one.

The scholarship committee is supposed to identify sources of money or fundraise from the corporate companies operating in the district.

Another source of the money is levying of a contribution of shs 10000 from every civil servant applying for a bank loan – a move which is on. Councilors wondered where they money is being taken since the fund is not in place.

The councilors have recommended that council takes over the whole responsibility of forming and approving the scholarship committee.

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CONGOLESE ARMY CHASES ADF OUT OF TOWN.

The Congolese army has retaken over Kamango town that was captured by the Allied Democratic Forces rebels on Thursday morning, leaving thousands to flee to Uganda.

The ADF rebels said to be regrouping with an intend to re-attack Uganda, bombarded the DRC government forces in a town about 17km from the Busunga border post at the Ugandan border in Bundibugyo district.

The UPDF spokesperson for the Rwenzori sub-region Lt. Ninsiima Rwemizuma this morning confirmed the development saying the Congolese army attacked the rebels on Friday night and chased them out of the town.

He however, says the town is not yet declared safe since it is not clear whether the rebels will re-launch the attack any time.

Lt. Ninsiima however said the refugees are still reluctant to go back home until the town will be declared free from the rebel control.

By the end of the Friday, according to Lt. Ninsiima, the number of refugees already registered had raised beyond thirty thousand.

The UPDF however continues to tighten security and vigilance around the border to make sure there is no eventuality for the ADF rebels said to be regrouping inside the DRC to cross the borders.

Meanwhile, charity organizations arrived on Friday to give out humanitarian support to the refugees who are camped at Bubandi primary school and other places. Among those that have already touched base include Save the Children International, World Vision and World Food Program.

 They are helping the providing of shelter, health assistance and food aid.

The Bundibugyo woman MP Ms. Harriet Ntabazi on Friday told the press that epidemics are expected to break out at Bubandi primary school camp because there is only one toilet which cannot accommodate the thousands of refugees. END

OMUSINGA MUMBERE FINALL BACKS OF BUNDIBUGYO TRIP

Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere on Sunday morning succumbed to government pressure and called off the intended travel to Bundibugyo district from which he had been restrict with heavy police deployment.

By Sunday morning, police was still deployed heavily around Mumbere palace in Kasese town as subjects spent the night drumming and dancing amidst reports that he would force his way out of the palace again to try to head to Bundibugyo for the peace day that is celebrated every June 30.

Acting Prime Minister Mr. Ivan Syauswa told a press conference in the palace that the King has postponed his travel to Bundibugyo district as advised by the government for security purposes. The king’s postponement does not mean he has taken heed of the cultural pressure the Bamba/Bawisi are putting on the Rwenzururu Kingdom, Mr. Syauswa said.

He said that the celebrations to make the peace days are ongoing in many places of around the Kingdom but what has been postponed in the King’s travel and the ceremonial performances at the would be venue for the event.

He urged all the Banyarwenzururu to keep peace as celebrations go on in their homes and villages.

He said that no another date will be set this year for the postponed function because people have already celebrated from their places, adding that this is an annual event and the Kingdom will wait for next year.

There were overnight celebrations at Kasulenge Hill in Bundibugyo district as the Rwenzururu flag was hoisted at midnight to commemorate the day when the Bakonzo and Bamba declared their independence from Tooro kingdom which they had accused of subjugation.

The Acting Premier said that hundreds of Banyarwenzururu were celebrating throughout the whole of Sunday despite having no chance to host their King.

In the palace, only the Kingdom flag was flying an indication that they were also celebrating the day.

On receving the news of the postponement of Mumbere’s travel plans, the Deputy Police spokesperson Mr. Patrick Onyango said everyone in the force is happy because there is no any bloodshed expected to happen since he has cooperated.

Asked about the continued deployment in the two districts, Mr. Onyango said “of course we have to keep around to monitor how the people are going to react to the King’s decision not to travel.”.

Mr. Onyango said that there is intelligence reports that a group of Bakonzo wants to kidnap the King and hide him in unknown place in order to put the government at task to explain his whereabouts.

He said the security will keep monitoring the King’s palace until sanity is ensured.

However, police tracks and officers were still deployed in the Kasese town center throughout Sunday afternoon.

END