𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐏

ISSUE 186

𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

J𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘 23, 2023

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🇺🇬 Police to roll out new digital system to monitor driving schools

📌The Acting Commissioner Inspectorate of Vehicles (I.O.V),  SP Eng. Waiswa Patrick has met owners and proprietors of driving schools in Uganda at Police headquarters in Naguru. Eng Waisswa told the proprietors that Police is rolling out a new digital system that will monitor the work of driving schools and how the officers at IOV will inspect the applicants from driving schools. The system will also monitor content being taught. 

🇺🇬 Government to set up driving permit office in Kigezi sub region

📌The Ministry of Works and Transport has initiated plans to launch regional offices in Kigezi sub region to ease the printing and issuance of driving licences. The Ministry’s decision followed a five-day Drivers’ License Mobile Enrolment exercise conducted in Kisoro District last week. Peterson Mandela, the focal person for the Driver License Mobile Enrolment exercise said the enrollment attracted several drivers from the districts of Kisoro, Kabale, Rukiga, Rubanda, Rukungiri, Rukiga and Kanungu.

🇺🇬 Businessman, Pastor arrested over guns abandoned by runaway worshipper

📌Sulaiman Kakeeto, a local businessman in Lwengo District and Mark Kaliisa, a Pastor from Souls Healing Church in  neighbouring Lyantonde District are in trouble over connection to two guns abandoned by a runaway worshipper. Twaha Kasirye, the Acting Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson says that the two are helping Security to investigate the whereabouts of the runaway worshipper who allegedly abandoned the guns on Friday.

🇺🇬 Namboole stadium to be ready by June – UPDF Engineering Brigade

📌The renovation of Mandela National Stadium-Namboole is set to be completed in June 2023. The project Engineer Lt. Col Peter Kidemuka of the UPDF Engineering Brigade confirmed that the wall whose construction was 3.8 billion Shillings has been completed and that they have embarked on phase two which will be ready by mid this year. 

🇺🇬 Police to slap scrap dealers in possession of electricity items with terrorism charges

📌Police have warned that any person, including scrap metal dealers found in possession of items related to electricity wires and other parts of power lines will be charged with terrorism. The Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga told journalists on Monday that they have in collaboration with the office of the DPP,  mooted a plan to charge all suspects arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

🇺🇬 Court charges electricity vandals with terrorism

📌Five people accused of vandalising electricity infrastructure have appeared before the Mbarara Chief Magistrate’s Court on terror charges. The suspects are Edgar Tashobya, Samuel Tumusiime, Innocent Mwekambe, Richard Atusasire, and Johnson Mutaho alias Mwine who were charged before Magistrate Benjamin Seruwo with one count of terrorism contrary to Section 7 (2) (a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2002, which attracts a death penalty upon conviction.

🇺🇬 Internal Affairs Ministry says passport application services now swift after system upgrade

📌The Ministry of Internal Affairs has resumed full production of passports at all centres across the world after undergoing a system upgrade. While addressing journalists on Monday, Simon Mundeyi, the Ministry spokesperson said the two-day shutdown of the passport offices around the world has ensured that the much needed system upgrade is realised in a bid to ensure efficient service delivery.

🇺🇬 Archbishop Ssemogerere tips ordained priests to spread campaign against  corruption, murder and defilement

📌Hundreds of Christians have thronged the Kasana-Luweero Diocese Cathedral in Luweero District to witness the ordination of eight new priests and six deacons. Kampala Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere tasked the ordained priests and deacons to boost the church campaign against corruption, theft, murder, defilement and witchcraft, which, he said, are against God’s plan for humankind. 

“You are the light of the world and the church will always run to you for answers to the different challenges. You are expected to lead the crusade against the evil acts,” Archbishop Ssemogerere told the ordained priests and deacons.

🇺🇬 ICT Ministry enters deal to leverage artificial Intelligence to support innovation

📌The Ministry of ICT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sunbird AI, a non-profit organisation aimed at leveraging Artificial Intelligence systems to increase the use of ICT services for Uganda’s social and economic development. It was signed between the Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aminah Zawedde and Dr. Ernest Mwebaze, the Executive Director for Sunbird AI.

🇺🇬 KCCA secures Shs1.8 billion for street children rescue plan

 📌Hilton Foundation, an American-based organisation has earmarked over Shs1.8 billion to address issues affecting over 1000 marginalised and under-served communities including refugees and street children living in the five divisions of the Kampala Capital City. The Director of Gender, Community Services, and Production at KCCA, John Bosco Bashinyora says they have partnered with several local civil society organisations to implement the project.

🇺🇬 Makerere hosts 21 students from University of Agder, Norway

📌The Department of Adult and Continuing Education is hosting about 21 students from the University of Agder, Norway, on a student exchange program. The students, most of them first-year students of Development studies will be in Uganda for one-month undertaking field studies in different parts of the country. As part of their training, the students will live in Luweero with host families for duration of one week.

🇺🇬 UCAA puts in place extortion 24- hour active helplines

📌The management of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has put in place active 24-hour helplines that will be used to report any cases of extortion and corruption at the airport. They include General Manager Entebbe international airport 0702055158, Manager Aviation authority 0701488366, Manager Operations 0758483681, Chief Liaison Officer 0701477049 according to a memo released on Monday.

🇺🇬 RUKIGA: Deputy RDC identifies man allegedly shot by Rwandan Security

📌Zadock Kamusiime, the Rukiga Deputy Resident District Commissioner has said that Jack Turyahikayo alias Rwakigizi, a businessman and a resident of Kashekye Parish in Kamwezi sub county in Rukiga District was intercepted and later gunned down by Rwandan Security at the Uganda-Rwanda border of Nyakisa hill. He says Rwandan operatives opened fire, shooting him thrice, just about 50 metres inside Mpororo village, Kashekye parish in Kamwezi sub-county. They allegedly crossed into Uganda and carried the body back to Rwanda. 

🇺🇬 KABALE: MP Ndamira honours cement pledge to Rubaya COU

📌The Kabale District Woman MP Hon. Atwakiire Catherine Ndamira on Sunday honoured her pledge of 100 bags of cement to St Emmanuel Rubaya Church of Uganda valued at Ugx3.7M towards its construction at Rubaya Secondary in Kahungye Sub County, Kabale District. The cement was delivered by her political assistant Mr. Alex Akampurira. 

🇺🇬 LIRA: Family fights over Dokolo School of Nursing

📌 John Howard Odongo Okello’s family in Lira City has accused one Evaline Adyao Eromu, their daughter in-law together with her father of forcefully grabbing late Morris Okwir, their son’s investments and assets. The family at Akaidebe Cell, Barapwo Ward explains that she allegedly took ownership of Dokolo School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lubangaber Community Medical Centre and Kaberamaido Diary in Kaberamaido Town.

🇺🇬 BUNYANGABU: Minister Mutuzo buys taxi for Bunyangabu taxi operators

📌The Bunyangabu taxi operators led by Mugisa Julia, their chairperson have received a brand new taxi vehicle from the Minister of Gender and Culture Affairs, Hon. Peace Mutuzo.

“I strongly believe this vehicle will be used to clear all the debts you incurred during lockdown and improve your household incomes.” Mutuzo said.

🇺🇬 KATAKWI: Education Ministry commences construction of Toroma Seed School 

📌The construction of Toroma Seed School has been kick started in Toroma sub country in Katakwi District. The District chairperson, Geoffrey Omolo says the construction will include class room blocks, two multipurpose blocks, I.T blocks, administrative blocks, staff house, sanitary house, a playground and water tanks.

🇺🇬 BUYENDE: Kyabazinga to preside over commissioning of new life schools

📌The Kyabazinga of Busoga, His royal highness William Gabula Nadiope IV will preside over the commissioning of New Life Schools on January 28, 2023 in Buwaidha zone in Buyende District. The Busoga Minister in charge of education, one Kiirya, said the Busoga Kingdom is determined to uplift the education levels in the kingdom. 

🇺🇬 KYOTERA: Residents demonstrate over stolen vehicle hidden in Tanzania 

📌A group of Ugandans at the border town of Mutukula town council have today January 23, 2023 expressed their grievance over the stolen vehicle that was stolen in Uganda and hid in Tanzania.  One of the demonstrators who preferred anonymity stated that as a way of urging the Tanzanian government to apprehend the criminals who are suspected to be hiding in Tanzania we decided to have a peaceful demonstration. 

🇺🇬 MUKONO: Ministry sensitizes stakeholders in preparation of the upcoming door to door mass immunization

📌The Ministry of health has organized a stakeholder’s sensitization workshop at Kayanja community primary school in Mukono. An official from the ministry of health revealed that the workshop is meant to prepare health workers and other stakeholders for the upcoming mass door to door immunization slated on February 27th – 1st march 2023.

ACROSS BORDERS

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🌍 Burundian President warns corrupt leaders

📌Speaking at the congress of the CNDD-FDD party, President Gitega Evariste Ndayishimiye warned against corrupt leaders, in a country that is struggling to remain afloat amidst tough economic times. He cited  that the biggest problem in the party is  people claiming  to be leaders or executives in the Government but are only stealing.

🌍 Somali Security forces shoot dead six Al-Shabaab fighters

📌The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism said Somali Security forces shot dead six Al-Shabaab fighters on Sunday’s attack that lasted over five hours. The Deputy Mayor Isse Gure said troops were alert and minimized casualties. He said the security forces rescued officials and that Local Government staff with special needs were among the five civilians who lost their lives.

🌍 US diplomat to UN to visit Kenya

📌The US Ambassador to the UN,  Linda Thomas-Greenfield will visit Kenya on Wednesday January 25, 2023. Ms Thomas-Greenfield, while in Kenya is expected to receive briefings from the UN country team on humanitarian programs, including the regional drought response and assistance to refugees. 

🌍 Kenya’s Diaspora remittances increase making it  largest foreign exchange earner

📌The Central Bank of Kenya has revealed that the country’s diaspora remittances rose by 8.34 percent to $4.027 billion in 2022. Dr. Alfred Mutua, the Kenyan Minister for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said that Kenya is now earning more foreign exchange from diaspora remittances than each of its major exports – coffee, tea and horticulture – in spite of persistent criticism of a poor diaspora policy.

🌍 Vacuum cooling service to improve vegetable and herb exports

📌The newly vacuum cooling service at the Mitchell Cotts Air Cargo Terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi will improve vegetable and herb exports. Daniel Tanui, Managing Director of Mitchell Cotts Group said the cooling service will assist Kenya’s exporters in maintaining the quality, freshness and longer shelf life of vegetables, herbs, and flowers and meet the stringent quality requirements of international markets. 

🌍 Tanzanian student studying in Russia dies in Ukraine battlefield

📌The family of a Tanzanian student who was in prison in Russia says it has confirmed that he was killed fighting for Russia’s Wagner Group of mercenaries in Ukraine. Nemes Tarimo, 33, had been arrested on drug-related charges in Russia and was told he would be released if he fought in Ukraine. Tarimo’s relatives said that in late December, they received information about his death from some of his friends in Russia.

🌍 Ethiopia imposes restrictions on foreign exchange trading

📌The Central Bank of Ethiopia has imposed new restrictions on trading foreign currencies in the Ethiopian local markets as of Monday, and they are applied to citizens and foreign residents and visitors to the country. The bank stated that the recipients of these new transactions will be prohibited from carrying more than 3,000 Ethiopian Birr upon entering Ethiopian territory from abroad. The Central Bank of Ethiopia indicated that travelers to or from Djibouti will be excluded, as they will be allowed to possess a maximum of 10,000 Ethiopian Birr (US $188).

🌍 Eritrean troops seen leaving Ethiopian town of Shire

📌Large numbers of Eritrean troops have left the town of Shire in Ethiopia’s Tigray region where they fought in support of Government forces during a two-year civil war. A resident and two humanitarian workers on Saturday said Eritrean convoys were seen leaving the town from early in the morning until about 5 PM on Friday.”

I have counted 300 cars, they left with their heavy weapons too”,  said one resident.

🌍 CAMEROON: Radio journalist found dead

📌Martinez Zogo, a radio journalist in Cameroon was found dead after disappearing on Tuesday last week. Zogo hosted a popular radio show called “Embouteillage” or traffic jam. He had recently talked on air about an alleged embezzlement case involving wealthy businessmen and top Government officials. A media rights group said that Police heard a loud noise outside their station on Tuesday night and discovered Zogo’s badly damaged car.