𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐏

𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄 279
𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐋 26,  2023
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🇺🇬 Uganda pledges to strengthen trade ties with China in Oil and Gas Industry 
📌The State Minister for Energy, Sidronius Opolot Okaasai has said that Uganda pledges to strengthen ties with ‘long-time trade partner China’ as the country continues to receive a number of investors from China in the energy, mining, and petroleum sectors. Okaasai made the remarks during the China-Uganda investment economic and trade promotion conference held in Kampala.
“On behalf of Uganda we pledge to strengthen our ties with our long-time trade partner China in a bid to explore more channels to pursue economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.” Said Okaasai.

🇺🇬 Community policing plays key role in reduction of defilement cases in Mbale
📌The rate of reported defilement cases in Mbale District,from the months of January to March, 2023 has drastically decreased. The Elgon Region Police Spokesperson, Rogers Taitika has revealed that the reduction is due to an improved police community policing approach.
“In January, we recorded 100 cases, February 89 cases and March 82 cases,” Taitika revealed.
Taitika urged community leaders to always report any criminal cases to Police such that culprits can be arrested and punished in accordance with the law.

🇺🇬 Tycoon Kirumira is Namibia’s ambassador to Uganda 
📌Kampala tycoon Godfrey Kirumira has been appointed Namibia’s ambassador to Uganda. Kirumira arrived in Namibia on Tuesday with his wife Grace Namara and was welcomed by the Foreign Minister Mario Munwela who told him that he had all the qualifications of being their ambassador to Uganda. He was later handed various office supplies including a booklet of Namibian VISAs, stamps, flag flying at his office, home gene on car to travel and other items.

🇺🇬 NUP LC chairperson hails Government on prioritising education
📌The LC III Chairperson Kimmenyedde sub-county, Nakifuma Hajji Juma Lubega (NUP) has praised President Museveni’s Government for prioritising education and good infrastructure. Lubega hailed the Government for constructing in his area Ndwaddemutwe Seed School which he says will “greatly address the educational needs of his community”. He was hosting NRM leaders from the Nakifuma constituency pressure group that had visited the sub county.

🇺🇬 MPs want 8 trillion budget allocation for roads in Kampala
📌Members of Parliament  have called for an increase in the budget allocation for Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) to mitigate the sorry state of roads across the City. The MPs proposed that for the improvement of the road network in the City, an allocation of UgShs 8 Trillion spread over 10 years should be made.

🇺🇬 DPP warns State prosecutors against corruption
📌The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ms. Jane Frances Abodo has warned State prosecutors against getting involved in corruption. Abodo made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the National Symposium of Prosecutors 2022 in Kampala.
“In a bid to fight corruption, we will not bow to unsubstantiated allegations by members of the public or anyone against State prosecutors”. Noted Abodo.

🇺🇬 DPP to commence investigations on OPM officials over Karamoja iron sheets
📌The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Justice Jane Frances Abodo will expand her investigations into the diversion of iron sheets meant for vulnerable people in Karamoja, to officials in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). Abodo said she will inquire into the entire procurement process before she wraps up the iron sheets investigations. She said that her office returned eight Police case files that were sent for scrutiny.

🇺🇬 Uganda’s population to hit 100 million by 2050 
📌The Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Betty Amongi has revealed that Uganda’s population will hit 100 million by 2050. She was addressing stakeholders at the Labour Annual Conference in Kampala. She noted that 11.3 million people in Uganda constitute a strong labour force of which 88% work in the informal sector while 22% are in the formal sector and 69% the population will be youth below 25 years. Amongi revealed  that the national unemployment rate stands at 9.2% while youth unemployment stands at 13.3% and self-employment stands at 60%.

🇺🇬 KIBUKU: Man cons unsuspecting youths to ‘help them join the Police force’ 
📌The Police is investigating circumstances under which one Moses Tugeze, a resident of Tirinyi in Kibuku District pretended to be a police officer and conned some unsuspecting youths of their hard earned money, promising them  jobs in the Uganda Police Force. The victims say that Tugeze convinced them that they would be employed without having to go through the standard recruitment process beacause he has connections with prominent people in the force. The  Bukedi North police spokesperson, Ms Immaculate Alaso warned  the public that police recruitment is free of charge and that every Ugandan with necessary requirements. She urged the public to immediately report anyone asking for money for the same.

🇺🇬 KWANIA: Ministry of Energy embarks on mineral exploration sensitization
📌Following the discovery of minerals in Kwania District, the Ministry of Energy in conjunction with local leaders have started sensitising communities in the sub counties of Ayabi, Atantidi, Amyeso and Kyawete. Joshua Okwaye, the acting Commissioner at the Ministry of Energy told the locals that meetings meant to help prepare them to embrace mineral exploration will soon commence.

🇺🇬 WAKISO: Namungoona residents cry foul over heavy rains that destroyed their houses
📌Residents of Namungoona in Kampala are in dire need of assistance from the Government after heavy rains that caused widespread damage to homes and property.  According to Biira Gertrude,  the LC 1 Namungoona,  nearly 30 households in Namungoona Lubya were affected by the rain and are now homeless.  She requested  for temporary shelter to accommodate the affected people.

🇺🇬 FORT PORTAL: Four suspected child traffickers arrested
📌Police in Fort Portal City have arrested four suspects over allegations of child trafficking. The suspects were allegedly found with 19 children aged between seven to thirteen years from Kasese District being driven to Jinja. According to the Rwenzori West Police Spokesperson Vicent Twesigye, the suspects did not follow any security procedures before taking the children and  they were being transported at night hence putting the children’s lives at risk.

🇺🇬 MBALE: District officials clash with Mbale police over Malukhu land
📌A land dispute between the police in Mbale City Industrial Division and the Mbale District Local Government over land in Malukhu has left many wondering as to who is the rightful land owner. The land in dispute measures half an acre and is located opposite the old Mbale district offices near the Inzu ya Masaba Cultural Institution in Malukhu Ward in the Mbale City Industrial division. According to Rogers Taitika, the Elgon Region Police Spokesperson, the police want to evict all people who have occupied the land and reclaim it since they have the titles. On the other hand, Tom Musungu, the Mbale District Communication Officer, says the land belongs to  Mbale District Local Government because  they too have its land title.

🇺🇬 NAMUTUMBA: Households receive Parish Revolving Accounts
📌Following their approval, over twenty two households in Namutumba District have received the Parish Revolving Fund (PRF) through their accounts. The function was officiated by Hon Minister for Lands and Urban Development Hon Persis Namuganza at Namutumba district headquarters.

🇺🇬 MITYANA: Minister Nabakooba rescues tenants on land in four villages from eviction
📌The Minister for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba has intervened in a land dispute in Ntamu Sub-county, Mityana District where residents of more than four villages which include Nkwali, Kabule, Migo and Sente were on the verge of being forcefully evicted after claimants of the said land issued warnings to them.  Minister Nabakooba called upon the so-called landlords to dialogue with the community for a peaceful coexistence since the majority of the occupants have been on the land for over 40 years.

ACROSS BORDERS
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🌍 Kenya cult death toll hits 90
📌The death toll at a ranch in coastal Kenya that is owned by a pastor accused of leading a religious cult and ordering his followers to starve themselves has reached 90 on Tuesday, as the country’s interior minister Kithure Kindiki announced an expanded operation at the site. The new figure came after police exhumed 17 more bodies. The total number of those rescued while starving at the ranch ‘meet Jesus’ now stands at 34. The Kenya Red Cross Society’s latest figure on the number of missing is 213.  Interior Minister said that the security team will upscale search and rescue missions to save as many lives as possible.

🌍 RWANDA: President Kagame in Zimbabwe for Transform Africa Summit
📌President Paul Kagame has arrived in Zimbabwe for the 6th edition of Transform Africa Summit. The three-day summit slated for April 26 to 28 will draw more than 2,000 global and regional leaders from Government, business and international organisations to collaborate on new ways of shaping, accelerating and sustaining the continent’s on-going digital revolution. President Kagame is expected to deliver a keynote address alongside host President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, and King Mswati III of Eswatini.

🌍 WHO issues alert over ‘contaminated’ India-made cough syrup
📌The World Health Organization has said that a batch of contaminated India-made cough syrup has been found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia. WHO said that the tested samples of Guaifenesin TG syrup, made by Punjab-based QP Pharmachem Ltd, showed “unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol” which are toxic to humans and could be fatal if consumed. In October 2022, WHO linked four cough syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals to the deaths of 66 children from kidney failure.

🌍 Cameroon to deploy troops to CAR, Nigeria borders following spike in  jihadist attacks
📌Cameroon is set to redeploy troops to its borders with Nigeria and the Central African Republic after an increase in attacks from militants and rebels.  The military said hundreds of Boko Haram fighters are hiding in the bush after last week’s invasion of the Mayo Moskota district on the northern border with Nigeria. Hundreds of  homes were set on fire, leaving thousands homeless. Joseph Beti Assomo, Cameroon’s Defense Minister, said President Paul Biya directed him to convene an emergency security meeting in Yaounde this week to examine ways of stopping the attacks.