𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐏

𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄 295
🄰🄵🅃🄴🅁🄽🄾🄾🄽 🄴🄳🄸🅃🄸🄾🄽
𝐌𝐀𝐘 12, 2023
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🇺🇬  UPDF deploys more troops for peace to prevail in Karamoja
📌The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has deployed additional troops in the three divisions in the Karamoja sub-region. The 501 Infantry Brigade under the command of Colonel Benard Kashemeza is headquartered in Abuku, Abim district, whereas the 81 Infantry Battalion, commanded by Maj. Stephen Omonyi, which previously operated in Abim, was re-adjusted to  also cover Agago District. This follows a recent joint security assessment of the situation led by Brig. Gen. Felix Busizoori, the Deputy Division Commander who pitched camp in the district last month.
“Based on the security situation and assessment, we have tactically deployed and re-adjusted troops for peace to prevail. Peace in Abim means peace in Otuke, Agago, and parts of Kitgum,” said Brig. Gen. Busizoori.

🇺🇬 Top Police commanders in hot soup over theft of traffic fines
📌Police is investigating reports of traffic officers accused of being involved in the theft of Ugx5 Billion in express penalty scheme money. According to the Acting Director for Traffic and Road Safety, Lawrence Nuwabiine, initial investigations have pinned a number of officers and some are already relieved of their duties and recalled to Police headquarters pending prosecution. The accused officers include the former head of EPS car tracking unit, ASP Faridah Nampiima, Police superintendents Clare Ansansiire and Sylvia Auma who have been withdrawn from the Traffic Directorate.

🇺🇬 Uganda and Algeria extend ties in Oil, infrastructure and energy
📌President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said that he is happy H.E Abdelmadjid Tebboune responded very well to the signed memoranda of understanding in the various areas agreed upon when he visited Algeria earlier this year.
“I welcome the collaboration in the energy sector on Oil Refinery, infrastructure development and Electricity Generation. We will be happy to work with the Algerians”, the President said.
The President on Thursday met with Mr Mohamed Arkab, the Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines and his delegation at State House Entebbe.

🇺🇬 Speaker warns MPs over refusal to declare wealth
📌The Speaker of Parliament Hon Anita Among has sent a stern warning to Members of Parliament (MPs) who have refused to declare their assets, income and liabilities to the Inspectorate of Government (IG). While presiding over Wednesday’s plenary session, Among warned that  21 out of the 535 legislators hadn’t made the declarations.

🇺🇬 Over 500 youths graduate in vocational skills
📌 575 youths have been awarded certificates in vocational skills courtesy of KCB Bank Uganda together with the German Development Cooperation under the ‘Twekozese Program’. The trainees have graduated in plumbing, welding, masonry and electric installation at Datamine, Lugogo and Ntinda Vocational training Institutes. During the graduation ceremony, the KCB Bank-Uganda Managing Director, Edgar Byamah said that the move was essential to transform the lives of many Ugandans. James Macbeth, the GIZ Country Director, expressed gratitude to the learners and challenged them to participate in the global world technology.

🇺🇬  KOBOKO: Suspected PPR disease kills 50 goats
📌At least 50 goats have died in Koboko Municipality following an outbreak of a strange viral disease suspected to be Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). The suspected cases have been reported in Koboko North and West Divisions with the majority of animal deaths in Anjirigo Cell. Dr. Ajuga Francis, the Koboko District Veterinary Officer says samples of the suspected cases of PPR disease have since been taken to the Regional Animal Laboratory in Arua for testing. The affected animals experience diarrhoea, a white discharge through the mouth and nose. Ajuga has advised farmers to isolate the infected animals and report suspected cases to the field veterinary officers at sub county headquarters.

🇺🇬 KASESE: 17-year old boy arrested over impregnating four minors
📌Police in Hima division in Kasese District have in their custody, a 17-year old boy accused of defiling four minors, one of whom is in Primary Five. The suspect is said to have impregnated two girls from Kinyabwamba lower cell and two others from Maliba sub-county. The Hima Division Community Liaison Officer, Solomon Mugisa, has confirmed the arrest. The teen boy is a resident of Kinyabwamba upper village in Kitswamba sub-county.

🇺🇬 BUDAKA: UPDF Wazalendo SACCO donates water tanks to school
📌The UPDF’s Wazalendo Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (WSACCO) has donated two 5,000 litre water harvest tanks to Zuriitech Secondary School in Budaka District. The Vice Chairman Board of Directors (BOD) WSACCO, Lt Col Allan Kitanda on behalf of the Chairman Maj Gen Sam Kavuma said they donated the water harvesting tanks to promote hygiene and sanitation among students. He also noted that donating to the school was a gesture of giving back to the community and promoting members’ developments as stipulated in the vision of Wazalendo SACCO.

🇺🇬  GULU:  Commercial Officer sent on remand over mismanagement of PDM funds 
📌The Gulu Chief Magistrate Court has remanded Gulu City Commercial Officer Nickson Atemo Komakech to prison over mismanagement of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds. Komakech was accused of giving false information in relation to the mismanagement of PDM funds. He was subsequently remanded to Gulu Main Prison until May 25, 2023. The arrest and prosecution of Atemo follows a directive by President Museveni to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate allegations of abuse of the Parish Development Model funds by district and technical staff in the city and the districts in Acholi sub-region.

🇺🇬 RUBANDA: Minister directs SHA-CU to arrest water officer for misappropriation funds
📌The Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Beatrice Akello, instructed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to arrest and investigate Rubanda District Water Officer, David Otika over misappropriation of public funds. It is alleged that Otika is responsible for the shoddy works on Shs6.2 billion Bushura Gravity Water Flow scheme in Hamuhambo Town Council.  Akello issued the directive during her 5-day economic monitoring of Government projects in the district of Kigezi sub-region. Otika failed to explain the expenditure of Ugx 600 million on constructing a water reservoir at a place without a water source.

🇺🇬 KATAKWI: Construction works at Toroma Seed School progressing
📌Monitoring of the ongoing construction of Toroma Seed School and Acanga Primary School in Katakwi District is progressing as works have reached the roofing level. During a quality assessment tour of the project, the District Engineer revealed that the ongoing project will include classroom blocks, multipurpose blocks, IT laboratory and staff block.

🇺🇬 GULU CITY:  Police on hunt for notorious gang of serial rapists
📌Police in Gulu is on the hunt of a notorious gang of serial rapists operating in the areas of Layibi, Gulu University, St. Mauritz, Custom Corner and Lacor.  According to residents,  the goons move in groups of three to five, with chloroform to gain access to their victim’s houses whom they rob and gangrape. The City Police commander Swaibe Taban says investigations are ongoing and preliminary investigations indicate that these criminals sometimes disguise themselves as boda boda riders operating late at night, targeting  female clients.

ACROSS BORDERS
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🌍 UN votes to intensify monitoring of rights abuses as  Sudan argues the conflict is an internal affair
📌 The UN Human Rights Council has voted to increase monitoring of human rights abuses in Sudan amidst strong opposition from Sudanese representatives. A total of 18 countries supported the Western-led motion at a special session in Geneva, yet 15 voted against and 14 abstained. Sudan argues that the conflict which has claimed hundreds of civilians since fighting erupted last April, is an internal affair.

🌍  Tanzania opens Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
📌 Tanzania has opened its first bone marrow transplant Centre in the capital Dodoma.  According to the Director of Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, this is a milestone for the country’s health sector. The unit will focus on treating patients with Sickle Cell. Tanzania ranks fourth in the world for the highest rate of Sickle Cell Disease with around 11,000 children born with the disease each year, according to Tanzania’s Health Ministry.

🌍 US accuses South Africa of sending weapons to Russia
📌 The US has accused South Africa of supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia last December, despite claims of neutrality in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The US ambassador to Pretoria, Reuben Brigety, told South African press that arms were ferried using a Russian ship at a naval base in Simon’s Town. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has not confirmed the allegations, telling parliament that investigations into the matter are underway.
“Among the things we noted was the docking of the cargo ship in the Simon’s Town naval base between 6 to 8 December 2022, which we are confident uploaded weapons and ammunition on to that vessel in Simon’s Town as it made its way back to Russia,” the ambassador was quoted saying.