KASESE TO HOST THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL WORLD AIDS DAY COMMEMORATION ON 1ST DECEMBER

By; John B. Thawite

Kasese has been selected to host this year’s national function to commemorate the World AIDS Day on 1^st December 2015, the Uganda AIDS Commission has revealed.

A document from the office of the Director-General of the Uganda AIDS Commission Director-General, Dr Christine Ondoa, says His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda will grace the function as the chief guest.

The day, which is held rotationally in different district each year, will be marked under the theme: “Getting to Zero, My responsibility,” which is within the Global theme for the World AIDS Campaign of “Zero new HIV infections, zero stigma and zero AIDS-related deaths.”

Chairing the first meeting of the Kasese District Organising Committee on Monday, an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Johnson Mutungwanda, said the function will be held at Nyaksanga Play Ground in Kasese Municipality, because the venue is central and spacious enough.

In a press statement issued statement issued Thursday 5^th December, 2015, the Kasese District Information Officer and District HIV Focal Person, John B. Thawite, urged general public has been urged to re-examine their roles and commitments to the prevention and control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“We appeal to all leaders at various levels - civil society, private sector and faith-based organisations, groups and individuals - to cooperate and embrace the campaign and as one way of preventing further transmission of HIV and to mitigate its effects among the infected and the affected,” John Thawite said.

He said the World AIDS Day theme is meant to remind us that getting to zero will be realised only if individuals take measures to protect themselves and their loved ones from getting infected and to ensure that those infected and affected are not demonised.

In the press statement, Mr. Thawite, therefore asked the general public to turn up in large number to accord the commemoration the importance it deserves.

Significance of World AIDS Day

World Aids Day is one of the most recognized international health days in the world.

It serves as a platform and an opportunity to raise awareness and advocacy, community mobilisation and re-energising the role of leaders at household, community and national levels towards HIV prevention and control.

World AIDS also serves to take stock of the achievements, challenges, commemorate those who have passed away and to re-dedicate ourselves to the fight against the epidemic.

Government improves road network in Kasese rural and mountainous areas

By; Samuel Mumbere

The government of the republic of Uganda through the Community Agriculture Infrastructure improvement programme (CAIIP) has embarked on improving the road network in mountainous areas. A program that started in the district in 2014 has so far rehabilitated 67.6km roads in 4 sub counties of Bwesumbu, Kilembe, Kyarumba, and  Nyakiyumbu where Rukoki and Munkunyu sub counties benefit as neighbor sub counties of Kilembe and Nyakiyumbu respectively. The programme has connected very may hard to reach areas across the district mainly in mountainous areas and coffee growing areas where coffee processing machines are also being constructed.

          

The RDC,CAO,Dist.Chairperson
,Civil servants & CAIIP 
Engineers inspecting the
 Kilembe-mbunga Nyakazinga road and a machine 
working on the Mahango road

LCV inspecting projects in Karambi S/C

Over this year 2015, the District Chairperson Lt. Col (Rtd) Mawa Muhindo has been Launching the construction of a number of roads and the District Resident Commissioner Mj. (Rtd) James Mwesige has been commissioning these roads in different areas of the district.

D/CP Mawa Launching a road in
Kyarumba in Oct 2015

The RDC James Launching the
 Kilembe Mbunga road in jan 2015

  

In 2014 Phase I of the project started where they worked on the 17km Munkunyu-Nyakiyumbu road, the 18.5km Rukoki-Kilembe road through Mbunga, Nyakazing was launched and is complete.

Dist. Engineer & Late. Hon.Mathew inspecting the Munkunyu road in jan 2015

Currently, phase II of the project has started where a total of 49.4Kms are to be rehabilitated in the same sub counties adding on what had been worked on.  On 21^st Oct 2015, the 12.7km Bwesumbu-Lhume-Kihangwe-Kibuta road and the construction of a coffee processing plant was also launched in Bwesumbu Sub County by the representative of the District Chairperson Hon. Bomera Richard who is also the Chairperson social services committee in the district council, the 10.7km Kilembe-Kibandama road and the construction of a coffee processing plant was also launched in Kilembe Sub County by Hon. Bomera.

Hon. Bomera Launchig a road in Bwesumbu

On 22^nd Oct 2015, the construction of the 10.9 km Kabimba, kitabu, Nyakakindo road in Kyarumba sub county and more three 15.1km roads in Nyakiyumbu sub county  were launched by the District Chairperson Lt. Col (Rd) Mawa Muhindo.

This has marked tremendous developments in these areas. The District Chairperson and the RDC have encouraged the community members to use the roads areas improve production and marketing of agricultural products and also utilize services like schools and health facilities in these areas well since transport has been made easy in these areas.

The projects have been closely monitored by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mr. William Kanyesigye.  The District Chairperson, The RDC and the CAO have strongly teamed up to make field tours to each and every project to ensure good works to be done the team greatly thank the Cao Mr. Kanyesigye for the good cooperation and lobbying techniques and advises.

LCV,RDC,CAO & Civil servants
 sharing with Mahango residents

Dist. Officials sharing with
 contractors in Kyarumba

  

LCV,CAO & RDC sharing before
addressing a dialogue meetin in Mbunga

During their field tours, they have held community meetings to explain to the community members on the importance of infrastructural development in their areas and how best they can utilize the opportunities.

The CAO sharing with a pupil in Mbata

The Dist. Sn Enginer & CAO inspecting a
 bridge under construction in mbata

Internet is a right to everyone

East Africa, across all countries in and outside Africa. The two day forum in internet freedom has come to an end in Kampala. a number of issues, initiatives on promoting, guiding and protecting internet users have been discussed. according to hon. Vincent Bagiire, the chair of ICT committee in parliament of Uganda has advised all internet users that, internet can only be useful if its used well. All people are encouraged to exercise their freedom, access and share information through the internet. the forum.There are a number of policies and laws that protect the internet users in Uganda.All citizens of Uganda, the media are all encouraged to use the internet through all the available resources. however, we are encouraged to not to misuse it because this could lead to leagal implications. great thanks to CIPESA, Open technology Fund, Hivos, Ford Foundation, UNESCO and many more organizations for organizing, facilitating and moderating the Forum

Are people free to use the internet

By; Samuel Mumbere

Throughout Africa, there has been a question of Internet freedom especially the social media. A two day Forum on Internet freedom in East Africa is on going at Kampala Golf course Hotel. a number of delegates across Africa and outside Africa have gathered and a number of issues are being discussed on how there can be freedom of expression through the social media (Facebook, whatsup, blogs, twitter etc) and some issues have been pointed out.
1.Across African countries, there has been some suppression, threats and intimidation on some people while expressing their view over the internet especially issue pointing out government performance in different sectors.

2. I has been seen in some countries where internet, Facebook and other online systems have been disabled during elections.

3. Torture of journalists has also been seen as another problems, in short

4. Many social media users especially on Facebook and whatsup get exited and end up posting wrong Or Insulting Or bad information on the media.

Heads are being put together on how people can be empowered with freedom of using well the social media on how to positively share their views with out interference especially during such sensitive times of elections.

You can follow the discussions on https://twitter.com/hashtag/fifea

People’s livelihood in villages

By; Samuel Mumbere

On a 5 days home to home visitation, last week from 17^th August to 21^st August 2015 Kasese District Local Government, was conducting a survey in different areas across the district. The survey that covered at least 20 sub counties, Kasese Municipality and Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town council was more focused on reproductive health, Child health, people’s awareness about Malaria, STIs, HIV/AIDS, sanitation and infrastructural development.

Seven categories of people were interviewed in every village by random sampling. The categories are; an OVC, a mother on a child 0-11 months, a youth 15-24years, a woman 15-49 years, a man 15-49 years, a mother of a child 12-23 months and a mother of a child 24-59 months

Among sub counties in Bukonzo west that were visited are

;

S/N	Sub county	Villages visited	Number of household visited
1	Mpondwe-Lhubiriha TC	River Mpondwe Kaserengethe	14
2	Isango S/C	Isango I Rusese A	14
3	Bwera S/C	Nyakimasa Kisabu II	14
4	Ihandiro S/C	Bubutyo Ihango	14
5	Karambi S/C	Kyamuhamira Ø  Kiyinzo	14
6	Kitholhu S/C	Ø  Kisebere Ø  Buhuruthi	14

Most of these areas are mountainous. During my visit to these sub counties, I made the following key observations

Most of the villages especially mountainous areas have a health Centre nearby, a school both government and private with in at least 2km vicinity, have good marrum access roads nearby and piped water within at least 2Kms of every village.

It was also observed that at least more than 70% of the people live in permanent and semi-permanent houses with at least a well-built pit latrine.

It was observed that most of the people i.e the youth, men and women know about HIV/AIDs, STIs and malaria, but are so reluctant on issues of prevention and cure

It was observed that there are less cases of mal nutrition in both children and the old though people do not care much about good feeding.

It was observed that at least the biggest percentage of the mothers go for anti-natal care and give birth in health centres.

It was observed that people careless about personal and hygiene, but are averagely healthy on their bodies.

It was also observed that more than 90% of the people take un boiled and un treated water.

It was observed that people eat at least 2 meals a day and have a few economic activities that sustain their livelihood.

According to the Sub county chief of Karambi Sub county Mrs. Masika Ruth, Most of the people in Bukonzo west are a little bit better off only that community needed to be sensitized more to take issues of education and hardworking more serious because most of the youth are still getting very much engaged in alcoholism, sexual promiscuity, early marriages, school dropout rates and laziness.

We therefore need to thank government for the good works and standards of living. We encourage everyone to take concern on participating in improving people’s livelihood to the grass root.

Ends

Kasese District to improve road network in mountainous areas as a key development strategy

By Samuel

E-Society

In the bid to reduce poverty in Kasese, the district leadership is embarking most on roads connecting mountainous areas. Most of the sub counties like Bwesumbu, Buhuhira, Mahango, Kyarumba, Karambi, Ihandiro, Nyakiyumbu and many more have had new roads opened and well-constructed  to connect various places in Kasese District.

Today, the RDC Kasese has yet commissioned another road that will connect Rukooki and Kilembe sub counties through the mountains.

This comes after central government sends funds to the district through the CAAIP project to construct roads in hard to reach areas. The road starts at Kigoro I Primary School through the steep mountains to Kilembe Hospital market (Katiri)

The RDC was accompanied by the District Chairperson, The Vice Chairperson, The Hon. Secretary for works, Hon. Councilors from Rukoki sub county, the District Engineer, the Assistant engineers in charge of roads, the sub county chief Rukoki sub county, the LCIII Chairperson Rukoki sub county and many more officials.

The District chairperson convened a community dialogue meeting which the leaders were joined by the community members of Kigoro. A number of issues were addressed and discussed in an interactive manner where the LCIII Chairperson Mr. Muhindo Yohana Kidwek thanks the leaders for having come and also talk to the people. He marked a number of government acheivements over the last three years some of which are; there are two millers under CDD program, all health centres do receive drugs adequately and are staffed, they received over 1 million coffee seedlings and have been planted in different parishes, they have civil servants, teachers and managed to have have 3 youths recruited in district service from the sub county, staff quarters were constructed in 2 schools, one health centre in Kigoro, it was constructed and has drugs to mention but a few. He thanked the district leader for having fulfilled their pledge of constructing this road. He requested the RDC and the District chairperson to tell people how to use the blessing to improve their livelihood and reduce poverty.

Both the RDC and the LCV Chairperson requested the people to stop marrying many women and make use of the road to transport their agricultural produce, access health services and Kilembe hospital and also told them to appreciate the little that government has done in Kasese compared to other districts.

The contractor also Eng. Waiswa Richard of AZU Properties Limited requested the people to be cooperative and not steal construction materials

The RDC the proceeded to the commissioning grounds to officially kick start the construction works

http://youtu.be/RYaZzNIaB6A

Infrastructural development a key pillar in the district development

By Samuel

E-Society-Kasese

The new road quality

Kasese District leadership has embarked on infrastructural development especially in rural areas in order to improve people’s live hood. This is being implemented by the improvement of community access road networks under the CAAIP project, rural electrification, agricultural development, construction of schools and health Centre.

The new Munkunyu-Bwera Road

On 5^th jan 2015, members of the district executive together with the district engineers made an inspection visit to three sub counties of Munkunyu, Nyakiyumbu and Bwera where some of the community access roads are being constructed. One of the roads that were visited among many was the Munkunyu-Bwera Hospital road that goes through Nyakiyumbu, Mundongo and Kyanzi. The project has been a very big success since it goes through a very rural area. It has really improved the live hood of the people in these three sub counties as you can  hear from the Hon. Sec. for works Mr. Mathew BwambaleClick here http://youtu.be/k3za3GfTVLw

Hon. Mathew and Eng. Rujumba

In the same way, electricity has been extended to these local communities along the same road from Bwera, through Mundongo, Nyakiyumbu and to Munkunyu. This electricity project was cofounded under the Kasese District Development Programme (KDPRP) funded by the Belgium government. This has been a very big blessing to the people of these three sub counties where it had never been a dream in their live. You can view a word from Hon Mathew and the Assistant District Engineer about these development.  click here http://youtu.be/MAnbUvaWnp8

The electricity extensions being made in Nyakiyumbu-munkynyu Scounties

Kasese Service delivery monitoring drive 2015

By Samuel

E-Society-Kasese

Yesterday Monday 5^th Jan 2015, the District Chairperson Lt.Col (Rtd) Dula Mawa Muhindo started the year 2015 with a service delivery monitoring drive in local communities. This drive is being done by visiting different sub counties and holding community leadership meeting at sub county level. In a meeting that was organized by the LC III chairperson where the District Chairperson was the chief guest and was accompanied by the Sec. Administration, works and finance Hon. Mathew Bwambale together with the Ass. Dist. Engineer in charge of Roads Mr. Rujumba David

The meeting was held at Karambi S/C headquarters. It comprised of community leaders like LC I Chairpersons, Parish chiefs, District councilors, civil society organization leaders, business men, security officers, civil servants religious leaders and community elders from all over the sub county.

The LCIII chairperson Mr. Balitebya Martin welcomed the members present; he recognized what the District chairperson had done by officially visiting the leaders of Karambi Sub County. He thanked the LCV Chair for being a unique leader

Mr. Martin named projects being carried out as; teacher’s staff quarters in some schools, road constructions from Karambi to kyabayenzi, construction of 2 modern class room blocks at Mirami primary school and many other projects that are being done.

He recognized funds being released from central government and were being used for; Bikunya market VIP latrine, Karambi sub county new market, kisolholho new market, rehabilitation of Karambi health centre (above 7M) for electricity connection at Karambi health centre III, opening of community access roads like, Karambi TC-karukumiza road, bukinya-karambi road and a few more. There is also still few funds to extend the road to down mirami and put maram soil,

There are projected activities like electricity connection to headquarters building, construction of VIP latrine and rehabilitation of  Karambi market, there is a program of opening a cattle holding market in the sub county in order to cub market in congo. He called upon the political leaders to be disciplined as they do their politics since 2015 is a year of political struggles. He cautioned them not to talk to people what they can’t explain and not to over promise people

It was observed that most educated people are the ones who oppose most of the community service acts. They tend to be big headed and demoralizing to the community members.

The District Chairperson raised a number of issues among of which were; the issue of uncompleted roads works which were pending since 2013. We had moved along with the District Engineer in charge of roads who had to answer to the members why the roads were incomplete. He also promised that the roads which had worn out were to be worked on in the coming financial years.  LCIII was tasked to answer why some roads were being neglected and miss used by the locals especially by dumping wastes in them, he claimed that he had to have told the LCI chairmen to mobilize people to do community service and it wasn’t done.

All LCI chairpersons, religious leaders and cultural elders were tasked to sensitize their local people on issues of education, sanitation, discipline children and the youth, fight against domestic violence and clean roads so as to improve the livelihood of the people.

The chairman also told them that the government had done a lot for the sub county like opening community access roads, constructing schools, extending electricity and constructing a health Centre II. Therefore, it’s now the role of the people to utilize these resources to improve their livelihood.

The members present had enough time to interact with the chairman, they presented their concerns and challenges some of which were to upgrade Karambi Health Centre II to IV and also stop transferring and giving study leaves to health workers since those were the biggest challenges of the health Centre

Now the CLV chair then led the whole team for a projects inspection in the sub county. Among the projects that were inspected were; the uncompleted road, the misused road, the newly constructed bridge

The people of Karambi showed great appreciation towards the chairperson’s follow up visit and the good spirit of cooperation which he is showing especially uniting leaders who are of different political parties to one working team for service delivery and promised to work with him much better.