“TOURISM” A FRUIT IN KASESE WITH KEISER INITIATIVE FOR UGANDA

By. Samuel Mumbere
E-Society

As Kasese District continues to be the center for tourism in Uganda with a number of natural resources like Queen Elizabeth National park, lakes Edward, George and many other small cater and non-crater lakes, Kazinga channel, Katwe and Kasenyi Slat lakes, Mount Rwenzori national park with a very beautiful snow caped and world’s highest mountain, fresh water numerous rivers flowing from the hills to the lakes.

These national parks host the most world’s variety animal and bird species and many other beautiful natural creations.
The district also is a center of minerals like lime stone, copper and future discoveries indicate the presence of gold, oil and gas in some areas. This has triggered the establishment of industries and factories like Hima Cement factory, Kilembe mines, Kasese Cobalt company Limited and many more.
The district hosts 4 hydroelectric power dams in areas of Ibanda, Bugoye, Mubuku and Nsenyi where more three are being constructed and are near completion in areas of Kitswamba, Kilembe and Karambi.

The District supports a lot of cross border trade where it hosts one of the big and most busy boarder town Bwera-Mpondwe towns which support vibrant trade.
Due to the above, very many tourists have found Kasese District their final destination to have a feel of these good things.

In 2004 the District was blessed by one Ms. Ghyslaine Keiser who is a citizen of Switerzland and happened to visit Kasese District and in particular Kasenyi landing site in Lake Katwe Sub County. By good chance, she comes across a group of children who were killing a spiting cobra where she requested her tour guide to stop as she got amazed with these young children. When she discussed with them, he realized that they were not in school and she felt so sorry. When she says, she kept on thinking on how she would help these children and the community at large.
She then formed and organization called Association Keiser initiative for Uganda (AKIU) where she mobilized some funds to help this community.(2005)

Keiser with her Ex. Director

She came back and set up a home in Kasenyi which has since  then become her home in Uganda. And started implementing a  number of projects in the Sub County since 2006. Among the good projects she has supported are; 

1. She constructed a boy’s dormitory that accommodates at least 100 students and a girls’ latrine at Hamukungu landing site. She installed this school with a high power solar system.(2012)

Boys Dormitory in Hamukuku SS

2. She renovated a health center II, (2010) with staff quarters (2014) at Kasenyi landing site. She sponsored most of the equipment being used at the health facility.








3. She established and constructed Kasenyi Kindergarten which is helping most of the pupils in the area.(2007)
4. She established and constructed a solar power water system that pumps water from the lake, treats it and supplies to the community in the area. (2008)

Water Purifier in Kasenyi

5. She constructed nine community toilets at Kasenyi landing site (2012/13/15)









6. She fully renovated the buildings, a 5 stance toilet and installed a high power solar system at Katunguru primary school, Katunguru landing site. (2015)

Buildings rrenovated in Katunguru PS

7. She renovated buildings and installed a high power solar at Busunga primary school. (2014)
8. She built latrine for Kasenyi primary school (2015), latrine for Kasenyi teacher (2016)
9. She has also constructed a health center II, at Busuga, fully equipped it and installed a high power solar system. The health facility is ready and already has some staff and drugs from government and is already taken up as a government community facility.(2016)

Busunga HCII

10. She built house for old people in Kasenyi, give bed and mattress (2016).








11. AKIU support many children from kindergarten to university and vocational school and she support other small projects.

The Kindergaten in Kasenyi

All these projects have given jobs to some capably community members and also provided market for some products and materials from the community.
The association promises to add more projects in these communities especially if what is already in place is well utilized. They propose to procure Ambulances and construct a community multi-Purpose hall at the Sub county headquarters.

All gratitude from the community are given to Ms. Keiser for the good works and support.
More information can be viewed on www.kgiu.ch
a full information Bronchure can be downloaded fromwww.elibrary.kasese.go.ug
Ghyslaine Keiser

Kasese District Holds thebudget conference for 2017/2018

By Samuel Mumbere
E-Society
 

 








Kasese District Local Government yesterday 10th
Nov2016 held a budget conference in preparation for financial year 2017/2018.

 






 The conference that was held at the District Multi-Purpose hall in Kisagazi was majorly chaired by the CAO Mr. Ndifuna Mathias and the District Chairperson Mr. Bigogo Sibendire was held under the theme: Thinking differently: The Kasese we want.

 







The issues presented mainly focused on areas of Education improvement, Infrastructural development, Rural electrification, wealth creation programs, environmental protection, renewable energy, skilling the youth and many more.

End

THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE MAKES A VISIT TO ALL SUB COUNTIES AND URBAN COUNCILS AROUND THE DISTRICT

By: Mumbere Samuel

CAO Addressing Political leaders and civil servants in Mpondwe Town council

For the last 2 weeks, the new Kasese District Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Ndifuna Mathias has been making visits to different Sub Counties and Urban Councils in the District. This week, he visited sub counties of Maliba,Bugoye, Kitswamba, Nyakiyumbu, Isango, Munkunyu, Hima and Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town Councils. During the visit, he specifies that the main purpose of his visit is to sensitize and encourage both political leaders and civil servants to work with the intension of transforming the welfare the society in Kasese District. During his visit to the sub counties and urban councils, he emphasize on the following;

Ø  Both the Political leaders and civil servants being accountable to the community

Ø  Both political and civil servants to portray a good code of conduct with good behaviours and professionalism while serving the community

Ø  Being impartial in terms of religion and political parties because the citizens being served are all Ugandans

Ø  Loyalty to the National Development goals since we all serve the same government especially implementing major government programs like wealth creation and infrastructural development programs.

CAO Addressing people in Munkunyu Sub county

Ø  To avoid selfishness as political and civil servants do their work. he encouraged them to work as a team. and not for selfish or ill intensions

Ø  To be very transparent in all ways as they do their work.

Ø  he also encouraged both political and civil workers to constantly hold meetings since meetings are good management tools

Ø  He encouraged both political and civil servants to be efficient and effective as they execute their duties in order to register results in their performance.

Ø  He also encouraged everybody to always carry out medical checkup as many diseases always affect people unknowingly, so medical checkup on personal or family basis would help mitigate some unnecessary deaths.

Ø  He encouraged the community to embrace education. He said that “In the world on today and tomorrow, no one can be able to survive unless he/she is educated.” he therefore advised parents to stop taking alcohol, meat, buy clothes in favor of educating their children.

Ø  He encouraged community members to work hard to conserve the environment especially by planting trees as much as they can, making Terraces in their gardens. He challenges the sub county Agricultural officers to copy the scientific farming methods used in Kabale hills and be applied in Kasese as well.

Ø  He encouraged all civil servants especially health workers to serve everybody in his/her capacity regardless of religion and political party for better service delivery.

Ø  He encouraged all people to invest in tourism activities since Kasese is a tourist attraction area. people should setup craft shops along roads and also engage in any other tourism activity in order to get money

Ø  He encouraged people to use the wealth creation strategy like; encouraging people who were given seedlings to plant them and share them with other people, and those who were given animals like cows, pigs and goats, keep them well and share them with your neighbors and group mates as they produce.

Ø  He concluded his remarks with encouraging people not to rely on free things. in his words, he said that “There are No free things on this earth.” “Even what is given as free, you must incure a cost to maintain It.” He therefore encouraged people to work hard and use the little resources and opportunities to earn a living and improve their livelihood.

CAO touring Nyakiyumbu Sub County

Very many community members, civil servants, elders and political leaders embraced his visit and described it very unique in nature as they have not experience a Chief and busy his office is visiting and having time with local people for interactions.

Alongside him, he moved with the senior Education Officer to highlight on education issues, the Human resource officer to clarify on civil service, salary and pension issues and the Information Officer to document all the discussions. all these officers encouraged people basically on issues of educating young children, environmental protection through tree planting, good farming methods and production by producing more local thing for sale like in agriculture and tourist attraction items.

End

OVER Sh. 1.6 billion TO TRAIN 40 FOOT PEACE YOUTH

E-Society

by MORIS MUMBERE,

The European Union Delegation in Uganda has earmarked over Sh. 1.6 billion to fund a 3-year Community Action to Prevent and Manage Conflict and Human Rights Violations project in the Rwenzori region.

The project is to be implemented by the Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence (RWECO) in collaboration with Hivos-Netherlands, Jimmy BalukuOdyek the project Coordinator told the press today.

 “We have received Euro 472,500 and equivalent of Ug. Sh. 1.653.750.000 to run a three-year project to sensitize the people on how they could prevent or manage conflicts and human rights violations in this [Rwenzori] region”, Odyek said.

He said that the project is built on the premise that the Rwenzori Region is synonymous with conflicts since 1921and government responses to them have either been political or military while community actions have not been recorded as a means of conflict resolution and yet the communities suffer much the effects of the conflicts. 

Speaking to the press at RWECO offices in Kasese town, Odyek noted that when conflicts break out, lives are lost and property destroyed and social life is disrupted ending into a threat to food security as well.

He said that women, children, people living with disabilities, the elderly and the youths are the most affected groups when conflicts break out.

The Rwenzori region of the country is just recovering from a bloody and property destructive post-election conflict especially in Bundibugyo and Kasese districts during which at least 30 people lost their lives.

RWECO is a consortium of Rwenzori region based NGOs including Karambi Action for Life Improvement (KALI), Good Hope Foundation for Rural Development, Human Rights and Democracy Link Africa (RIDE- AFRICA)  and Rwenzori Information Centres Network (RiC-Net) which will implement the project in the districts of Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kamwenge and Kasese to develop local initiatives aimed at preventing and managing conflicts.

During the project, 40 Foot Peace Ambassadors from 20 sub-counties are to be trained.Under the project, the three Cultural Institutions in the Rwenzori region including the Obusinga bwa Toro Kingdom, the Obusinga bwa Rwenzururu and the ObudhingiyabwaBwamba will be equipped with Electronic equipments for sending peace massages to the people in the region.

The cultural institutions will also be encouraged to work alongside the Interreligious Council of Uganda to preach and send peace messages to the communities.

          ENDS

Three classrooms and an office blown off

E-Society

by MORIS MUMBERE,

Three classrooms and an office at Kyabikuha primary school in Maliba sub-county in Busongora north constituency have been blown off in a windstorm.

The incident happened last evening when the heavy windstorm swept across the area inflicting a big damage to the structures of the school, the head teacher Leonard Monday said.

According to the Monday,  the school has a pupil population of 522 saying he is worried that the remaining classrooms may not accommodate the pupils.

Schools in the country are scheduled to open for the third term on September 26.

The pupils at Kyabikuha primary school will have no alternative  but to study under tree shades which is dangerous to their lives , the head teacher says.

The head teacher appeals to the MPs, the NGOs and all well wishers to come to the rescue of the school before the term begins.

He says the incident had prompted him to call the parents to convene for an emergency meeting on September 20 to discuss how to handle the situation.

ENDS

prolonged dry spell is responsible for the food shortage in various parts

E-Society
By Moris Mumbere

The prolonged dry spell is responsible for the food shortage in various parts of the country, DENIVA,a prominent Human Rights NGO in Uganda has observed.

DENIVA is implementing a project on climate change adoption in agriculture.

Under the project, DENIDA funded by USAID has organized a climatechange week in six districts including Kasese, Kamwenge, Ibanda, Kamuli, Jinja and Mayuge to create awareness on climateadaptation.

In Kasese district, the project is being piloted by Foundation for Urban and Rural Advancement-FURA in the sub-counties of Karusandara and Maliba to help farmers understand its effects and opportunities.

RaubenMbauta, the Chief Executive Office FURA today told this reporter that a number of activities to show-case the results of Climate adaptation in agriculture aiming at increasing awareness among the farmers and the leaders have been planned.

Mbautasaid that State Minister for Agriculture, Hon. ChristopherKibanzanga is expected to preside over an exhibitioninvolvingmessages, literature, presentations at Kamaiba Youth Center in Kasese town between September 21 to 23 September this year.

ENDS

Today in history September 15, 2012 a Student of Kampala high was expelled over gay issues

Today in history September 15, 2012 a Student of Kampala high was expelled over gay issues.

A student of Kampala High school-Uganda was expelled indefinitely for allegedly engaging in Homosexuality, the act that is prohibited in the country.

Reliable sources whose names are withheld on request told the news reporter that SulaimanKilwana was caught ready handed having Homosexuality at the institute Hostel.
The student was reported to the school administration that later preferred an indefinite suspension to him as one way of discouraging the vice to the other students.
“Sulaiman Kilwana was punished by torturing to nearly death before they suspended him,” a class mate at the school Gilbert Tuhimbisibwe confirmed the information.
The suspect and another FaridKawesa, a student at Makerere University were allegedly chased by residents after they were discovered kissing each other in broad day light.
According to SulaimanKiwana while interacting with him on why he decided to join Homosexuality, revealed that he hails from a poor family back ground and that by engaging in Homosexuality, he was able to get little money which he said helped him raise school fees for his young brothers and sisters, as well as catering for his elderly parents.
The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 (previously called the "Kill the Gays bill" in the western mainstream media due to death penalty clauses proposed in the original version) was passed by the Parliament of Uganda on 20 December 2013 with life in prison substituted for the death penalty.
The bill was signed into law by the President of Uganda on 24 February 2014. On 1 August 2014, however, the Constitutional Court of Uganda ruled the Act invalid on procedural grounds.
The Act, should it take effect, would broaden the criminalization of same-sex relations in Uganda domestically. It also includes provisions about persons outside of Uganda who are charged with violating the Act, asserting that they may be extradited to Uganda for punishment there. The Act also includes penalties for individuals, companies, and non-governmental organizations that aid or abet same-sex sexual acts, including conducting a gay marriage.
Same-sex relationships have been illegal in Uganda since British colonial rule – as they are in many sub-Saharan African countries – and before this Act was passed, they were punishable by incarceration in prison for up to 14 years.
The Act was introduced as a private member's bill by Member of Parliament (MP) David Bahati on 14 October 2009. A special motion to introduce the bill was passed a month after a two-day conference was held in which three Christians from the United States asserted that homosexuality is a direct threat to the cohesion of African families.
END

District Boss Warn Parents Leaving On Mountains over Early Marriages

By MORIS MUMBERE

E-society

KABAROLE: The District Chairman Kabarole Mr.Rwabuhinga Richard has strongly warned the parents leaving on the slopes of Mount Rwenzori against the habit off marrying their daughters at a tender age to get dowry.

“It’s now your habit that you feel can’t be changed but such character of marring off your children limits home development” Rwabuhinga said.

He says marrying off the daughters before the age of 18 not only affects the victims but also undermines development in the area.

Mr.Rwabuhinga advises the parents to refrain from such bad cultural practices of giving out their daughters for marriage as early as 13 years but focus at adding value to them so as to become important people in future.

The chairman explains that a parent who educates his or her daughter to a diploma or degree level adds value on her and she fetches good money in terms of dowry because educated and wealth men compete for her.

Using an example of a bottle of soda bubbling due to high temperatures, Rwabuhinga compared parents marrying off their daughters at a tender age with some greedy person who rushes to drink soda suds thinking he is taking soda and yet he takes empty and the liquid remain in the bottle.

He was on Monday speaking as chief guest to parents and students at the official commissioning a two classroom block at St.Joseph Secondary school in Karangura Sub County. Karangura,Kabonero and Katebwa are leading sub counties in cases of early marriage and defilement.

The chairman told the parents that the construction of the school in the hard to reach sub county will be a solution to averting early marriage and school dropout since the children will no longer be trekking long distances.

Mr.Kahuzo Elkanah the LC3 Karangura appreciated the district chairman and former woman mp Kabarole Hon.Victoria Businge Rusoke for their regular follow up of the shs200m presidential pledge and Fort Portal diocese for offering them land whre the school seats.

End.