Kasese initiates clubs to fight cases of child abuse

In spite of concerted effort by different stakeholders to fight child abuse, the vice remains a major challenge to the local authorities in Kasese District, child rights activists have observed. Between 10 and 20 cases are recorded by police in the district everyday.
The police officer in charge of child and family protection unit, Ms Zebia Kabugho, says they receive cases of defilement, missing children, child neglect and mother failure to declare the rightful fathers to their children.
Since police and other stake holders have not been able to identify all sorts of abuses committed against the children, a non-governmental organisation has come up with a new project aimed at providing a platform for children to air their views on problems affecting them.
The platform called “Child rights integrated programme” under the section of child rights governance, aims at alerting members of the community to take action on major child rights violations in the district.
Mr Bright Antony Malere, the programmes officer at African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Children Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), says because of so many unreported cases of child abuse cases in schools and villages, the NGO has been forced to introduce the children council.
Council’s work
This council is mandated to monitor child rights violations in the district and hold regular meetings to disseminate their findings. From August 2010 to July this year, ANPPCAN settled more than 232 child abuse-related cases committed in Kasese.
This council is composed of district officials and 12 committee members from each of the 12 schools in the six sub-counties counties where the project is implemented.
Mr Ronald Makewo, a parent of Nyabugando Primary School, said the child rights committee at their school has helped stop corporal punishment by reporting the teachers to the authorities.

According to Makewo, defilement cases have also reduced because the club has publically exposed such teachers. Ms Ritah Ntegyerize, the children programme officer Save the Children - Uganda that funds the project through Anppcan asked the children to report any crimes to the council. “You too can do something and cause a change,” she added.

Kasese has the highest number of early marriages:

The authorities in Kasese are struggling to contain the increasing number of child-mothers in the district due to defilement and high rate of early marriages. The Rwenzururu kingdom health minister Mr. Enock Muhindo said all the stake holders should educate people against the traditional practice among the Banyarwanzururu of marrying girls below the age of 18.

At the National Peace exposition Day planning meeting held in kasese under the title “EARLY MARRIAGE AND CHILD-MOTHER IN THE DISTRICT “he said many child-mothers are finding it difficult to cope with the health along this rising economic situation’s Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng,the executive Director of the ISIS-women international cross cultural exchange, the organizers of the program said their findings show that kasese has the highest number of early marriages and consequently child-mother in the region.

The high rate of early marriages reported among some communities in the Rwenzori sub region and Kasese in particular may result in a socio-economic crisis if not curbed.
The district V/c/person Ms Naume Mbambo said the district is also facing problems of poor maternity facilities. “Our health units in rural areas lack delivery items in the maternity ward” she said there is a shortage of beds, mattresses, gloves and other necessities for the expectant mothers. Due to poor communication network in the District some mothers have been forced to deliver on the way or at home, in other related issue, some parents look at daughters as source of wealth and made it difficult to fight defilement.

It is believed that Kasese District has 3 hospitals and 63 health Units out of which 16 are government aided while 46 are privately owned. Doctor to population ratio stands at 1:31300 midwife/nurse to population ratio at 1:2196.female fertility rate at 7:4 children and maternal mortality at 39%
Source; the monitor of 30th sept 2011

Mumbere speaks out on Gadaffi fall

The Rwenzururu king has described the fall of Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi as unfortunate for African cultural institutions.

Charles Wesley Mumbere was speaking on Sunday during a dinner at Rwenzori Basecamp Hotel, Ibanda.

He had hosted leaders of corporate bodies, the business community and politicians in Rwenzururu kingdom.

Read more on the link.........

Kasese District Current Leadership List

Retired Lt Col Mawa Muhindo is the district chairperson, having been popularly elected in this year’s elections. Contact: 0777296912.

The current Assistant Chief Administrative Officers (ACAOs) are Mr. Johnson Mutungwanda (in charge headquarters), Mr. Wilson Asaba (Bukonzo County) and Mrs. Muhindo Rehema (Busongora County).

Rwenzururu king: His majesty Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere, the Irema Ngoma

Kasese District representatives to the parliament Contacts
Bukonzo West: Hon. Dr Crispus Kiyonga (also Defence minister) 0712798581
Bukonzo East: Hon. Bihande Yokasi Bwambale, 077265801
Woman MP: Hon. Kiiza Winnie Bihande
Busongora North: Hon. William Nzoghu
Busongora South: Hon. Kafuda Boaz
Kasese Municipality: Hon. Mbahimba James


Other district leaders
Resident District Commissioner: Captain James Mwesigye 0772456598
Deputy Resident District Commissioner: Aminadabu Muhindo 0772613276
Vice c/man (also Sec Fin. Planning and Admin: Hon Naome Mbambu 0772323829
Mayor Kasese Municipal Council: Baluku Kabbyanga Godfrey Kiime 0772519652/0752890268
District Speaker: Hon Mubingwa Zephanus 0772496140
Deputy District Speaker: Hon Jane Asimwe 0772929899
Secretary Social Services: Hon John Businge 0772610473
Sec for Production, Marketing & Nat Resources: Hon Julia Masika 0779785273
Secretary Works and Technical Services: Hon Mathew Bwambale 0773650644
District Planner: Godfrey Mugisa Masereka 0772368343
Chairperson District Service Commission: Emmy Bwenge Masereka
Dist Water Officer: George Kalende 078547779
Dist Education Officer: George Mayinja 0772580216
District Director Health Services: Dr. Baseka Yusuf 0772859062
District Information Officer: Thawite B. John 0772516325
Community-Based Services Officer: Birungi Ben 0772605579
Ag Principle Personnel Officer: Joshua Miramagho 0772680343
Council Clerk to Council: Bihanikire Godwin 0772884758
Town Clerk Kasese Municipality: Francis Byabagambi
Deputy Town Clerk Selverio Mukobi
Hima Town Clerk: Robert Mwesigwa
Ag.Town Clerk Katwe/Kabatoro Town Council: Seezi Muhairwe
Mpondwe-Lubiriha Town Council: Eva Biira Ngene 0752531657/0700300883
Chairperson Dist Public Accounts Committee: Benjamin Tibisimwa
Chairperson District Land Board: Uriah Baluku
Chief Finance Officer: Kambale Ferigo 0772658111
Dist Agricultural Officer: Munyazikwiye Theresa 0772499295
Dist Production Coordinator: Dr Muhindo Xavier 0752885952
Principal Dist Fisheries Officer: Julius Baluku 0772624683
District Veterinary Officer: Dr Kalule Godfrey 0772888426
District Forestry Officer: Wilberforce Bwambale 0772555183
Dist Physical Planner: Katikiro Alex 0772514526
Dist Natural Resources officer: Katswera Joseph
Head Procurement & Disposal Unit Moses Mugisa 0772633519/0702633519
District Police Commander: Moses Kafeero


Top Religious Leaders
South Rwenzori Diocese (Anglican): Rt. Rev. Jackson Thembo Nzerebende 0772713736
Catholic Diocese of Kasese: Egidio Nkaijanabwo 0772430776
Pentecostal Churches: Pastor Nathan Ibrahim Turyamureeba 0772469147
Ag. District Khadi: Sheikh Abdul Hakim Juma
Executive Director S.W Uganda Field SDA Church: Pastor Mutwanga

Kasese District expresses fears of hunger and poverty in the 2012

The Kasese district Secretary for production Julia Masika has expressed fears of hunger and poverty in the 2012 following the abandonment of food crops by farmers opting for cotton this season.

Speaking to Kasese Guide Radio yesterday, Masika who is also the Munkunyu sub-county woman district councilor said farmers have not planted enough food crops which indicates that they will not save money from the cotton harvest.

The cotton season that starts in August runs concurrently with food crops cultivation especially beans, maize and ground nuts.

Masika said that the situation in January and February next year will force farmers to buy food for home consumption because there will be low harvest.

She said poverty may not be dealt with if people use cotton incomes to buy food instead of using the money for investment and paying school fees for their children.

She urged farmers to also consider the food crops that can grow well in cotton gardens like Maize so that they are assured of what to eat during harvest.

THE Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu will be commemorating the demise of the first King Isaya Mukirania Kibanzanga 1

THE Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu will be commemorating the demise of the first King
Isaya Mukirania Kibanzanga 1 on the 2nd.sept. 2011

The Kingdom spokes person Hon. Nyamunungu Patrick confirmed the event to Kasese
Guide Radio this evening.

The founding King died on 2nd.9.1966 in the Rwenzori Mountains, he was laid to
rest at Bulemba in Ihandiro sub-county in Kasese district. His grave is in the
Rwenzori National Park where a monument has been erected.


Hon. Patrick who is also Minister of Information told Guide Radio that the
function to mark this day will be held at Bulemba adding that those
Banyarwenzururu who will not make it at Bulemba will assemble at Buhikira royal
Palace in Kasese Municipality, where his Majesty Omusinga Charles Wesley
Iremangoma will address them.

Hon. Christopher Kibanzanga, the chief Prince will represent the royal familyat
Bulemba, and will lead all the Banyarwenzururu to the Isaya Mukirania’s grave
in the Rwenzori mountains National park while Hon. Kule Walyuba the minister of
cultural sites and environment will deliver Omusinga’s speech to the
Banyarwenzururu.

The function will be celebrated under the theme “Building on the tradition for
promotion and preservation of cultural values and practices which enhance:
heritage, dignity, development, conservation and equality of life”.

The Kasese district vice chairperson Naume Mbambu challenges men

The Kasese district vice chairperson Naume Mbambu has challenged men to always attend to places of worship if many of them are to reach the Kingdom of heaven.

Speaking shortly after the service at Base Camp church of Uganda in Kasese Municipality today, Mbambu said most men have backslidden in faith because they rarely attend to churches on Sunday.

Mbambu noted that majority of the women have managed to overcome earthly challenges because they always go church to praises and pray to the almighty God.

She said that women should stick to the faith in God in order to have stable and productive families.

In his preaching, the lay leader of the church Joshia Kighotha urged Christians to always pray for the needy especially those in prison who need the mercy of God as they serve their sentences.

Kighotha added that prisoners also need the word of God in order to repeat the sins they committed so that they can quickly be rehabilitated when released.

Land Disputes in Kasese

Police in Kasese are investigating circumstances under which
cultivators attacked pastoralists in Muhokya sub-county over a
disputed land.

Cultivators hailing from Kibiri village and other areas last night
reportedly attacked Kisongora Village about a kilometer from Muhokya
sub-county headquarters and butchered three cows and eight goats.

According to the Deputy Commander of the Field Force Unit in Kasese
Charles Sanya, three other cows were injured in the overnight.

The officer in Charge of Criminal Investigations at Kasese Central
Police Station Alex Ojok also confirmed the attacks saying police
officers have been deployed in Muhokya to bring the situation to
order.

Ojok said that so far no one has been arrested since the attackers
took off with cow and goat meet over night.

The CID however, said five cultivators who engaged the pastoralists in
another fight yesterday afternoon are in custody and will be produced
in court tomorrow.

He said that a pastoralist who was injured in yesterday afternoon
engagement was being treated at Kilembe Hospital in critical
condition.

The disputed land is being claimed by Alex Kabalira of the Bahira clan
who say they are the ridge leaders of the area.

Both sides have not adhered to the order of the Kasese Deputy RDC
Aminadabu Muhindo who said no more activities be carried out until an
amicable solution is reached.