LEERO MU MAWULIRE ; The army chief of defence forces (CDF) Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala has warned the people of Busoga against growing only sugarcane saying the practice was likely cause famine in the region. Katumba who spoke in Lusoga to emphasize his point said; "Bwoja mubyaalo mu Busoga wano buli maka galikulima ebikaado paka muluya aye kino kyakabi era mwidha kweletera endala. Mulina okulekawo eitaka kwemulima emboli ni duma," meaning, "every household in Basoga especially in the rural is cultivating sugarcane up to their courtyards, but it is dangerous as you are inviting famine, you should spare land for potato and maize growing. He appealed to government to promote mechanized farming to attract the youth on land. "We should move away from saying that Uganda is an agricultural country when people are discouraged on land because of the tools they use, let us mechanize it to attract people back on land by at least supporting them with hand tractors," he stressed. Rebels and army forces are engaged in heavy fighting near the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The M23 rebels told the BBC that their hill positions had been bombarded most of night by military planes. The UN said it was prepared to use "lethal force" to protect civilians if the M23 advanced towards Goma. The fighting comes as its new 3,000-strong intervention brigade to neutralise and disarm the rebels is approaching full strength. Last year the rebels pulled out of Goma after briefly seizing the city. Peace talks between the two sides in Uganda have since stalled. The former chief of defense forces also appointed as minister for internal affairs General Aronda Nyakairima has finally appeared before the parliamentary appointments committee. The committee is mandated to vet all the presidential appointments to see whether they meet the required standards before they are confirmed to start work. This was his 2nd time to appear before the same committee after the first meeting was postponed for the members to first consult the president on the legality of general Nyakairima becoming a minister without first resigning from the army. Immediately after meeting with the committee Nyakairima said that he knows that he has answered all the queries well but said that it’s the responsibility of the committee to tell the public the outcome of the meeting. About 20 Ugandans had by Monday afternoon received their National Identity cards. Government rolled out the issuance of 30, 000 National identity cards to Ugandans aged between 16 years and above starting with Kampala. Ugandans who are residents of Kololo 1, 2, 3 and 4 parishes were seen queuing to receive their cards. For one to get the card, he or she must present proof that he is a Ugandan. Other districts Buyende in eastern Uganda, Kasese also found in western Uganda, Lira in the north and Kampala. The distribution of cards has started with Kampala and thereafter will be rolled out to other identified districts. According to a letter signed by the director citizenship and immigration control Godfrey Sasaga Wanzira to parliament‘s internal affairs committee, the distribution of 30,000 cards to the four districts, will work as a pilot scheme before the exercise can be extended to cover the entire country. Jackline Uwera Nsenga, 36, was Monday charged with murder of her late husband. She was sent on remanded to Luzira Prison for allegedly murdering her late husband Juvenal Nsenga. Nakawa Court Chief Magistrate, Sylvia Nabbagala, remanded Uwera until August, 5, 2013. Nabbagala however advised the suspect apply for bail in the High Court. State Attorney, Doreen Elimu told court that the investigations into the case were still on-going. No plea was taken. Police however barred journalists from entering the court room for the hearing. Uwera, a business woman is a resident of Bugolobi, a Kampala suburb. A UPDF soldier attached to the First division has been sentenced to four-years in jail for desertion. Lt. Martin Abongi was found guilty by a court martial chaired by Col. Charles Okori. The UPDF fourth Division’s Spokesman, Lt. Isaac Oware told the press that the officer was among other soldiers facing the court martial but declined to divulge details. Health experts in Uganda are in full support of bone marrow therapy treatment as one of the best treatment methods in the treatment and curing of HIV/AIDS. According to the experts including, the director Uganda virus research institute, Dr. Edward Katongole, deputy director medical research council among others, this method is very effective but comes along with very many expenses as it requires huge sums of money for a patient to undergo this therapy.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 17:46:50 +0000