Author: Evans
KAMPALA I URN: At least five people were arrested in an intelligence-led operation that foiled a mobile money robbery in Wandegeya. Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Rachel Kawala identified the suspects as Ivan Gizamba, Rogers Muyingo, Rashford Juma, Musa Masiga, and James Wanyama. They are currently detained at Wandegeya Police Station. The arrests followed a tip-off on Friday evening about a group of suspected robbers targeting a victim at a mobile money agent in Wandegeya around 8 p.m. Police say the victim was expected to collect a bag of cash from Kalerwe and later deposit it with a bank agent in…
The Uganda Police Force has acknowledged extortion networks operating within its phone tracking system, following a surge in public complaints from people who were extorted and still didn’t get their lost phones back. Some victims of phone theft told URN that they’re advised to cooperate with the police station’s trackers. Those trackers then demand 100,000–150,000 UGX upfront to start the process, with the final amount usually settled through negotiation. However, most victims claim that after paying, they rarely get their phones back or any updates. Some allege that the trackers do locate the phones and identify and arrest the thieves,…
KAMPALA I URN: The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease following the death of a 59-year-old Congolese national who had been admitted to Kibuli Muslim Hospital in Kampala. According to a press statement issued this evening, the patient was admitted on May 11 after presenting with respiratory distress, fever, epigastric pain, nausea, and difficulty passing urine. His condition later deteriorated, and he died on May 14 while receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit, where he reportedly developed bleeding symptoms. The body was later transported back to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on…
KAMPALA I URA: The outspoken Democratic Party President and one of the aspirants for the post of Speaker of the 12th Parliament, Nobert Mao, says he is willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the country. Speaking to a meeting mainly comprising leaders from Acholi at Hotel African in Kampala, Nobert Mao described his shot at the post of Speaker of Parliament as a “very, very tough struggle.” Flanked by his wife, Beatrice Mao, who was clad in green, Mao wore a suit with mixed colors, including a yellow tie. When he ascended to the podium, Chairman Mao, as…
MASAKA I URN: Security operatives have arrested the incoming Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere Nsubuga, for allegedly attempting to interfere with the process for election of the Speaker of Parliament. Namere was arrested from Hotel Brovad Hotel in Masaka City on Friday evening, while conducting a celebration drive through the city after her swearing in. She was arrested by armed military personnel who were driving in a Toyota Hiace van (famously known as drone), with concealed number plates, which intercepted her car at the Hotel’s entrance. Huzairuh Nsubuga, Nameere’s husband who witnessed her arrest narrated that the armed men…
DR CONGO I URN: The Ebola Outbreak in Eastern DRC Raises Concern Over Strain Type, Delayed Detection, and Limited Vaccine Coverage. A suspected Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is under investigation, with early reports indicating a growing number of cases and deaths in a remote, unstable mining region near international borders. While confirmation is still pending, experts say early signals point to a possible Bundibugyo strain, though they caution that it is far too early to be certain. “It seems like this outbreak might be the Bundibugyo strain and not Zaire… but it’s really hard…
NAIROBI I URN: The 14th East African Community (EAC) Armed Forces Command Post Exercise has officially opened in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together military, police and civilian personnel from EAC Partner States to strengthen regional preparedness, interoperability and collective security. The multinational exercise, dubbed Ushirikiano Imara, seeks to enhance joint operational capabilities in Peace Support Operations, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Piracy and Disaster Management through coordinated training, command post drills and scenario-based simulations. The exercise, which will run until May 28, was officially launched on Thursday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi. The opening ceremony featured the symbolic handover of the EAC flag,…
KISORO I URN: Four Police men attached to Nyabwishenya police station in Kisoro district and two civilians were on Friday arraigned before the court, charged with the murder of a Congolese. he civilians were charged with murder contrary to Sections 171 and 172 of the Penal Code Act. Police men charged with being accessories after the fact to murder, contrary to Section 189 of the Penal Code Act Cap 128. The suspects were not allowed to take a plea on the charges since the court has no jurisdiction to handle the matter. Kisoro Chief Magistrate, His Worship Patrick Bamuhiga, remanded the…
SEMBABULE I URN: Sembabule district Chairperson, Patrick Nkalubo, has asked the government to increase budgetary allocations to the roads sector. Patrick Nkalubo, in an inauguration address on Friday, said that the money allocated to the local governments for road maintenance is inadequate compared to the underlying need. He observes that the 1 billion shillings allocated for road maintenance for every district is not sufficient. IHe demanded that Sembabule should be given special consideration by adjusting its road maintenance budget to enable it to regularly rehabilitate and open up more roads. Nkalubo argues that it’s not logical for the central government…
NTOROKO I URN: Two former employees of Ntoroko District Local Government have petitioned the Ministry of Public Service and the Public Service Commission, accusing the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Moses Agum, of extortion, abuse of office, and spreading malicious information against them. In a letter to the Public Service Commission dated April 24, the former employees allege that Agum demanded money from them in exchange for release letters and later authored adverse comments in their employment records, actions they say have blocked them from accessing salaries and assuming duties at their new work stations. Anwari Kisekka, one of the complainants…