Controversial former Buyende District Police Commander Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Muhammad Kirumira has said he prayed for six hours every day for the sacking of the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) General Kale Kayihura.

Gen. Kayihura was fired on Sunday evening, and replaced by his former deputy, Martin Okoth Ochola in a reshuffle announced by President Yoweri Museveni that also saw security minister Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde replaced by General Elly Tumwine.

And yesterday, the police officer who has often accused Kayihura of witch-hunting him, said he was elated, and as if to boost his eccentricity, the Police Tribunal has today dropped theft charges levelled against Kirumira for lack of substantial evidence.

Appearing before tribunal this morning, Police Prosecutor Catherine Kusemererwa was granted leave to drop the charges of stealing a ‘Rolex’ (wheat bread egg roll) leveled against Kirumira after the complainant, crime preventer and hawker Ibrahim Bukenya, failed to appear before court.

Last week, Bukenya shed tears during a tribunal session and accused Kirumira of stealing the Rolex at the time when he served as Officer in Charge (OC) of Nansana.

On February 1 Kirumira was arrested from his home in Ggogonya, Bulenga, Wakiso District following his announcement on television that he was to ‘resign’ from the police force. He was subsequently charged with various crimes including among others torture, extortion, corruption, bribery, unlawful arrests and excessive use of authority.

But court dropped the torture, neglect of duty and corruption charges, maintaining the others.

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The DStv Kampala Kids Run stakeholders have selected Namusita Primary School, Ekanba Primary School and Kakoge Primary School in Buyende District, Eastern Uganda, as beneficiaries of clean water systems to improve sanitation.

About Shs20 million was collected from the run which attracted over 4,000 children between 4 -14 years from over 20 schools in Kampala and Entebbe Districts. Free tickets were given to UPE schools to support their participation in the run.

During the handover ceremony held at Kakoge Primary School, Phoebe Nakabazzi, the DStv Marketing Manager, said the money collected will help provide clean water to the beneficiary schools.

“The DStv Kampala Kids Run management is grateful for all the children that participated and most importantly the parents that allowed their children participate in the run.  Your immense generosity has enabled us provide safe clean water to selected schools. Through this initiative, we believe more children will be guarded from contracting water borne diseases. Today marks the accomplishment of the 2017 DStv Kampala Kids’ run pledge and we are pleased that we have fully delivered,” Ms. Nakabazzi said.

She added: “DStv took on this initiative because it speaks into sports as a cornerstone for the brand. Our goal is to encourage the young generation to engage more into different sports as they strive to make a difference in society.  We also believe that sports is key to national development that is why we hold it with high regard and endeavour to support initiatives such as this.”

The DStv Kampala Kids Run comprised of two races – 1.5 kilometres and 3 kilometres. All the runners, regardless of their rank in the race, were rewarded with certificates of participation while the top 10 won themselves medals courtesy of DStv Uganda. Further, DStv Uganda rewarded the winners for the 1.5 and 3 kms races with HD Explora decoders.

Mr Robert Ziribasanga, LCV Chairman who officiated at the handover event, congratulated the children that participated in the run.

“It is inspiring to see young children come together for a great cause to support each other. We should therefore prioritise children’s wellbeing as we seek to support and encourage their skills. The contribution of water tanks couldn’t have come at a better time since the country has been experiencing a long draught season and as such access to water in less privileged schools is a challenge. Initiatives as the DStv Kampala Kids run present an opportunity not only instilling goodwill among children at an early stage but also saving our communities from disasters. Our hope is that the event continues to grow bigger and confirm government support in forthcoming events,” Mr. Ziribasanga said.

Muslin Kiwanuka, the CEO of the Kampala Kids run said: “These children have been challenged moving miles and miles to access water to their schools and spending less time in the classroom. We are glad that today we have reduced this burden for them and now they can concentrate on their studies. We are immensely grateful to our sponsors especially DStv for coming on board with us on the Kids Run.

Mr. Kiwanuka added: “They have demonstrated that they have a shared vision of making a positive impact on the lives of our future generation. The objective of this run is to train our young ones to have a giving heart and to look out for the disadvantaged. We look forward to strengthening future Kids Run editions alongside partners like them.”

The DStv Kampala Kids run event is slated to be an annual event, and some of the schools that participated in this year’s run included Namirembe Parents, Sir Apollo Kaggwa, Kabojja Junior, City Parents, Kampala Parents, Silver Spoon, Lohana Academy, Entebbe Junior and Greenhill Academy.

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The trial of a murder case against city socialite Brian Kirumira aka Brian White has for the second time failed to kick off, after the failure to trace the police file.

When the case came up for hearing Monday, the state prosecutor Happiness Ainebyona informed court presided over by Makindye Court chief magistrate Elias Kakooza was informed that the Investigating officer had taken Brian White’s police file for purposes of settling the matter out of court and had not yet returned it.

Without the file, she is unable to know the developments on the settlement, she told court.

She thus asked court for more time to ‘consult with the DPP’ on whether to discontinue the case. The case has been adjourned to April 9, 2018.

Brian White and his ‘body guard’ Corporal Thomas Okoth attached to the police’s Crime Intelligence Headquarters, are accused of having shot Victor Bitwire on the night of December 13, 2018 at Brian White’s residence in Buziga, Munyonyo.

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