Victoria University has on Friday morning held its second graduation ceremony with twenty three graduands awared degrees and diplomas.

Hosted at Kabira Country Club, the event was presided over by the university chancellor Dr Martin Aliker, who urged the graduands to strive towards achieving success as well as using the knowledge imparted to them to add value to society.

“As you go out into the society, be a good role model to others. Our country is experiencing an unprecedented decline in moral behavior,” Dr. Aliker told the anxious graduands, adding: “Add value to society by showing compassion to the vulnerable and less privileged and use your knowledge to connect as human beings.”

This year, 21 degrees were awarded in the disciplines of nursing science, midwifery, public health, information systems, computer science, I.T, business administration as well as banking and finance. In addition, two graduands got Diplomas in social work and business information systems. Fifteen of this year’s graduands are female while eight (8) are male.

In his address the Acting Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, Joseph Nyakaana highlighted the strides made by the institution in the last four years including the multiple number of programmes that have been introduced.

“When new management took over in 2013, it had four faculties and less than five programmes with only 27 students. But we believed in providing high standards despite the rather prohibitive demands for running a private university in Uganda,” Dr. Nyakaana said.

Currently, Victoria University runs over 30 programs, with 199 students 97 of which are foreign nationals.

In addition to the 23 who received Degrees and Diplomas on Friday, the Vice Chancellor said the university has churned out about 150 more students on short certificate courses mainly in Oil and Gas.

Rajiv Ruparelia, the Director Ruparelia Group of Companies and one of the promoters of the university, said graduate students are a key result area to any institution of learning.

“More important, however, is the value addition and productivity that these graduates will carry along with them into the job market,” Rajiv noted.

“We have invested heavily in the best facilities and believe that we have made our students different and competitive in the world of work. Through partnerships with companies like Google, Vodafone and Kabero Foundation, students have been equipped with a range of skills,” he added.

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Over thirty patients were screened and treated during a Neurosurgical Camp that took place at CORSU Rehabilitation Hospital and Missionaries of the Poor home.

The annual camp organized by the Rotary Club of Kampala Muyenga Breeze gives Ugandans in need of neurosurgical treatment an opportunity to receive treatment and undergo surgeries at a minimal cost.

Speaking during the camp, Patrobas Wafula Sirabo, the Club President said that the camp was aimed at giving vulnerable Ugandans in need of neurosurgical treatment and operations an opportunity to receive these at an extremely subsidized cost.

The camp also offers a platform for skills and training for Ugandan specialist doctors, intern doctors and medical students that are interested in Neurosurgery.

“The surgeries are mainly to correct conditions of Hydrocephalus and Spina bifida in children, and tumours in adults. The Camp is open to all Ugandans in the Country who need these services and are needy, disadvantaged or vulnerable,” said Wafula Sirabo.

While handing over a Shs3 million donation towards the camp, Joram Kiarie, the Managing Director KCB Bank Uganda, said that the bank is at the forefront of supporting the communities where it works.

“Statistics indicate that East Africa has only one neurosurgeon per 9 million people, this means that patients with injuries like spine and brain injuries, nervous system infections do not have access to adequate care,” Said Kiarie.

He added:“The neurosurgical camp goes a long way in ensuring that patients with surgical conditions will be diagnosed and treated in a cost-effective way in this area.”

Dr John Chrisite, a Neurosurgeon at the John Hunter Hospital in Australia, flew into the country to perform the surgeries alongside Ugandan Neurosurgeons Dr Joel Kiryabwire and Dr Oscar Obiga.

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The High Court in Kasese has sentenced three men to 15 years in prison over robbery.

Ibrahim Ssenfuka, Isima Ssenyonga and Adam Kalanzi were indicted with two counts, Count I of Aggravated Robbery Contrary to Sections 285 & 285 (2) of the Penal Code Act, and Count II of Conspiracy to commit a Felony Contrary to Section 390 of the Penal Code Act.

Prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused persons and others still at large on  April 10, at Bwera, Kasese District robbed Enos Bwambale of 14605 Kgs of unprocessed coffee valued at Shs50,230,000, a mobile phone worth Shs70,000 and cash Shs160,000.

And during the robbery, it was found that the trio caused grievous bodily harm on Bwambale.

Bwambale told Court that he first saw the accused persons when they came asking for jobs at his work place, to transport coffee to Kampala. On the fateful day, they loaded the coffee and he went along with them to Kampala on the instructions of his manager.

On the way the vehicle was stopped and Ssenfuka and Kalanzi pulled him out of the vehicle, slapped him and carried him to the bush and sprayed him with chloroform.

However, Ssenfuka confirmed that only Ssenyonga was present when they were loading the vehicle with coffee and only heard about in Court, contradicting his earlier statement.

But one of prosecution witness, Gera Bosco told Court that only Ssenfuka was known to him because he is the one that came with a driver and a tata lorry, they loaded the coffee and were paid money for hiring the lorry.

That on the fateful day he was called by Kalanzi informing him that they had gotten a puncture but then never got any other communication until 14/4/2014 when he saw Bwambale staggering in Bwera town.

He was then taken to Hospital and a complainant lodged at Police. Gera further told Court that he was given Ssenyonga’s number by a Police Officer from Kampala who told him that he was linked to the theft of his coffee. Ssenyonga was known to him as a broker of trucks and Lorries.

He then reported to Police and Ssenyonga was arrested together with Kalanzi at his hotel. Gera confirmed to Court that Ssenyonga pleaded with him that he had been given Shs2million but he did not know how Kalanzi was arrested.

Another witness, Kibuka Mbaaga told Court that it was Kalanzi that sold to him Coffee on 14/4/2014 at Kyazanga Trading Centre through Mzee Kasaija. That he always bought coffee from and he was paid through Centenary bank and also by cash.

Hakim Adam, the Investigating Officer told Court that on 22/4/2014 the Police flying squad arrested Ssenfuka who led Police to the whereabouts of the lorry. Ssenfuka was arrested in Kawempe and was later transferred to Kasese Police Station and confessed to the theft and the involvement of Ssenyonga and Kalanzi in the same.

Dianah Kabanyoro, a banker confirmed to Court that A3’s bank account received large sums of money on various dates and and had a balance of Shs40million.

The trio denied committing the offence. Ssenfuka brought one witness, his wife, a one Kabugho Yamula who told Court that on the fateful day she was with him.

Musa Kalanzi testified on behalf of Kalanzi, his father confirming that the accused was with him in the store on that fateful day and they do sell produce among which is coffee.

“Although there were other people involved in the robbery who were never arrested, each of the accused persons is deemed to have committed the offence under the doctrine of common intention as per Section 20 of the Penal Code Act, Andrea Abonyo & Others versus Republic.  The accused persons in the instant case all raised a defence of alibi. The accused has the duty of raising the defence but has no duty of proving it. The accused persons gave their evidence, A1 and A3 even brought witnesses to aid them in their defence however I observed the demeanour of DW4 and she did not seem truthful by her conduct. She was laughing about like, it was a joke and not a serious matter. I did not find her credible and nor her evidence reliable.

“The evidence of DW5 was also full of contradictions and false hoods. In the circumstance I find that all the accused persons were sufficiently proved to have participated in the offence of aggravated Robbery by the Prosecution. This is a serious offence which attracts a maximum sentence of death and should be discouraged. However, I have taken into account the time the convicts have been on remand, their advanced age, their sicknesses, and families. I therefore sentence each of them to 10 years imprisonment on Count I and on Count II I sentence each of them to 5 years imprisonment and also to refund the money worth UGX 50,460,000/= upon completion of their sentence. Both sentences will run concurrently,” reads a court ruling by justice, Anthony Ojok.

Anna Kiiza, Resident Senior State Attorney appeared for the State and Counsel Edgar Tukahabwa for the accused on State Brief.

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The High Court in Kasese has sentenced a father of five to 40 years in prison for raping and killing a woman.

Moses Kumbukirwa was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, a one Joy Biira, on January 22, 2014 at Kathasenda Village, Mukunyu Sub-County, Kasese.

Though no direct evidence was adduced by any eyewitness, there was overwhelming circumstantial evidence proving that the accused had a hand in the rape and killing of Biira.

“The post mortem report indicated that the deceased had vaginal bruises which mean that she must have had sexual intercourse before her death. The dead body was also found with the dress around the waist,” reads part of the court ruling.

Earlier, State Attorney Michael Kwesiga had prayed court to sentence the accused to death. “There is no record of previous acts, carries maximum sentence of death. Pray for a deterrent sentence.”

However, Kumbukirwa’s lawyer Edgar Tukahaabwa pleaded for a lighter sentence, saying the convict had been on remand for 3 years and two months.

He added: “He is a family man and father of five children. He is also a young man. I pray for 15 years.”

But Justice Anthony Ojok instead sentenced the accused to 40 years imprisonment.

“Prosecution was able to link the accused to the commission of the offence through circumstantial evidence. Circumstantial evidence can stand on its own so long as the Court subjects it to close scrutiny to determine that the inculpatory facts against the appellant are incompatible with innocence. This is the principle stated in the case of Kazibwe Kassim versus Uganda SCCA No. 1 of 2003 following many other decisions. I agree with the assessors’ opinion and find the accused guilty of the offence of murder contrary to Sections 188 and 189 of the Penal Code. He is hereby convicted as indicted,” the Judge ruled.

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