By Joseph Mazige

Twenty one primary schools in the Karamoja region whose construction and rehabilitation was funded by the Irish government have been commissioned by the First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Ms Janet Museveni and the Irish Ambassador Dónal Cronin at a function at Nakapiripirit Primary School.

Under the Karamoja Primary Education Project (KPEP), the Irish Aid provided €12.7 million to fund the construction and rehabilitation of the schools.  KPEP supports access and retention of pupils in primary schools through improvement of infrastructure in three schools in each of the 7 districts, benefitting 17,000 pupils in the Karamoja sub-region each year.

The infrastructure included teacher’s housing, dormitories, classrooms, kitchens, solar panels and sanitation facilities. Rain-harvesting and tree planting, as a form of environmental conservation, is also included in the programme, while support also includes the provision of furniture and instructional materials.

Speaking at the commissioning, Ambassador, Cronin pledged her country’s commitment towards the development of Karamoja.

“My message today is that Ireland will continue to stand with you and the leaders and people in this region in the development of Karamoja. We have come a long way but there is still work to be done. We are committed to partnering with you in addressing these challenges and in building on the multitude of opportunities that exist here, as your partner, ally, and friend,” Amb Cronin said.

The Ambassador paid particular tribute to the Minister for Karamoja Janet Museveni and the Minister of Education Jessica Alupo and other stakeholders for their leadership and strong cooperation.

“This is your school,” the Ambassador told the teachers and pupils, adding:  “I hope that this, and all the other schools across Karamoja which have been rehabilitated as part of this programme will be at the heart of your communities, providing quality education in a safe environment, and equipping the next generation of Karamajong for what I hope will be a bright and prosperous future.”

Stories Continues after ad

Maj. Gen. Levy Karuhanga, the chairman of Makindye based Court Marital is dead.

Karuhanga was rushed to Nakasero hospital with stomach complication and he has since been in critical condition. By the time of his death, he was trying Gen. Sejusa.

Who is Gen. Karuhanga

He was born in Bushenyi District in the Western Region of Uganda on 24 February 1956. He studied at Nyamitoma, Bweranyangi, and Mwengura Primary Schools. He then joined Mbarara High School, from where he moved to Nairobi, Kenya, where he graduated with a diploma in international studies.

He joined the Ugandan Bush War around 1981 in Luweero District. His recruitment number is RO/057, the 57th recruit of the then new rebel force. He fought throughout the war until the National Resistance Army captured power in 1986. Over the past 25 years, he has undergone military training including the following courses:

Strategic Military Studies at the Egyptian Military Academy in Cairo. Military Course at the China War College. Military Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigeria. National Strategic Studies course from National Defence College, Kenya, from July 2006 until June 2007. Other military courses at military schools in Kenya and Uganda.^[3]

Karuhanga has served in a number of assignments in the UPDF, including in the following positions.  Brigade commander in the UPDF 4th Division, between 1990 and 1992. Member of the UPDF Contingent and second in command of United Nations forces in Liberia, in 1994. Deputy Commander of the 3rd UPDF Division, in 1998. 3rd Division commanding officer in 2001. First Division commanding officer from 2005 until 2007. In 2007, Karuhanga was appointed as the first commander of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), serving in that capacity until 2008. In 2010, he was appointed commanding officer of the UPDF Reserve Force, serving there until June 2014, when he was given his current assignment.^[6]

Stories Continues after ad

President Yoweri Museveni has called on Ugandans to use the law to solve issues related to land wrangles and avoid taking the law into their hands.

Museveni was speaking to the people of Mawala Kitebere village, Kanyanda Parish in Makulubita Sub-County, Luweero district last evening after laying a wreath on the grave of the late Samuel Babumba Majyambere who was murdered by a one Nakibinge Edward on April 7, 2016 over land wrangles.

He called on Parliament to revise and strengthen the laws on murder and rape with a view to ensuring that cases related to those crimes are restricted and stopped.

“We don’t want this kind of indiscipline. MPs should be hard on these people while revising the laws on murder and rape so that they are dealt with and stopped. Killing somebody because of land issues is not accepted” he said

Adding “You people are supposed to solve it using the law. I have come here as a sign of respect to the late Majyambere who did something for the country,”

The late Babumba Majyambere, a liberation war veteran who is said to have provided shelter to NRA rebels, including Museveni, is survived by six widows and 19 children.

Museveni advised the people to take Operation Wealth Creation at household level very seriously so that they are enabled to generate incomes and eradicate poverty. He particularly urged residents of Mawala village in Luweero district to embrace commercial agriculture to enhance their chances of earning better household income.

Stories Continues after ad

Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) strongman Dr Kizza Besigye is on his way to Sembabule to meet renegade General David Sejusa at his country home.

According to sources, Besigye and Sejusa will discuss several political developments in the country including the 2016 elections in which the former contested.

Gen Sejusa was instrumental in convincing Dr Besigye to contest in the February 18 elections, which the FDC flag bearer is contesting, and in a recent media interview with a local daily Dr Besigye said he won the elections with 52 per cent.

Dr Besigye and Gen Sejusa enjoy a lengthy friendship that dates back to their university days, where both were student activists. Both joined the National Resistance Movement/Army (NRM/A), and Dr Besigye was later to become Gen Sejusa’s bestman.

The two were also instrumental in the post-1986 government but separately fell out with their boss Yoweri Museveni, saying he had deviated from the core principles of the struggle.

Recently, the two have been under custody, with Dr Besigye being restricted to his home in Kasangati while Gen Sejusa has been on remand in Luzira prison.

Stories Continues after ad

President Yoweri Museveni has called on the people of Masuliita Sub-County in Wakiso district and other Ugandans to embrace commercial farming as a sure method towards household poverty eradication.

The President made the call in Masuliita during the commissioning and hand-over ceremony of the new Masuliita Church of Uganda Parish church building. The new structure was built in recognition of the contribution by the people of Masuliita towards the then National Resistance Army’s (NRA) struggle in the liberation war of 1981 – 1986.

The Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) soldiers who occupied the old Church during the protracted armed people’s struggle damaged the old church structure that was commissioned in 1968.

The Bishop Emeritus of Mukono Diocese, the Rt Rev Paulo Luzinda, who was the main celebrant, represented Bishop Kityo Luwalira of Namirembe Diocese at yesterday’s occasion.

“I pay tribute to the people of Masuliita, Luweero and those from other parts of Uganda for their contribution during the struggle. The NRM was disorganized by people such as Kiiza Besigye and Amama Mbabazi who never sensitized wananchi over the developments in the country during their tenure in office,” the President said.  He observed that NRM won the struggle because it set up the correct priorities from the start.

He cautioned the new NRM Secretariat officials against failure to deliver services to the people and warned that they would be terminated from office if they fall short of expectations.

President Museveni gave testimony to the congregation present regarding their experiences during the liberation struggle of 1981- 1986. He made particular reference to events in Kakiri and Masuliita in Wakiso district that laid part of the foundation to the struggle. He used the occasion to introduce a good number of war veterans who played leading roles during the bush war, and commended them for their heroic acts. He paid glowing tribute to the late Ms. Naalima of Masuliita for her active role.

Museveni said their first priority was to ensure national peace and security through the defeat of retrogressive forces like the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). He added that the Government also had to attract investors in order to promote the national tax base to enable government handle a host of projects such as infrastructure development.

On the poverty fight, the President said that the NRM is promoting household incomes through the Operation Wealth Creation. He said more plantings and breeding materials would be supplied to benefit all the people, stressing that every home must have income generation activities through cash crops and livestock rearing.

He urged Ugandans to engage in cost effective enterprises with a view to earning good money. He expressed confidence that they would meet the set target of poverty eradication in a manner similar to that that led to victory in the protracted armed people’s liberation struggle.

President Museveni pledged to build the Mawale – Dambo – Kakiri road to serve the people and also as a memory of the protracted people’s struggle. He assured them that since the NRM Government has acquired new road construction equipment, that arrangement would enable districts throughout the country to work on feeder roads.

State Minister for Teso Affairs, Christine Hellen Amongin Aporu, on behalf of Luweero Triangle Minister, reported that President Museveni has fulfilled the national motto ‘For God and My Country’ through the building of Masuliita Church while Bishop Paul Luzinda lauded the President for the generosity in putting up the structure.

Brig. Proscovia Nalweyiso, who is Senior Presidential Assistant on Defence and Security, thanked President Museveni for his gesture of building a place of worship for the people of Masuliita. She revealed that she personally supervised the construction works that took four months and cost Shs.487 million.

Lt. Col. Jacob Asiimwe, one of the liberation war fighters, revealed that the fighters who worked closely with the people in April 1981 made big strides in the attack on Kakiri barracks. He also said that UNLA soldiers who pitched camp in the premises damaged the old church.

Stories Continues after ad