The fallen Supreme Court judge late Lady Justice Mary Stella Arach Amoko will be laid to rest on Saturday.

According to the burial program which was released by Judiciary, Justice Arach will be buried at Jukiya Hill Ward, Juba Village Nebbi District. She died on June 17, 2023 at Nakasero Hospital.

The release of the burial program follows a High Court ruling that ordered that the deceased be buried at her ancestral home as she wished.

According to the tentative burial program, Arach’s body will later today depart from Kampala for Nebbi.  On Friday, there will be a special joint District Council sitting at Nebbi District Council hall followed by a vigil at the deceased’s ancestral home.

There will be a requiem mass at Caritas grounds and thereafter, burial at Jukiya Hill Ward, Juba village, Nebbi District.

Backround

Following her death, the judiciary issued a funeral program that the deceased justice was to be buried in Nebbi and later released another one showing that she would be buried in Adjumani on June 23, 2023.

However, this prompted the deceased’s children through their lawyers to serve a cease and desist on the Judiciary and on June 22, 2023 vide the Chief Registrar’s letter a postponement of the burial program was communicated; new dates were to be communicated later.

On June 22, 2023 the late Arach’s children filed an application challenging the Ambassador Idule Amoko’s decision to bury their mother in Arra Parish, Pachara Sub-county, Adjumani Adjumani.

Initially Justice Arach wished to be laid to rest at her family ancestral home/burial ground at Jukiya Hill Ward, Juba village, Nebbi District in accordance with the customary law of Ker Kwaro Kaal Jonam.

Ambassador Amoko claimed that in Madi to which community he belongs, that a lady who is deceased is buried in the burial grounds of the family where she is married in proximity with her spouse and that becomes her ancestral home, unless she wills otherwise or was divorced at the time of death.

Court directed that the Attorney General and Ambassador Amoko in consultation with the applicants should immediately commence the burial arrangements of the late Arach.

Court further directed that Ambassador Amoko and his family members shall freely attend the funeral of the late Justice Arach without any disturbance.

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Several leaders have paid tribute to Alice Nabugembe Wafula, the departed wife of veteran Journalist and former leader of Opposition Philip Wafula Ogutu.

Mrs Wafula passed away last week after a long cancer fight. Eulogizing her, several speakers described her as humble but strong pillar behind Mr Ogutu’s success.

The Minister of General Duties, in Office of the Prime Minister, Justine Lumumba described the late as irreplaceable”

“We thank Alice for being there for the family as Chief as he was popularly known at home was busy with his schedules. She oversaw growth of children but above all she was there for Wafula as his daily calendar was tight” Mrs Lumumba said.

The Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP) Mathias Mpuuga praised the late for standing by Mr Ogutu in both good and bad time

Leaders paid tribute at St Luke’s Church of Uganda, Ntinda where the funeral service for late Nabugembe was held.

Mpuuga said, “On behalf on my family and the Opposition platform in Parliament, I offer my sincere condolences to you upon this loss of a person with whom you enjoyed an unbreakable bond; your true friend,”

“We thank God for Alice’s life and the special talents that she shared with those that knew her as a mother, auntie, sister, friend and most especially, Wafu’s wider political family,” he said.

He said it calls for a strong woman to stand the troubles and challenges of a Ugandan opposition leader Alice was just that! Losing such a person is devastating but we are keeping you and your family in our prayers that the Almighty God comforts you in this very difficult time.

Mike Mukula, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Vice Chairman for Eastern Uganda who described himself as a friend of Mr. Ogutu having studied with Mr.Oguttu at Teso College Aloet, said the loss of Alice is a big loss to the Wafulas.

Forum for Democratic change (FDC) party president Eng. Patrick Amuriat Oboi used the occasion to ask government to equip Cancer Institute with necessary drugs and machines. The same message was re-echoed by Wafula who said it has been expensive footing cancer bills.

She will be laid to rest on July Saturday 1, 2023, at Sanika Village, Nsono Parish, Nankoma Sub-County in Bugiri District.

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The Rotary District 9213 has launched the Boy Child Uplifting Program focusing on basic education, literacy, economic and community development to impact boys in the communities they live in.

Edward Kakembo Nsubuga the District Governor of Rotary District 9213 this morning announced the launch of an initiative aimed at addressing all critical issues faced by the boy child in Uganda.

“Recognizing our society has predominantly concentrated on initiatives empowering the girl child, with only 13% of documented efforts directed towards mentoring boys,” Kakembo said.

A number of studies and reports have stated that the exclusion of the Boy child has had profound consequences on a generation of young men. These consequences include increased crime rates, low self-esteem, prone to violence habits, alcoholism, drug abuse, and increasing school dropout incidences.

“This initiative will be sustained through Rotary programs like Basic Education and Literacy and the Economic and Community Development that Rotary Clubs and Rotaract Clubs across the country use to reach out and impact on the communities they live in. Collaborative partnerships will also be forged with religious institutions, schools and tertiary institutions, government bodies, NGOs, prisons, rehabilitation centres, financial institutions, private organizations, and local community leadership structures to ensure a comprehensive and sustained impact,” he further noted.

Kakembo Nsubuga expressed his confidence in Rotary’s ability to mobilize resources and make a difference in the lives of the less privileged. Adding, “This program is critical and timely as we need to address the issues faced by boys, including crime, drug abuse, terrorism, and truancy. I also believe the success of this initiative will lead to a positive transformation of society, promoting skill development, entrepreneurship, and healthier family dynamics…”

Rotary District 9213 is part of Rotary International, a global network of dedicated individuals united in their commitment to making positive, lasting change in their communities and the world. With over 219

Rotary Clubs and 111 Rotaract Clubs, District 9213 serves Uganda and South Sudan, harnessing the power of service to address pressing social issues and create a brighter future.

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The Force Commander of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding has visited Qoryole and Janaale Forward Operating Bases (FOBS) in Lower Shabelle region to assess the combat readiness of ATMIS troops ahead of the final phase of a military offensive against the Al-Shabaab.

Qoryole and Janaale FOBS are located in Sector One, which is under the Area of Responsibility of ATMIS Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) troops.

During the visit, the Force Commander inspected facilities at the two FOBS and held a meeting with the military leadership and later addressed the troops. He urged them to be more vigilant to ensure the safety of local communities during the transition period.

“My visit here today is to boost your morale and check on your readiness to face the enemy and safeguard the people of Somalia. Our main focus is to deliver on our mandate and leave behind a safe and secure Somalia when ATMIS exits in December 2024,” he said.

Gen. Okiding later held a meeting with area leaders including the local administration officials and clan elders to deliberate on how to collaborate with ATMIS forces to defeat the threat posed by Al-Shabaab.

He was accompanied by Sector One Commander Brig. Peter Omola and Col. Charles Asiimwe Kibaate, the Commander of Battle Group 37, in charge of Qoryole and Janaale FOBS.

ATMIS is currently in the process of handing over seven Forward Operating Bases and withdrawing 2000 troops by June 30, 2023 in compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 2628 and 2670 that require ATMIS to gradually handover security responsibilities to Somali security forces.

The AU peacekeeping forces and the Somali National Army (SNA) are expected to launch a fresh round of a military offensive in a final push to degrade the Al-Shabaab and liberate remaining territories under their hold.

The Somali- led joint operation will target the Lower Shabelle and Jubaland regions as the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) continues to extend its authority.

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The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has directed the Minister of Internal Affairs to expedite investigations into the killing of five members of the same family in Bukoto County, Masaka District, on June 23, 2023.

Among said the incident is one of the rising killings in the country that have left citizens in fear. She noted that the investigation is as necessary as the measures to prevent likely killings, which she said, are becoming rampant.

“We need divisive and deterrent measures to restore safety and confidence in our population. This has not happened only in Masaka but in Kayunga and other places,” the Speaker said during plenary on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

She added: “We need that investigation; we need to give clear assurance to the affected communities that they will not be killed the next day.”

On the fateful day at around 2 am, unknown assailants descended on Kijonjo Village, Kamwoozi Parish in Buwunga Sub-county, Masaka District, and hacked to death five family members.

The victims were Emmanuel Muteesasira, 57, (head of family), his wife Proscovia Ndagaano, 52, Beatrice Nakalyango, 13 (daughter), and two grandchildren – Shivan Nakasagga,5, and Robert Kayemba, 2.

Ms Among also tasked the Internal Affairs Minister to give Parliament an update on security issues raised by MPs, including the low staffing at police posts across the country.

“Truth be told we have few police personnel; I have written so many times to be given to police personnel in my district but I have not been helped. Just imagine when people are killed in the night and the nearest police post is 20 kilometers away!” she said.

She said Parliament is ready to support the Uganda Police Force to recruit more officers, refurbish their facilities, establish new police posts and acquire more patrol vehicles.

Bukoto County East MP Ronald Kanyike, attesting to the Speaker’s reiterations, said the scene of crime in Masaka District is far from the police station, which serves the area.

“Masaka has no police headquarters, the District Police Commander (DPC) and Resident District Commissioner all sit in Masaka City. In fact, when we contacted the DPC over the murder, he had to contact people of Masaka City to come to our rescue,” said Mr Kanyike.

Mr Abed Bwanika (NUP, Kimaanya-Kabonera Division), who also hails from Masaka, said his constituency was not any different.

“In Kimanya, we have zero patrol vehicles yet it is a whole division. When the minister is appraising us on the security issues, he should update us on police facilitation,” said Mr Bwanika.

The Minister of Security, Maj Gen (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi, said the Uganda Police Force has revamped its operations, which were initially challenged by funding constraints.

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