Brigadier General Michael Kabango has assumed duties and responsibilities as Commander 4^th Infantry Division from Brigadier General Bonny Bamwiseki at a function that was presided over by the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu at the 4^th Infantry Division headquarters in Gulu city.

“The new appointment you have been given is the prize of good work you did while commanding the 4^th-infantry division and in other responsibilities else where you have served,” said Lt. Gen. Elwelu to Brig. Bamwiseki.

Lt. Gen. Elwelu urged the new commander to keep a keen interest in security along the porous borders under his command.

“Our porous borders still need a lot of vigilance and alertness in order for us to remain on top of the security situation,” the Deputy CDF said.

He urged Brig. Kabango and the soldiers under his command, to emphasize the strategic relationship with the people they are meant to defend and protect.

The outgoing commander, Brig. Bonny Bamwiseki thanked the staff and militants with whom he was working, who ensured success during his tour of duty in the Division. He appealed to the incoming commander to ensure that he is always in touch with the security agencies and civilians alike to maintain stability in the 4^th Infantry Division as a contribution to a better Uganda.

The incoming commander Brig. Michael Kabango in his speech vowed that nothing will stop any efforts that will be made in the division aimed towards creating a stable region. He called for teamwork among his staff in order to achieve the tasks ahead of him.

He added that will run an open-door policy by availing various platforms of communication to close the communication gaps that may encourage mistrust and disbelief by the civilian community on the service of the army in the area under his command.

“It’s not the first time, I have been here since 1986 to 1990s and so it is nice to be back. You have done well and we must keep it. I will try as possible to be close to the political leaders, civilians, and sister security and we move together to fulfill our mandate. I run an open-door policy and anybody can call my phone anytime,” Kabango said.

Bamwiseki, who has been referred to as “Man of Love” for his consistent Biblical gospel of love for one another, attributed his successful tenure as the Commander 4^th Division to the effective relationship with the civilian population and putting God at the center of it all.

Bamwiseki will be replacing Brig Gen Richard Otto as the new defence attaché in Juba whereas Otto has been elevated to serve as envoy in IGAD to broker peace in South Sudan.

Brig Michael Kabango is not new to UPDF operations in Northern Uganda. He has commanded from the smallest unit up to division level the last being the 5^th Infantry Division which he commanded before taking on an assignment at African Union Headquarters based in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. In Somalia, he was also among the lead commanders of the Pioneer force that set foot in Mogadishu in 2007. He has held many responsibilities at different levels and positions up to date when he takes over the 4^th Infantry Division.

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Government is set to reintroduce the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Bill, Eagle Online has learnt.
According to the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka arrangements are being made to reintroduce this Bill at the appropriate time before the House.

Earlier this month, A panel of five justices of the Constitutional court led by deputy chief justice Richard Buteera, Stephen Musota who has since been elevated to the Supreme court, Muzamiru Mutangula Kibeedi, Irene Mulyagonja and Monica Mugyenyi unanimously annulled Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act 2016 for lack of quorum and ordered the government to pay the farmers costs they have spent on this petition.

“Clearly, the government and the Executive are interested in this Bill. In the meantime, any case of drug abuse is being handled under the existing law, and we don’t have a real gap at this point other than the extent of the penalty.” Kiwanuka said during the plenary.

This law had prohibited the use of several drugs, including cannabis, bush cocoa, and mairungi, as they contain cathinone and cathine, substances that are known to have side effects such as increased blood pressure, euphoria and elation with feelings of alertness and arousal.

In 2017, Wakiso Miraa Growers and Dealers Association Limited filed a petition challenging the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act. The act prohibited and criminalized the cultivation, possession, consumption, sale, distribution, transportation, and exportation of Catha edulis (khat) commonly known as mairungi.
Through their lawyers led by Isaac Ssemakadde, the petitioners argued that prohibition of khat was not backed up by any scientific evidence yet it had a disruptive effect on the livelihood, property, cultural and social economic rights of the petitioners who are mairungi farmers, sellers and consumers.

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Catholic and Anglican Churches have received Shs30 Million donation ahead of Martyrs Day celebrations. The day is held to commemorate 23 Anglican martyrs and 22 Catholic martyrs who were killed on the orders of Kabaka Mwanga between November 1985 and January 1887.
This year marks 59 years since the Uganda Martyrs were canonized and elevated to sainthood by Pope Paul VI on October 18, 1964.

The donation was made by MTN Uganda. The telecom company donated Shs20 million to the Jinja Catholic Diocese and Shs 10 million to the Church of Uganda, to support their preparations for this year’s Martyrs Day celebrations.
The Shs30 million donations to the Catholic Church and Church of Uganda will go towards the preparations of the Martyrs’ day celebrations at Namugongo.

Speaking in Jinja, the Head Commercial Eastern Region, Njagala Allan hailed the Catholic Church for its steadfast commitment and resilience towards spiritually nurturing the community amidst the numerous challenges they face today.
Bishop of Jinja Diocese Rt Rev Charles Martin Wamiika expressed gratitude to MTN for its continued support of the Catholic Church and all religious sects in general. He said, “We are grateful to MTN Uganda for their contribution towards the preparation of the Martyrs Day celebrations. This donation will go a long way in making the day a success and in ensuring that we continue to keep the spirit of the Uganda Martyrs alive.”

In addition to the financial donations the MTN donated 250 Reflective jackets to ensure that the pilgrims are visible and 100 boxes of bottled water to the pilgrims to ensure that they stay hydrated during the long and arduous journey.
Rt. Rev Kosea Odongo, Bishop of Soroti diocese, who represented the Bishop Samuel Egesa, Chairperson Cluster, also expressed his gratitude to MTN Uganda for their generous donation. “We are thankful to MTN Uganda for their donation towards the preparation of the Martyrs Day celebrations. This support is a testament to the long-standing relationship between MTN Uganda and the Church of Uganda, and we are grateful for their continued support.”

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Police have backtracked on its officer who shot and killed Uttam Bhandari Saremal, the Director of TFS Financial Services.
According to police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, the actions of its officer Ivan Wabwire were deliberate, planned and premeditated. Prior to the murder the suspect while in civilian clothes met with Bhandari, to establish his loan status and further discuss plans on how to trade it off, for a salary loan at Stanbic Bank, William Street Branch.

Enanga said the suspect acquired an initial loan from TFS Financial Services on August 5, 2020 of Shs million with an interest of Shs 320,000 after 12 months. On May 5, 2021, he acquired a second loan of Shs 1 million but defaulted on the loan. He was not convinced by the outstanding loan quotation.

The following day of May 12, 2023, the suspect in his full uniform, picked an SMG Rifle with 4 magazines that had been left in the room by PC Stephen Muromba, left his beat at CPS and went straight to meet the Director TFS Financial Services. While at their offices at Raja Chambers along Parliament Avenue, he signed in the visitor’s book, and went straight to meet Uttam Bhandari.
He maintained a standing position with his hand on the gun, had a short verbal exchange with the Director, and immediately after fired several shots at the victim.  He then moved out briefly and returned to the scene to pick his loan documents. He fired more bullets at the victim, when he found him still holding his breath, and killed him.  His target was the victim and no one else. Out of 12 bullets that were fired, nine of them fatally wounded the victim

“After the deadly shooting the suspect confidently moved out, jumped on a boda boda that dropped him at CPS Kampala. He returned the gun and asked a colleague to watch over it and disappeared,”he said.
The officer escaped to his village at Bwalila, Bumango Parish, Masinya subcounty, in Busia district. He was arrested on May 14, 2023 at Uganda customs, while trying to cross into Kenya.

“The suspect was sound and in very good shape and was transferred to Kampala Metropolitan Police Headquarters, where he was examined by a medical doctor who established him to be normal and sound. Upon interrogation, the officer had no remorse and admitted to having murdered the victim, for allegedly cheating him,” he said.

Enanga said the tragic murder could have been avoided if the owner of the killer weapon, PC Stephen Muromba, had not left it unattended in their shared room. As our force policy on use of firearms demands, he should have returned the gun to the Armory, before moving out of the station. He instead, without lawful permission sneaked out of the station to attend to a personal matter, which is an outright case of gross indiscipline and negligence.

He said Murombo was charged and dismissed from the force. He will further appear in the criminal court on charges of neglect of duty. The victim paid the price for his negligence with his life. His immediate supervisors also face disciplinary sanctions, for poor supervision taken to criminal court for negligence.

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured the people of Acholi sub-region of the government’s commitment to end cattle raids perpetrated by Karamojong cattle rustlers.

“I want to assure all of you that this problem will be solved because most of the issues you have raised, I know their potential and limitations,” the President stressed.

President Museveni who is in the Northern Region of the country to assess and find solutions to the cattle raids by the Karamojong cattle raiders made the assurance today at a meeting with leaders from Acholi sub-region whom he invited to Baralegi State Lodge, Okwang sub-county in Otuke district.

Leaders invited included Members of Parliament from Acholi sub-region, Cultural Leaders led by the Paramount Chief Rwot David Onen Acana II, religious leaders, RDCs and RCCs, LC 5 Chairpersons, other political leaders as well as opinion and historical leaders.

President Museveni in response to one of the contributors from Adilang, who pointed out that the security agencies were not following seriously the raiders once reported, clarified that the person following is always at a disadvantage as the raider can at his will decide to ambush persons who are following them.

He further noted that the same can also happen to the Local Defence Units (LDUs) who could experience a similar problem.

The President added that even at the time of fighting the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) led by Joseph Kony, this presented a challenge as the rebels could decide to ambush anyone following them.

“We were only able to defeat Kony when we introduced gunships because we could pass the ambushes and would engage them accordingly. You calm down, I am here, and this problem will be solved,” the President said.

President Museveni also echoed the comment by one of the elders Mr. Okwera who pointed out that the problem had existed since 1954 and was exacerbated in 1979 following the overthrow of Idi Amin regime where the Karamojong seized the opportunity to loot all types of guns from the Armory of Moroto Army Barracks.

The President said no government after that was able to retrieve guns from the Karamojong except the National Resistance Movement (NRM) that embarked on the disarmament exercise and removed over 40,000 guns from the Karamojong.

“The Army of Obote when it was overthrown had only 8, 000 soldiers and that of Amin had only 20,000 soldiers but you hear now we were able to remove 41,000 guns from the Karamojong,” he said.

The President said the peace in the region only came into existence following the removal of guns from the Karamojong. He also noted that cattle rustling was an old problem that resurfaced because of some weaknesses on the part of the security agencies that failed to properly package ways of dealing with the issue.

He however assured the nation that the problem will be solved again and pledged to visit the area again in June to update them on the progress of dealing with the cattle rustling issue.

“I promise to come back in June then you people will either say I am a person of ‘Goba’ (Lies) or I will say you people of little faith as Jesus used to tell his disciples,” the President said.

President Museveni had earlier briefed the gathering of the areas that were identified as loopholes in tackling the cattle raids.

He cited the delayed response to reported cases of cattle theft by the army and the police and not using communication gadgets like cell phones.

His Excellency also told them of the recommendations made in an earlier meeting with senior security officers.
Other recommendations included the heightened use of Police canines, overhead aircrafts to track down the cattle rustlers both during the day and at night and also branding of the animals by their locations.

The President added that other methods to fight cattle rustling included; being in close contact with the wananchi, making frequent visits to them to ascertain their security situation as well as to get reports from the people whom he hailed so much for providing valuable information required to help in curbing the vice.

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