Police at Old Kampala has arrested Sulaiman Mkanda for allegedly attempting to steal a motorcycle registration number UFL 990Q. The incident took place on the 19th April, 2022 at about midnight at Namungona Zone.

According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, it is alleged that on the fateful night while Mkada was on a motorcycle being ridden by another man only identified as Aine, he stopped an oncoming motorcycle UFL 990Q, pulled out a Fake Police Warrant card reading D/AIP Byaruhanga Sulaiman to prove to the rider that he was a Police officer and begun questioning him why he was riding very fast.

The rider identified as Bukenya Abdul was shaken and allowed the suspect Sulaiman to remove the ignition Key.

“However, in the process, our patrollers led by Oc Namungona arrived and Mkanda threw away the warrant card plus the ignition key and took off,” Owoyesigyire said.

The patrollers pursued and arrested him after a serious struggle. He was taken to Old Kampala Police station where he is currently being held.

“We have preferred charges of impersonating a Police officer and that of theft of a Motorcycle on the suspect.”

Relevant statements have been recorded and the suspect will be arraigned in courts of law as soon as Possible.

“We are also looking into other many allegations where victims have come out to allege that officers not in uniform have previously disappeared with their Motorcycles upon impounding them,” Owoyesigyire added.

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Kole Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC), Trevor Solomon Baleke has urged Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs) to monitor government programs implemented in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Mr. Baleke said shoddy work, poor quality service delivery lead to insecurity and this should not be allowed to happen.

“I am not here to sit in this office. I am here to monitor government programs and ensure accountability, service delivery. Once we join hands and make sure that government programs are implemented in an appropriate way,” he said.

Mr. Baleke was this Wednesday afternoon meeting all GISOs from the 11 sub counties and town councils of Kole District.

“I come from the village. I know what a common man deserves and how they feel when things do not go the right way. Women, Youth, elderly and everyone should benefit from the available government programs and civil servants have to do their work,” he said.

Baleke who on Tuesday went to Aboke Health Centre IV in Aboke Sub County on an impromptu visit told the GISOs said; “I am coming to your sub counties to visit the health centre IIIs and see what is happening. I will talk to the medical personnel and listen to the concerns of people. We shall meet with the Health Management Committee to ensure the concerns of both the health personnel and the citizens are handled,” he said.

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Given the high unemployment levels in the country, there is a need to break the bias and promote gender diversity across professions by encouraging women to seek opportunities in male-dominated industries.  In support of SDG 5 which advocates for gender equality, MTN Uganda in collaboration with key partners is making strides in empowering women in order to achieve sustainable societies.

MTN Foundation supports Girls with Tools

ProssyNalunkuumais pursuing a mechanical engineering certification at Smart Girls Foundation in Wakiso. Garbed in a blue mechanic’s overall shielded by gloves in hand, Nalunkuuma, who is bent over a car’s open bonnet is cognizant of the awkward stares she attracts from the public as a result of her career choice.

Driven by her passion and unfettered ambition to one day become a renowned mechanical engineer, Nalunkuuma continues to pursue her dream; breaking the bias against women in this male-dominated career.

“Despite girls’ persistent shunning of mechanical engineering, I chose to pursue this line of work because of the passion I have for it plus the need to be unique through penetrating a male-dominated world. My goal is to actively practice in this field through setting up an auto repair and parts shop,” she narrates.

Nalunkuuma, just like other girls at the Foundation, sought an opportunity to chase her engineering ambition at Smart Girls Foundation, a non-profit making, girl-centered, development organization that empowers and mentors girls in health and education to mention but a few.  Under the Foundation’s flagship projects, girls with tools, girls are equipped with skills in traditionally male-dominated professions including carpentry, machinery, and automotive mechanics and welding.

Over the years, MTN has supported this cause through donation to the Smart Girls Foundation and more recently, construction of an additional facility that will see the Foundation increase the number of girls trained to about 400 annually.As a result of MTN’s support, already, the organization recorded an increase in the number of girls trained at the facility from 30 to close to 90 in a wide range of programs including mechanical, electrical installations and welding.

Dorcas Muhwezi, the MTN Uganda general manager customer experience, who is also an engineer said it is reassuring to see a significant number of girls showing interest in engineering and having the ability to pursue their interests.

“It is encouraging to see such programs that empower the girls and help them develop practical skills. I was very excited to hear that some girls have already set up shop. As MTN, this success is the embodiment of our vision. We are committed to facilitating a diverse society through generational equality and increasing women’s representation for sustainable societies,” she noted.

MTN Supports Women in sports

In the same spirit, MTN last weekend rewarded a group of outstanding women in sports who have played a pivotal role in bridging the gender gap in the world of sport.

The awards which summed up the telecom’s month long celebration of women following the International Women’s day in March, saw the public nominate and vote for their phenomenal sportswomen of choice in a bid to narrow the gender gap in the sports profession through recognizing and celebrating women in sports.

The top 5 women in accordance with the public votes, each received Shs3,000,000 while the other 15 who made it to the top 20 were rewarded with Shs500,000 each.

“As MTN we deliberately set out to use the women’s month to shine a light on the greatness of women in sports. We believe that if we work together in recognizing and celebrating the women who have in no small way upheld our country’s flag far and wide, we shall erase the gap between genders in the sports profession,” Muhwezi said.

RehemaNanyonga, the Manager of the Suncity United Netball team, a community-based team leveraging Netball to empower underprivileged girls hailing from slum areas in and around Kampala, thanked MTN for the recognition award as well as the sponsorship package to facilitate the team’s travel for the U.S Open Junior championships in Atlanta, Georgia.

“As the Suncity United community, we are humbled to be recognized and supported in our endeavors by the biggest company in the country. This gesture from MTN has motivated us to continue pursuing our goals to continue inspiring more girls in our community through sports,” Nanyonga said.

During the awards ceremony, Suncity Netball team walked away with a community service award and a sponsorship package worth Shs30,000,000 in recognition of its efforts towards empowering young girls through sports.

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