Aol Betty Ocan
It’s time to open our worship places
Thursday August 13 2020
Covid-19 has
erased some of the societal morals that united us. Uganda is a
God-fearing nation, but unfortunately, due to the lockdown, the citizens
of our great country cannot gather to seek God’s intervention, the
devil is taking dominance. If people do not worship God together, they
are spiritually derailed. We cannot allow the devil to rule over us.
It’s now four months since places of worship in Uganda were closed.
Government has continued to keep silent.
The Opposition in Parliament demands for the immediate opening of places of worship in Uganda after a series of months of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Uganda is eminently shocked by government remaining hell-bent on not commenting on the fate of opening religious institutions.
The Opposition in Parliament demands for the immediate opening of places of worship in Uganda after a series of months of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Uganda is eminently shocked by government remaining hell-bent on not commenting on the fate of opening religious institutions.
First, it must be noted that Uganda’s
Motto is ‘For God and My Country.’ This, therefore, implies that God
shall always guide us through tough times like these. This is the time
we must be deep in prayer, repentance, forgiveness and acts of building
the church and God’s/Allah’s Kingdom. The act of government keeping
places of worship closed has a spiritual and overly negative implication
on the country and its stability.
The Bible says in
Jeremiah 1:16, “I will punish my people because they have sinned; they
have abandoned me, have offered sacrifices to other gods and have made
idols and worshiped them.” As leaders we should not invite the wrath of
God upon us. Notably, it is important to learn lessons from neighbouring
countries on the process they are taking to return to normalcy.
Rwanda, for example, resolved to reopen places of worship. US President
Donald Trump on May 22 declared religious services essential. It is
also evident that President Museveni has formerly called for national
prayers at State House in which the congregation was ably managed. This
can also be applicable to churches and mosques.
Taking
cognisance of the above fact, churches may be used as a channel for
proper sensitisation of the masses. When people are going through hard
times, they need encouragement from the church. History reminds us of
the times of Ebola, where places of worship remained open with strict
adherence to standard operating procedures.
Regrettably, the institutions of worship remain closed while NRM politicians are gathering masses in the electoral period.
The
Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng and counterparts, including the
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prof Ephraim Kamuntu,
have been cited for such conduct without any effort to disperse the
crowds that gathered around them.
Further, the NRM
party structures are holding meetings in churches without due regard to
the SOPs. The President in conjunction with his scientists downplay this
question with actual knowledge and magnitude of its importance.
Government
should open places of worship in a bid to return to normalcy and also
encourage the continuous observance of the Ministry of Health guidelines
on Covid19. As much as some churches have resorted to preaching using
TVs and radios, these are applicable to a few, given people in rural
areas do not have electricity.
Religious leaders
should adhere SOPs. Places of worship should enforce strict observance
of social distancing. As an adhoc measure, worship time may be adjusted
to make services shorter. Government must also dialogue with
stakeholders, including the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda to come up
with other appropriate measures.
Ms Ocan (MP), is Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Landlord burns self to death over financial challenges
Friday August 14 2020
A Nakulabye landlord has become the latest victim of ‘self-immolation’ following similar cases in the recent months.
Andrew
Mukiibi, 28, a resident of Nakulabye Zone 5 in Kampala City, set
himself on fire and died over challenges suspected to be related to
finances.
The incident happened on Thursday afternoon at about 2:30pm.
According
to a police officer at the scene, who preferred anonymity since he is
not allowed to speak to the press, the now deceased Mukiibi, picked a
jerrycan full of petrol from his car at around lunch time and went with
it in one of the toilets at his rentals.
The officer
said the neighbours did not take keen interest in what he was going to
do with the jerrycan until they heard him crying out loud.
"When
they rushed to his rescue, they found him engulfed in fire. By the
time, they put out the fire, he had sustained severe burns and died on
the spot. The police later picked the body and took it,” the officer
told Daily Monitor.
Incidents of people attempting or actually burning themselves
started to emerge since the government imposed a lockdown in its efforts
to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country. Whereas
it was done in ‘good faith’, the lockdown left several Ugandans in
financial distress as it caught many by surprise.
A
deputy head teacher in Masuliita, Wakiso District, set himself ablaze
and died last week reportedly due to financial challenges. Another
teacher burnt himself to death in Eastern Uganda when he failed to get
money to feed his family.
The police officers' attempts
to understand why Mukiibi took his life hadn't yielded results since
deceased's wife, whom they wanted to talk to, collapsed and was still
unconscious in hospital, where she was rushed by press time. But some
neighbours told police that the deceased had financial challenges.
When
contacted, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, Luke
Owoyesigyire, said he had heard about incident but needed to get facts
from the officers at the scene.
By press time, he hadn't yet responded.
Last
week, a 40-year old man burnt himself and died after a woman, who was
his neighbour, rejected him in Masanafu, a city suburb.
In
July, a man set his house on fire killing his baby and also injured
himself and the wife after suspecting her of having a love affair with
another man.
A vendor in Kazo in Western Uganda also
burnt himself and sustained injuries after he was given a traffic
express penalty ticket.
A taxi driver attempted to burn
himself at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) headquarters, but his
suicide attempt was foiled by police officers who arrested him.
He was protesting government regulations of taxis, which he said had affected their business yet they were already facing financial distress following the lockdown.
He was protesting government regulations of taxis, which he said had affected their business yet they were already facing financial distress following the lockdown.
In July still, a boda boda
rider set himself on fire and died after his motorcycle was impounded by
police officers who later allegedly solicited for a bribe. The officers
were later arrested and prosecuted in the police disciplinary court.
CRIME XCLUSIVE! INSECURE HUBBY: City Teacher Chops IHK Nurse Into Pieces, Flees
https://www.secondopinion.co.ug/crime-xclusive-insecure-hubby-city-teacher-chops-ihk-nurse-into-pieces-flees/
By
Francis Otucu
Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) are investigating two incidents of murder that were as a result of domestic violence.
The first incident happened Sunday in Kigoma village, Bujuuko.
It is alleged that on August 2, 2020, Sarah Namuwonge, 24, a businesswoman renting at mama Nagawa’s house was shot by her boyfriend, a private security guard, killing her instantly.
The suspect, currently on the run, has only been identified as Byaruhanga.
KMP Deputy Spokesman, Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the incident, saying, “Our officers visited the scene, recorded statements and the body was later conveyed to city mortuary for postmortem.”
According to some witness accounts, it is alleged the boyfriend found the deceased with another man hence the shooting.
“Efforts are on to have the suspect apprehended,” he added.
Relatedly, the police in Kitezi are hunting for Simon Samanya, a teacher by profession for allegedly hacking his wife, Viola Kakai, a nurse, with International Hospital, Kampala, to death.
The incident happened Sunday morning in Kitezi.
It is alleged that the couple had a long standing domestic problem which according to police, local authorities had to intervene.
“Our offices recently registered this matter. However, it was already before court.” He added, “As regards her death, statements from the neighbors have been recorded and body of the deceased person was conveyed to city mortuary Mulago for postmortem.”
“Both murder incidents are being investigated,” Owoyesigyire said.
This news site understands, Kakai was killed by her insecure hubby after a male ‘colleague’ dropped her off, at home, from work.
IHK MOURNS
Kakai’s employer, IHK is mourning. In a statement, the medical facility said, “It is with profound sadness that the International Hospital Kampala family announce the loss of our staff, colleague and friend, Violet Kakai. Violet worked with International Hospital Kampala for over 10 years as our Auxiliary Nurse till her untimely passing the night of Saturday August 1st 2020.”
According to IHK; Kakai was kind, humble and dedicated to her work.
Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) are investigating two incidents of murder that were as a result of domestic violence.
The first incident happened Sunday in Kigoma village, Bujuuko.
It is alleged that on August 2, 2020, Sarah Namuwonge, 24, a businesswoman renting at mama Nagawa’s house was shot by her boyfriend, a private security guard, killing her instantly.
The suspect, currently on the run, has only been identified as Byaruhanga.
KMP Deputy Spokesman, Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the incident, saying, “Our officers visited the scene, recorded statements and the body was later conveyed to city mortuary for postmortem.”
According to some witness accounts, it is alleged the boyfriend found the deceased with another man hence the shooting.
“Efforts are on to have the suspect apprehended,” he added.
Relatedly, the police in Kitezi are hunting for Simon Samanya, a teacher by profession for allegedly hacking his wife, Viola Kakai, a nurse, with International Hospital, Kampala, to death.
The incident happened Sunday morning in Kitezi.
It is alleged that the couple had a long standing domestic problem which according to police, local authorities had to intervene.
“Our offices recently registered this matter. However, it was already before court.” He added, “As regards her death, statements from the neighbors have been recorded and body of the deceased person was conveyed to city mortuary Mulago for postmortem.”
“Both murder incidents are being investigated,” Owoyesigyire said.
This news site understands, Kakai was killed by her insecure hubby after a male ‘colleague’ dropped her off, at home, from work.
IHK MOURNS
Kakai’s employer, IHK is mourning. In a statement, the medical facility said, “It is with profound sadness that the International Hospital Kampala family announce the loss of our staff, colleague and friend, Violet Kakai. Violet worked with International Hospital Kampala for over 10 years as our Auxiliary Nurse till her untimely passing the night of Saturday August 1st 2020.”
According to IHK; Kakai was kind, humble and dedicated to her work.
Suspect. Simon Shimanya (centre) at Isingiro Central Police Station on August 13, 2020. PHOTO | FELIX AINEBYOONA
Suspected killer of IHK nurse arrested in Isingiro
Thursday August 13 2020
Police in Rwizi Region have arrested the suspected killer of IHK nurse, from his hideout in Isingiro District.
“Territorial
police of Rwizi region have today (Thursday) arrested the key suspect
in the murder of IHK nurse, Violet Kakai, a resident of Kasangati in
Wakiso District who was hacked to death by her husband,” Mr Samson
Kasasira, the Rwizi Regional Police Spokesperson, said.
Police have been searching for the suspected killer Simon Shimanya who has been in hiding ever since the death of Kakai.
Mr
Kasasira said the suspect, a teacher by profession, was arrested and
transported to Kampala for further management of the case.
“Shimanya
Simon, 40, has been arrested from Isingiro District where he has been
hiding and has been taken to Kampala for prosecution,” Mr Kasasira said
The late Violet Kakai, 32, who worked with IHK as a nurse for 10 years
was hacked to death in the night of last Saturday August 1, after having
a domestic quarrel with her husband.
The deceased’s body has been taken to Masaka regional referral hospital mortuary for postmortem.
Boda boda rider commits suicide inside Masaka police station
The
death of Walugembe prompted his colleagues to storm Masaka police
station protesting what they called persistent persecution by security
authorities. Hussein Ssenabulya, the chairperson Masaka Boda Boda Rider
Association, says they are saddened by their colleague's actions, which
he blames on police harassment.
Ssenabulya says that they want police to prosecute the police officer that was handling their colleagues’ file because he is fond of extorting money from people.
Enock Ambaine, the Southern Region police commander, says that he has instructed the Professional Standards Unit to open a general inquiry file to investigate the matter if there was a case on unprofessionalism on the side of the police.
Ssenabulya says that they want police to prosecute the police officer that was handling their colleagues’ file because he is fond of extorting money from people.
Enock Ambaine, the Southern Region police commander, says that he has instructed the Professional Standards Unit to open a general inquiry file to investigate the matter if there was a case on unprofessionalism on the side of the police.
Ambaine
adds they are also going to investigate allegations that the officer
who was handling Walugembe's matter had asked for Shs 100,000 because
the receipts that were cleared to be given to cyclists operating during
curfew hours is Shs 40,000.
The deceased’s body has been taken to Masaka regional referral hospital mortuary for postmortem.
Another Ugandan man sets himself ablaze
He
said that at the scene of crime, they found a letter which the deceased
had written, saying that because of many challenges he was taking his
life and God should welcome him.
There
has been an unprecedented rise in Ugandan men setting themselves ablaze
since March this year when the country went into lockdown due to the
coronavirus pandemic. There have been at least six documented cases from
across the country in which men have ended their lives by setting
themselves ablaze.
Many
civil society organisations and campaigns have focused on women and
children with few efforts geared towards tackling the impact, the
lockdown has had on men as well.
