Tag: Hoima

Hoima district leaders worry about increasing number of Congolese immigrants

Posted on by Annah Nafula

By Annah Nafula

Increasing number of Immigrants in Bunyoro worries leaders. Joseline Nyangoma, the district Natural resource Officer worries that the large number of Congolese flocking into Bunyoro through Kigorobya is causing too much pressure on the natural resources in the area.

Speaking to media on World Chimpazee day, Nyangoma added, “Many of these foreigners have introduced new economic activities that are pausing challenges to the environment. In a bid to survive these immigrants are cutting down trees, both for charcoal and farm land.”

This has in turn escalated the deforestation rates in Hoima district that is worrying conservationists in the country. Hoima district and the Bunyoro region has been known over the years to have the biggest forest cover in Uganda.

Nyagoma therefore urges government to establish immigration offices on the shores of Lake Albert so as to keep track of the people coming in the country through Lake Albert.

Police officer kills self over domestic problems

Posted on by Annah Nafula

Police in Hoima are investigating circumstances under which one of their own committed suicide by shooting himself inside the barracks.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine regional police public relations officer, has identified the victim as Police Constable Lawrence Kayanga, aged 34.

Speaking to Uganda Radio Network on phone this morning, Hakiza says that Kayanga shot himself at about 6pm on Wednesday at the time when he was expected to report for evening duty.

He says the deceased left behind a suicide note with the phrase: “I have decided to do it because I have no strength and peace.”

Hakiza says that by the time Kayanga shot himself dead, his wife was not in their house.
He adds that the body of the deceased who hails from Eastern Uganda is at the Hoima regional referral hospital mortuary pending postmortem by police pathologists.

Asked about how a police officer managed to have a gun in his house inside the barracks, Hakiza says the deceased had just signed for the gun as he reported for evening duty but may be decided to head direct to his home to do the act of suicide.

Sources within the police barracks who have preferred anonymity told URN that the deceased had had domestic issues with his wife. Kayanga had reportedly asked another woman in the barracks to counsel his wife and as a result, upon his return home, she engaged him in a verbal attack asking why their domestic issues are leaked to a third party.

Sources say Kayanga shot himself dead moments after his wife had walked out of the house to fetch water from a tap within the barracks.

 

 

 

-URN

Stop issuance of Certificates of land titles- NFA

Posted on by Tukundane Yonna

By Joan Navubya

The National Forestry Authority (NFA) has written to the Commissioner Land Registration at Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development to stop issuance of Certificates of land titles in Central Forest Reserves.

This follows the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom’s acquisition of a Land Title in Bugoma Central Forest Reserve curving out over 8,000 hectares of land in Buhaguzi County Kyangwali Hoima District.

The kingdom is already carrying out the boundary marking exercise for the land, already leased to Hoima Sugar Factory Company Ltd to grow sugarcanes.

NFA warns that failure to adhere to the request; it will be forced to apply legal means.

Photo: bugomaforest.blogspot.com

Cholera out break in Hoima claims four lives

Posted on by Annah Nafula

A fresh cholera outbreak in Hoima district has claimed the lives of four people and left 20 others hospitalised. The latest outbreak has been reported in Hanga village in Kyangwali Sub-County. Fred Kugonza, the Hoima District Disease Surveillance Officer, says the deceased cholera victims are members of the same family.

They succumbed to the disease on Sunday evening as they were being rushed to Kyangwali Health Center. However, the district health officials have declined to reveal the particulars of the deceased and their family.
According to Kugonza, the four presented with diarrhea, vomiting, fever, dehydration and general body weakness. Kugonza explains that 20 more residents contracted the disease but have been treated and discharged from Kyangwali Health Centre, where a Cholera treatment center has been established.

He says no new cases have been report, adding that the health team is on ground to do community senstisation on hygiene and sanitation and case identification. In a phone interview on Thursday, Kugonza explained that the epidemic is suspected to have originated from the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

He reveals that one of the affected families received a visitor from Kyomya village in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, prior to the outbreak.

Hanga is one of the villages in Hoima district that was affected by a similar outbreak in September last year. The outbreak was contained two months later. Cholera was also reported in the neighboring sub counties of Kabwoya, Buseruka and Kigorobya.13 people died and 300 were hospitalized.

Cholera outbreak is common at the Lake Albert shore areas in Hoima and Kibaale districts, especially during rainy seasons. Health officials blame the problem on poor latrine coverage, as the soils there are fragile and unsuitable for pit-latrines.

Information obtained from Hoima district health office indicates that Hanga village has 80 households and only 8 pit latrines. The communities do open defecation and drink dirty water.

Last year, Luke Lokuda, the Hoima Chief Administrative Officer revealed plans to establish a water purifying plant along the Lake Albert shores, to help avail communities with safe drinking water. However, our reporter couldn’t reach Lokuda to get an update on the water purifying project.

-URN