Uganda Certificate of Education-UCE examinations start on Monday 15th October, 2007. In a press release to WBS, the Uganda National Examination Board Executive Secretary, Mathew Bukenya says that Primary Leaving Examinations- PLE are scheduled for 5th and 6th November.

Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education –UACE and Uganda Junior Technical –UJTC will start on 12th November. Bukenya says that the examinations will be conducted as scheduled in all parts of the country, including flood affected areas.

Bukenya also strongly warns heads of centers, candidates, teachers and parents against involvement in examination malpractices and irregularities. Strong measures have been set up to identify and isolate people who may subvert the examination system.

UNEB also cautions parents and candidates against conmen selling fake examination papers. The public is also encouraged to report any malpractices to police and UNEB.

The opposition party, Uganda People’s Congress -UPC has held a memory service for their Former party President and two time President of the country, Dr.Apollo Milton Obote. This year’s memory service took place at St.Andrew’s cathedral in Mbale.

Dr. Apollo Obote who was twice a President of Uganda and prime Minister died two years ago in South Africa on the 11th of October.

In a memorial service at St. Andrew’s cathedral in Mbale, the Bishop of Mbale Diocese Samuel Waulakha, cautioned political leaders to always be honest and sincere because they will be held accountable for their actions.

The service attracted UPC party members Country and celebrated the death and legacy of their former party president Dr. Apollo Milton Obote.

All party supporters were dressed in their party uniform of Red and blue and later matched through the streets of Mbale town singing UPC party songs.

The current party president and wife to Obote, Miria Kalule Obote addressed the people during the service blaming the current ruling government for frustrating the programmes that were put in place by Dr. Obote.

Party members like Professor Will W.Anokonggo said the party is reviving itself by organizing its affairs right from the grass root.

Police is holding a 28 year old man for allegedly burning his wife with acid. Joseph Sekitto, was arrested Saturday, 0ctober, 06 after pouring acid on his wife Immaculate Nannyombi.

In a police statement, the two developed a dispute resulting into divorce. However the former husband, Joseph Sekitto, resident of Mbogo zone Kawempe could not take it up and plotted against his former wife, Nannyombi.

Sekitto then bought acid and followed up Nanyombi at a certain place in Kiroke zone, Kawempe where she had taken after the divorce and on Saturday night as Nannyombi and her friend only identified as Oliver were heading for the market to buy food items, Sekitto burnt them with acid.

Nannyombi sutained serious injuries and was taken to Mulago hospital for medication. Kampala Extra Spokesman Smeo Nsubuga attributes the increasing case of acid to lack of a regulated framework of trading in acid.

Police is also detaining two brothers, Richard Kategano, aged 27 and Charles Mwanje, 33 for attempting to murder their brother Kasibante Richard who they claim bought charms from a witch doctor for riches.

The two who are residents of Musoke zone Nateete and Sembabule zone Wankulukuku respectively claim that their brother’s charm was the reason for their other brother, Mukasa’s death. Police was tipped of the attempted murder plot and arrested the accused.

Police also holding10 children who allegedly escaped from their homes in search for their parents. These include Bukenya Joseph, Ibra Muyingo, Mukasa Kasito, Fatuma Tusemererwa, Grace Kakete, Ashraf Seremba, Amina Nafuna, Odeke Denis, Julius Ekadadi and Asuman Zirimenya were picked form different places around Kampala .

Police is calling on parents to be vigilant especially in this time when the preparation s for CHOGM are in high gear and many idlers are likely to be arrested.

A special police force to handle riots and other unauthorized gatherings in the country has been passed out. The training aimed at equipping police on new skills of riot control instead of using teargas.

The force comprises of Officers from the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces mainly from the Presidential Guard Brigade and the regular Police. It has been trained by the South African Police which has experience in handling riots.

Speaking at the pass out, the State Minister for Internal Affairs Matiya Kasaija, says that for long, the Police has wrongly been using teargas to disperse people in order to keep law and order.

Kasaija also says that the government is in the final stages to improve on the poorly funded police department. Improvement in funding the police will see an end to poor accommodation facilities, wrecked vehicles and lack of office furniture.

Kasaija however, defends government’s militarization of the police force. This is despite that the constitution provides that the police are civil force, which is supposed to be non partisan and act as shield between the government and public.

The Minister further reveals government plans to amend the Police act in order to give more powers to the Police to handle riots.

The Inspector General of Police Major General Kaihura says that the special police force will rebuild the police image and regain public confidence. Kaihura notes that Ant-riot Police officers have been using excessive teargas that affected even innocent people including children.

Major General Kaihura says the formation of the Public Order unit will prevent the spread of teargas among people not involved in riots.

This is the first time that the Uganda Police Force is receiving specialized training by an African country. Britain , France and America are the countries that have offered training to the force.

These are the same Ant- riot vehicles codenamed Nyalas, that failed to break while under instruction by the British Royal Police and damaged over 6 private cars along Dustur, Street Kampala. The Nyalas were purchased from South Africa where they are no longer operational following the end of apartheid in 1994.

The Office of the Prime Minister is to launch a National Peace, Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda.The plan lays out a sequence of activities to rehabilitate the war affected areas.

The plan to cover 38 Districts is projected to cost over 600 million US dollars.It is largely donor funded with the government of Uganda expected to contribute only 30%

The plan puts emphasis on establishing infrastructure in areas that were highly affected by the twenty year old conflict.

The war between the government and LRA rebels left a number of social services and infrastructure destroyed. As part of the plan, 322 Police Posts will established in each sub county in the 38 Districts. Currently only 188 police posts are operational.

The plan will implemented through four priority interventions that would include the consolidation of State Authority, Rebuilding and Empowering Communities, Revitalization of the Economy, Peace building and Reconciliation.

The plan is projected to raise access to safe water. Studies indicate that Rural water coverage and access in the entire North stands at 73.5% while Karamoja region has the lowest water coverage that stands at 17.3%

The plan also intends to improve the over 8700 kilometers of roads network in the 38 districts to high class murram. Some will be upgraded to all season roads the roads to facilitate in the marketing of locally produced agriculture produce.

The hallmark of the plan is to address issues of duplication of works as it has been in humanitarian efforts to the region.

Buganda road court has summoned MPs, Odonga Otto and Erias Lukwago to appear before it on November 15 for continuation of their trial.

Otto representing Aruu County is charged with allegedly assaulting a Police officer, Emanuel Muheirwe at Kampala central Police station on April 20th, 2007.

Otto and Lukwago, MP for Kampala central division are jointly charged with alleged defiance of traffic orders at square one road junction along Kampala road on April 20th, 2007 in Kampala city.

Magistrate Suzan Kanyange summoned both MPs on bail after prosecution reported that the accused had not shown up in court today.

State attorney, John Bosco Mudde reported that the MPS were required to have reported to court for continuation of their trial on October 12. They did not appear as it turned out to be Idd day.

A fundraising drive to raise money for flood victims in Teso region at Uganda Manufacturers association showground flopped with less than I million shillings being raised in cash and pledges.

The fundraising drive was organized by Born again churches Relief Development initiative. Its chairman, Godwin Sempebwa urged Ugandans

to support the cause saying it will go a long way in helping other Ugandans in case disasters like this strikes.

The Teso Cultural leader, Papa Osuban Augustine urged government to repair damaged roads in Teso and reconstruct bridges. He said those affected by floods in Teso cannot access health and education services .

At last the Basongora pastoralists have a permanent home in Ibuga, Mubuku and part of Rwehingo in Kasese district. But their gain comes with a loss to some of people in those areas.

The Basongora pastoralists who had occupied parts of Queen Elizabeth Game Park, were forcefully removed by government and resettled in Ibuga refuge settlement area, parts of Mubuku prisons farm in Busongora north and Rwehingo Kasese west.

In Ibuga refugee camp and Rwehingo, cultivators who have lived and carried out farming activities for over twenty years have been displaced.

At the refugee camp, a big junk of land was allocated to the Basongora pastoralists and another part allocated to the Bakonzo cultivators

Refugees from Sudan and the DRCongo have given up to December 2007 to leave the area. However the Basongora say the corridor for the cattle to go through for watering on lake Kayanza is small .

Cultivators on the land say government should demarcate the land between themselves and the pastoralists to avoid future conflicts.

The Chief game warden of Uganda wild life Tom Okello says close to 15 hyenas were killed when the Basongora invaded the park.

Basongora have since 1950 been displaced and have been moving from place to place in Kasese district as well as DRCongo, where they were forced out by the Kabila government in 2006 and settled in Quen Elizabeth national Park.