TWO POLICEMEN DETAINED AFTER SUSPECTS ESCAPE FROM POLICE CUSTODY
At least two policemen are being detained at Jinja Central Police Station (CPS) in Jinja District, after suspects escaped from custody on Sunday morning.
Although the exact number of escapees is unknown, some eyewitness accounts suggest “they could be as many as 17”, a number that has not been independently verified by this publication.
The suspects are said to have fled through the front door of the police station on Main Street and through the back (Gabula Road), where Police fire trucks are parked.
The suspects were reportedly arrested from various places around Jinja City on Saturday night for various felonies including including home invasions, being a menace and physically assaulting their victims, especially women.
Stephen Maganda, a Boda Boda rider, who operates around the police station, said the incident happened at around 8:30am.
“First, I saw a suspect cleaning around the station, then after a few minutes, two came out running. The second suspect took a huge stumble on the steps of the station, before getting up and running after his colleague who had long gone,” Maganda said, adding that immediately after, the entrance to the station was slammed shut.
He added: “Later, I heard from a woman who said she witnessed two other suspects fleeing through Gabula Road.”
Another boda boda, also operating on a Stage across the Police Station, but declined to be named for fear of being sought by Police for more information, said from his vantage point, he saw two suspects fleeing through the front door of the Station at around 8am.
When this reporter visited the Police Station, one of the policemen who had been taken into custody, only identified as Okello, was being marched out the cell barefoot to make a phone call.
Efforts to get a comment from the area Police hierarchy, including the Force’s Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, yielded no response.
“Get in touch with the regional Publicist (James Mubi),” Mr Enanga said in a brief message. However, all calls to Mr Mubi and the Regional Police Commander (RPC), Dauda Hiriga, went unanswered.
This reporter then randomly sought a uniformed officer who said suspects had escaped although their exact number is only known to his seniors.
According to him, the suspects escaped as the cell guard was closing the compartment after letting in one of the suspects.
“The cell guard is among those in custody although his hand is bruised due to the force that was inflicted on him as the suspects fled,” the policeman said.

A Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) soldier survived lynching by an angry mob in Butanda sub county, Kabale district on accusations of trespassing into Ugandan soil while armed.
The soldier only identified as Private number 112574 Ndagijimana, attached to Alpha Taskforce of 17th Battalion ,501 brigade in Nyamicucu barracks Burera district, Northern province was intercepted by locals while on Ugandan soil of Kekubo in Butanda sub county at around 06:30 PM on Saturday evening.
Angry locals accused the soldier of crossing to Uganda with an intention of kidnapping Ugandans to take them to Rwanda for detention. Godfrey Nyakahuma, Kabale Resident District Commissioner confirms that Ndagijimana was saved by Mathias Arinetitwe alias Matiya, Butanda sub county Gomborora Internal Security Officer while already injured on the upper eye.
Nyakahuma says that Arineitwe first shot bullets in the air to disperse angry locals who seriously wanted to kill the soldier who was donning full Rwandan army combat gear.
Nyakahuma says that the soldier was also found armed with an AK 47 gun and 27 rounds of ammunition. Nyakahume also says that Ndajijimana is currently being detained at Kabale Central Police Station for questioning why he had crossed into Uganda moreover armed.

Nyakahuma hailed the locals for the improved vigilance against illegal entrants from Rwanda, following sensitization that was held in October this year by Kabale district security authorities.
The incident comes at a time when Private Ronald Arinda, a Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF soldier attached to the Special Forces Command (SFC) is still being held in Rwanda.
Arinda ,23, a resident of Kakyerere in Ryakarmira town council Kabale district was on November 27, arrested from a cattle market in Burera district in Northern Province, a few meters away from the Uganda-Rwanda border.
Arinda who was on his official leave was tricked to cross to Rwanda by Rwandan security informers disguising as locals who live along borderline claiming that they had some cattle they wanted to sell him.
Rwandan security operatives have for many times been accused of crossing to Uganda and kidnaping Ugandans at gunpoint before whisking them to Rwanda for detention. Only this month, two Rwandan security operatives crossed about 100metres from the border to Buhoro village in Rwene parish, Buhara sub county, Kabale district, and arrested a 21, year-old Anthony Twijukye.
In May 2020, armed Rwandan security personnel crossed to Kitojo village, Katuna Town Council, and arrested Obed Nicholas Tugumisirize alias Kacucu.
The Uganda-Rwanda borders were closed by Rwandan President, Paul Kagame in February 2019. Kagame issued a travel advisory to his nationals against traveling to Uganda, saying their safety is not guaranteed.
He accused Ugandan authorities of abducting its citizens and locking them up in non-designated areas. Kagame also accused Uganda of hosting and facilitating dissidents especially from Rwanda National Congress-RNC and the Democratic Forces for the liberation of Rwanda FDLR, which have declared war on the Kigali government.

KAYUNGA BY-ELECTION: 4 MPS, 10 OTHERS ARRESTED
Police in Kayunga district have arrested a total of 51 people including 4 MPs on allegations of campaigning beyond the deadline, disobedience of orders, and violating the curfew provisions.
On Thursday, the people of Kayunga were voting their LCV Chairperson in the by-election where the stiff contest was between National Unity Platform – NUP’s and National Resistance Movement NRM’s candidates Harriet Nakweede and Andrew Muwonge respectively.
The arrested MPs include; Aloysius Mukasa, MP Rubaga South; Lukyamuzi David Kalwanga, MP Busujju-Mityana; and Tebandeke Charles, MP Baale.
“In addition, Hon Serumaga David, MP Sabagabo-Makindye was also arrested on allegations of voter bribery,” said Hellen Butoto, police spokesperson in Sezibwa Region.
She, however, said that the general security situation in the district has been calm.
“Although no specific threats were directed towards the electoral process, we picked credible intelligence about groups that were being mobilized to cause violence and disrupt the voting process. So far 61 suspects have been arrested for various electoral offenses. The majority of whom were mobilized and ferried to Kayunga, from Makindye, Kawempe, Rubaga, Nabweeru and Wakiso. They are being processed for further court action.”
“We want to remind all residents in Kayunga, that their safety is guaranteed. Our tactical response teams are effectively deployed to deter and counter any acts of criminality and lawlessness in the district.”

US AMBASSADOR BACKS US SANCTIONS ON CMI BOSS
The US says such sanctions are targeting individuals in dictatorial governments and security forces who are directly responsible for violating human rights and even those who have plundered their country’s resources or those involved in corruption acts.
According to the US ambassador to Uganda HE Natalie Brown, sanctioning individuals is one of the tools used by the US to issue a warning to people and institutions that undermine the democratic process in Uganda therefore more sanctions are on the way as a way of advancing and protecting human rights and respect for rule of law.
Speaking about the sanctions US government slapped against CMI Boss Maj Gen Kandiho, ambassador Natalie pointed out factors they consider while issuing sanctions including; corruption, human rights abuses, Gender based violence, undemocratic processes among others.
Natalie’s position comes just a day after Kandiho dispatched a team of security officials in the CMI strategically disguised as Makerere students to stage a protest at the US embassy. Moments before this move, Kandiho had told media that he is ‘unmoved and unbothered’ by the US sanctions since his is not a ‘politician’ but a serving military officer.
Kandiho is being pinned over his indulgence in the electoral violence that featured during and after the 2021 polls. He is said to be the mastermind of state engineered abductions targeting youths who pay allegiance to the opposition National Unity Platform party president Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert a pop star turned politician opposing the 3 decade dictatorship of Gen. Yoweri Museveni, a guerrilla leader that assumed power in 1986.

Uganda was recently ranked among the top three countries in Africa with the most generous people, which should make you want to visit Uganda.Include it in your travel plans and make it your holiday destination before this year ends.

Ugandans are some of the friendliest and most welcoming people you could ever hope to meet. They will always greet you with gigantic smiles wherever you go regardless of your race, language, age, sex or culture. They are always ready to lend a helping hand or to share a story with you about the country they love so much.

Uganda is the one country on earth that fits the word paradise and that is Uganda, the Pearl of Africa because of its rich resources, lush and green landscapes, good weather and hospitable people. The country has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper, cobalt, gold, and other minerals.

If you visit Uganda, you will know that it is the greenest country especially as you leave the city heading to the southwestern side of the country, the landscape keeps getting greener and greener! For the bigger part, Uganda is absolutely not what many expect from an African country: scorched and dry. It is green, greener, and probably even greener than that!

At this year’s ATA conference held in November in Kampala, President Yoweri Museveni described Uganda as a country which does not need any air-conditioning. “Visit the land that does not require any air-conditioning like those in Europe and other parts of the world,” he said.

“All parts of Africa are miracles,” Museveni praised Uganda and its tropical forests, huge lakes, rivers, snow capped mountains like Mountain Rwenzori, among many others tourist attractions.

If you visit Uganda, you will know that it is the greenest country especially as you leave the city heading to the southwestern side of the country, the landscape keeps getting greener and greener!

If you visit Uganda, you will know that it is the greenest country especially as you leave the city heading to the southwestern side of the country, the landscape keeps getting greener and greener!

He said Uganda is a “good place on the globe where you go and have a nice life” and a “better destination than Spain”. However, he noted that it is unfortunate that the country’s tourism representatives are failing to market the country properly.

“The biggest problem with tourism is poor promotion,” Museveni said. “In Europe, people go to the Mediterranean coast. I visited Spain, it is very hot and humid in summer. I think Uganda would be a better destination than some of those destinations.”

“We are right on the Equator but because of the high altitude, we have snow-capped mountains, but even where there is no snow, the climate is very mild – very good for the human beings,” he added.

There are several things that make Uganda a Holiday destination place especially for you in this festive season. Below are the reasons why you should visit Uganda.

Language: Uganda has one common language with is English. This makes it easy for travelers to be able to get through the country at ease.

Hospitable people: Hospitality runs through people’s veins in Uganda. The country has hospitable people that will welcome you and make you feel comfortable even if it’s your first time in country. It is one country in the world where you can visit someone unexpectedly, 24 hours a day, and no matter what time it is, one can always count on a cup of tea and something to eat.

National Parks/Wildlife: Uganda is various National Parks which you can visit any timeof the year. These include Bwindi Forest National Park famous for gorilla trekking in Uganda. Other parks include Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and so much more. Besides the wildlife in the parks, there are more activities such as white water rafting on the Nile, bunge jumping.

Gorillas: Uganda is widely known for drawing a huge a number of tourists all coming to see rare the mountain gorillas in two of Uganda’s National Parks; Bwindi and Mgahinga National parks. The parks also offer excellent safaris and fantastic birding opportunities.

Mountains: Uganda has several mountains including Mount Elgon, Rwenzori Mountains, one of Africa’s finest trekking destinations, the “Mountains of the Moon” offer snow-capped peaks and fantastic trails.

Source Of The Nile: The source of River Nile, the long riverin Africa can only be found in Uganda.It was discovered by John Hanning Speke back in mid-1800.

Weather: Uganda has the best weather. Like President said, Uganda is a country “does not require any air-conditioning like those countries in Europe and other parts of the world.”

It globally known for its beautiful equatorial climate. This is because of the great forests and water bodies that surround it to provide both wet and dry season. It’s a lowland area with favorable temperatures that range from 26°C during the day and close to 16°C at night. The hottest months are from December to February. Uganda is an all round year for travel spots.

“We are right on the Equator but because of the high altitude, we have snow-capped mountains, but even where there is no snow, the climate is very mild – very good for the human beings,” Museveni said at the ATA Conference held in November in Kampala.

Nightlife: Uganda is one of the countries in the whole world where you will find people having fun from morning to morning. At night Uganda lights up with a vibrant and amazing life comparable to none. It boasts a huge variety of venues ranging from trendy clubs to pubs and bars full of atmosphere and everything in between. In during the festive season, the fun goes beyond imagination. You don’t wanna miss this.

HEALTH MINISTER RULES OUT AN POSSIBLE LOCKDOWN
The Omicron Covid-19 variant is unlikely to stop plans of Uganda fully opening her economy in January, the Health minister has revealed.
Dr Jane Aceng ruled out any localised lockdown after Uganda confirmed seven cases of the variant following the genomic sequencing of samples taken at Entebbe International Airport.
“We don’t want any more lockdowns. Lockdowns have caused a lot of suffering to our people. Omicron or no Omicron, we shall open up in January. Even the seven cases of Omicron reported are asymptomatic,” Dr Aceng said while commissioning a Shs33.2 billion building project at Lira Regional Referral Hospital on Tuesday.
President Museveni said in September that the Ugandan economy will be fully reopened when a 4.8 million strong group of people—including teachers, security personnel, elderly, and those below 50 years but with comorbidities—is fully inoculated. He estimated that this exercise could be complete by the backend of December.
Certain sectors, including the night economy, remain under lockdown since Uganda brought in restrictive measures in March of 2020.
Speaking on Tuesday, Dr Aceng applauded health workers for leading the way in combatting vaccine scepticism. The Health minister revealed that with “95 percent of health workers…already vaccinated…doubting Thomases [have been encouraged] to follow suit.”
She also added: “Even teachers are not doing badly, they are at 70 percent and we also expect them to be at 100 percent when schools reopen in January.”
Dr Aceng appealed to Ugandans to warm up to Covid-19 jabs, revealing that while the Lango Sub-region has embraced mass vaccination “Alebtong and Amolatar…have performed very poorly.”
She further revealed that while Uganda is well-stocked with different vaccines, Johnson & Johnson will only be accessed by people who live in hard-to-reach areas.
She commended the Japanese government for its financial aid to Uganda for the improvement of regional referral hospitals.
The Shs33.2b commissioned project involved the construction of an out-patient department (OPD) and delivery unit, comprising six suites. The OPD comprises an ultra-modern building with ultramodern equipment.
The facility consists specialised rooms for mothers and children; special clinics; ultramodern casualty unit where patients can be received, resuscitated and then transferred accordingly.