MP Fungaroo blames government over the delay of upgrading Arua Air Field to International AirPort.

MP Fungaroo blames government over the delay of upgrading Arua Air Field to International AirPort.

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.

Arua. November 15, 2012.

Arua Air Field which is to be upgraded to international airport.

The Member of Parliament for Obongi county also Shadow Minster for defense and Security Kaps Hassan Fungaroo has accused the government for the deliberate delay of upgrading Arua air field to international airport.

Addressing a press conference at Arua airfield on Thursday, Fungaroo said Arua air field deserves to be constructed in to an international air port which can handle heavy and big flights since it is one of the biggest airfields in the country.

“This government headed by president Museveni has malicious and deliberate plans to always marginalize the people of West Nile if it comes to huge and credible developments in the region. The government claims the locals do not want to offer land for the airport but the same government has delayed to agree with the people on how to compensate and relocate the people to fasten the developments at the airport” Fungarro said.

The FDC man observed that Uganda only has one international airport at Entebbe and this is a big risk for President Museveni in case there happens to exist a serious problem of insecurity at the only international airport, where will Museveni and his top leaders land when they are from abroad, he asked.

“Instead of allowing people to steal huge monies in the Office of the prime Minister and other departments, such money would be used to facelift the second international airport at Arua to help boast business and international flights” Fungaroo reiterated.

The MP said, even Gulu airfield which holds the capacity of international airport cannot be granted permission to operate international flights just because this government does not want the greater north region and West Nile to develop like other regions yet the people have always sacrificed their lives to vote for the ruling government.

According to Fungarro, it is not fare for somebody from Arua to travel to Entebbe and board to fly to Juba when it would have been easy for us to fly direct from Arua to Juba and DRC.

Fungaroo said it was a big shame us when Uganda hosted the CHOGM, many leaders of foreign states were forced to ask to land in other airports outside Uganda yet it was easy if Arua and Gulu were granted airspace permission to allow such planes to land within the country.

The FDC man warned leaders of the current government that, one day, Uganda will be trapped in a hostage of an air locked country just as it is a land locked country since the country only depends on one international airfield.

“I am advising president Museveni and his leaders that if a serious security threat is posed at the country when the President is abroad, then he will be air locked to land since there is only one international airport. This means it becomes easy to attack the security in Entebbe and there will be no landing site for the president” Fungaroo observed.

He appealed to the president together with the security team and other concerned leaders of this country to ensure that, Arua airfield is face lifted to international airport.

MP Fungaroo also blamed his colleague MPs in the West Nile region for failing to join hands and share a common ground to lobby for such huge developments in the region.

“I am requesting all the concerned leaders of this region who love development to come on board and address a common issue of development so that our place can feature in the international zone” he said.

End.

KKT Bus accident kills eight people, Company suspends operation over tragic accident.

KKT Bus accident kills eight people, Company suspends operation over tragic accident.

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.

Arua. November 19, 2012.

The wreckage of KKT bus that knocked Elephant.

  A survived gets treatment at Arua hospital

One of the dead passengers body at the scene of accident.

Bodies of dead passengers

The management of KKT Bus Company has suspended operations its busses over the tragic accident which occurred along Arua Kampala.

In a press release dated Saturday November 17, 2012 signed by the managing director of KKT Idro Taban, buses of the company will not operate until further notice.

According to the management, they will first vet their drivers and they should undergo a serious testing before the buses can begin plying the Arua Kampala route and other routes.

“We have stopped operation until the transport liencecing board company that examines drivers together with ministry of works and transport confirms and certifies our drivers. This decision was made to save the lives of our customers since many people are going to use our buses this festive season” the letter explains.

The death toll in the accident was later confirmed that eight people perished in the KKT bus accident as another passengers body was lately discovered.

The suspension of KKT bus company service has left joy and privilege in three other bus companies which include Gaagaa, California, and Nile coach to operate along the high ways of Arua Kampala.

e been confirmed dead and 41 survived in the tragic motor accident involving KKT bus which occurred on Friday night along Arua Kampala road.

The accident involving KKT bus with registration number UAM 348H occurred at 11pm at Gotagoyo village in Nwoya district about eight kilometers from Packwach bridge killing eight people and 41passengers were injured in critical condition.

The injured were later transferred to Arua regional referral hospital. 

The bus which was traveling from Koboko heading to Kampala knocked an elephant which was crossing the road and the elephant died on spot. This caused the driver to lose control thereby overturning the bus killing eight people on the spot and 41 survivors were left in critical condition.

 Out of the eight people who perished, seven were men, and one woman.

Police PRO Josephine Angucia identified the dead as Malici Augustine a male adult from Koboko, Amule luke Dinya resident of Kuluba Sub County in Koboko, Gerika Abdu a male adult resident of Koboko, Leni Justine a male adult resident of Bazi in S. Sudan, Yassin Ayiko James a male adult resident of Koboko and two other whose particulars have not been established.

According to police, the driver could have been on a high speed hence knocking the elephant thereby over turning the bus.

The driver and the bus conductors sustained serious injuries and they are admitted with the injured passengers.

Police are still investigating the matter.

End.

President Museveni is the headmaster of corrupt officers in Uganda says leaders of opposition.

M7 is the headmaster of corrupt officers in Uganda says leaders of opposition.

Ariaka Robert Email:ariaka2012robert@gmail.com  Tel: +256777374441

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.

Arua. October 25, 2012.

The leader opposition in the ninth parliament Nathan Nandala Mafabi has openly said that, President Museveni is the headmaster of thieves in Uganda.

Addressing a rally at Arua hill boma ground on Tuesday, Mafabi said all the corrupt officers working under the NRM government handling public funds have learnt the bad act of corruption form their leader Museveni.

He said Museveni claims he is surrounded by thieves who still government monies meant for roads, hospitals, drugs, agriculture, cooperatives and other sectors yet he is the very person aiding the corruption in the country and cannot take stringent action to completely stop corruption for his selfish interest to benefit with the so called juniors under him.

Mr. Museveni uses all his juniors to still but for him he plays the master card role of creating classes so that most Ugandans remain poor and continue to beg from him when it comes to election time Mafabi lamented.

“All the people working under Museveni like the RDC’s DISOs and other officers have protruding stomach and their belly keeps on growing but for the rest of Ugandans who are not employed, their stomachs are disappearing” the leader of opposition vehemently said during the rally.

“To my own analysis, Museveni is just abusing the intelligence of Ugandans through his 10 point programs like prosperity for all when three quarters of Ugandans cannot manage to save 2000 shillings daily, prices of sugar keep increasing among other commodities yet it is an easy thing to change the economy of this small country” he reiterated. 

“We now have black Africans who are putting in the shoes of whites and they have gone a long way to torture their fellow Africans. Especially in Uganda government uses our own brothers in the police and army to torture innocent citizens who are fighting for the rights of others but when this is pointed out, they say we are abusing them” he said.

When I was passing via Ombachi secondary school, I show the school was dilapidated and performance is dropping yet these used to be government schools which were best performing in Uganda. According to my investigation, all government schools are declining in performance and development under the 27 year rule by the NRM government but the private schools are growing since they are owned by private and good Ugandans, Mafabi observed. 

The president recently pronounced that, the youths will access 25 billion shillings from banks but when a youth reaches a bank to access this money, banks ask for land title but when 169 billion was given to Basajabalaba, there was no demand for land title which is a trick this NRM government plays to mess up the intelligence of the young generation, Mafabi observed.

In his analysis of how Ugandans pay tax today, Mafabi said in every 1000 airtime one buys, 33% is taken as tax, on one liter of fuel, 850 is tax, on 1kg of sugar, 2200 is tax among other items which is gradually killing the progress of Ugandans.

Mafabi who was in West Nile convincing FDC delegates for votes to become the party president appealed to all Ugandans to give him the support in building the party so that they can prepare the ground for Dr. Kizza Besigye to out compete the resistant NRM leader who claims he is the only person in the party with vision.

“If I was employed as an RDC or in Museveni’s ministerial position and he claims to be the only man with vision, then I would have resigned from the Job he offered me. This is a move to abuse our knowledge when many Ugandans have better degrees than the president” the leader of opposition said.

Mafabi said people like the RDC’s can never oppose Museveni because for them they want to keep stealing public funds with the technical officers and keep their belly growing.

Rt. Major Rubangarura who was in Mafabi’s team said FDC is not like NRM where they only have one leader with one vision. We want Mafabi to take over party responsibility and use his knowledge to strengthen the party as we keep preparing ground for Dr. Besigye to stand for presidency come 2016.

The Resident district Commissioner Arua Ibrahim Abiriga in response to Mafabi's speech said the opposition are the ones fueling corruption in Uganda but not NRM. He criticised Mafabi for failing to control corruption when he was the chairman Parliamentary Accounts Committee. 

End.

Leaders block RDC’s letter permitting operation of illegal Disco.

Leaders block RDC’s letter permitting operation of illegal Disco.

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.

Arua. October 20, 2012.

Arua RDC Ibrahim Abiriga

RDC's letter permitting operation ofdisco.

The district leaders of Arua and Vurra Sub County together with the elders of Vurra have blocked the decision taken by the Resident District Commissioner Arua Ibrahim Abiriga in a letter dated October 17, 2012 granting permission for operation of disco hall at Odia-Nyadri trading centre called Simba disco sounds.

Abiriga wrote a letter which he addressed to the LC3 boss of Vurra Sub County Nackson Adaku notifying him that, the office of the RDC Arua has permitted Simba hall disco sounds to operate freely without any interference on Fridays and Saturdays claiming the premises of Simba hall is like Matonge, Kasablanca and Paradise disco places within town which are sound prove but no like the RDC claims for Simba which is not sound prove.

The letter also directs that, the OC Vurra police post should make sure that there must be no interference because in other places, they have been granted permission to operate disco.

 “According to our investigations of Ali Kasims’ issue, it is on tribal basis that he is stooped from operating a disco and anybody who will interfere must be arrested immediately” reads part of the RDC’s letter.

The letter further warned the LC3 boss of Vurra Sub County not to play with the office of the RDC and that is why the letters written by the RDCs’ office is taken useless by you (LC3). The letter also directs the OC of Vurra police post to visit the disco place every Friday and Saturdays to ensure that there is law and order and no disturbance emerges from there like in other disco places.

This letter of the RDC forced the leaders of Vurra Sub County and the district together with the police and elders of the area to storm the office of the RDC for a crisis meeting on Friday morning blocking the decision of Abiriga which they said is contrary to the court ruling which bared the owner of Simba hall Ali Kasim not to operate a disco for a period of three years.

In the chief magistrates court of Arua with a criminal case number 0216 of 2012 R/Uganda Prosecutor Vs Onzima Ali Kassim which case was before his warship Angualia Gabriel Moses the chief magistrate Arua ruled on June 19, 2012 that:

I have listed attentively to the prosecutor and accused’ lawyer for the reasons outlined by both sides, I find that as a first offender and having shown remorse accused/convict deserves the grace of justice. I therefore fine him 40,000 and he is also given a suspended sentence of three months.

Court further ruled that, the accused is to be monitored for three years starting from the date of the ruling and should he go ahead and stage a disco without license, the jurisdictions of this court, he will automatically be arrested and sentenced to serve three months suspended sentence.

The LC5 boss of Arua Wadri Sam Nyakua openly told the RDC that, the district had passed an education ordinance in 2008 which clearly stipulates that, a disco hall must have a sound prove, all sanitary facilities, be inspected by health officers and issued a license, short of that, no disco operation in such a place.

For this reason, we are not allowing any disco in Simba hall until concerted resolution is reached.

One of the elders who preferred anonymity said the RDC is ignorant of the law and he is fit to be removed from his office since he aids criminal issues that affect development in the district.

The leaders agreed to meet come Wednesday 24, 2012 to further discuss the matter. The leaders of Vurra Sub County had earlier on granted permission from the district police commander Dan Biaruhanga to stage a demonstration against Abirigas letter which he endorsed contrary to the court ruling but the demo was stopped on agreeing that the matter will be resolved in a meeting yet to come on Wednesday 24, 2012.

End.

UPDF soldier loses ammunition's as wife torches his house

UPDF soldier loses ammunition's as wife torches house.

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.
Arua. October 19, 2012.

A Private soldier identified as Charles Oblijo a UPDF soldier attached to Odramacaku detach along the border between Uganda Democratic Republic of Congo has lost three magazines with 90 rounds of ammunition's and other military equipments after his house was torched by his wife.

Other military equipments lost in the fire include two pairs of military boots, and three pairs of military uniforms. It is suspected that the wife of the UPDF soldiers one Mary Oblijo is the one behind the fire because before the incident, the due were involved in a domestic quarrel. 

The army spokesperson for West Nile region Lt. Mark Mutono who confirmed the fire inferno to our reporter on October 18, says the incident occurred on  October15, 2012 at 10:00PM, when the soldier and others had already gone for night patrol at Odramacaku border line.

He said after getting information that Oblijo’s wife was the one who torched the house, she was arrested by the soldiers and handed over to the Uganda police at Odramacaku police post and later transferred to Arua central police station.

Currently both the army and police are investigating the soldier and the accused to find out the circumstance under which the house and other military equipment’s got burnt so that anybody involved can be prosecuted for arson or any other charge that will be preferred against such a person.

The soldier who owns the hut that got burnt has not yet been arrested nor detained since the army claims the incident happened when he was on official duty.

This is not the first time a UPDF soldier attached to Odramacaku UPDF detach has lost military equipments in a fire accident. Two months ago, a fire outbreak in the same detach burnt the hut of Lance Corporal Martin Chekwot where he lost one Small Machine Gun with 120 rounds of ammunition.

Later it emerged that the house was also set on fire by his bonk mate after they violently separated forcing the army top officials to arrest the  soldier and currently he is facing prosecution before the unit disciplinary committee of UPDF in Arua.

End.

Ex-Amin state employee demands NRM government to pay his confiscated properties over 50m from Entebbe Air port.

Ex-Amin state employee demands NRM government to pay his confiscated properties over 50m from Entebbe Air port.

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.

Arua. October 17, 2012.

A man identified as Baron peter Lau who worked during late Amin’s regime under the principal private sector protocol in receiving visitors is demanding the national Resistance Movement government to pay him over 50 million shillings which was confiscated in Entebbe air port by the time he returned from exile in Saudi Arabia.

According to a letter of complaint addressed to the speaker of parliament Right Hon Rebecca Kadaga dated July 10, 2012, through the women member of parliament for Arua district Christine Abia Bako with REF: Confiscated properties at Entebbe Airport in 1991, with copies to the British High commissioner and all party leaders in Uganda, seeking the parliament to discuss his matter and find solutions to his lost confiscated properties.

Baron peter Lau is a resident of Ociba parish in Dadamu Sub County Arua district who even wrote a complaint to the Resident District Commissioner RDC Arua to help him follow up the matter.

He directly accuses two people, captain Musinguzi the then Internal Security organization at Entebbe airport for confiscating his personal effects, sum of US $ 10,000 and sum of pounds 836456 and other items like his documents from Kenton University in USA, where he attained bachelor degree in science, Text books, Binoculars, a big canon camera and other certificates from the college of Preceptors in United Kingdom.

He said after the mentioned properties were confiscated, captain Musinguzi handed them over to Brigadier Jim Muhwezi, the then Director General of ISO from where all the properties were either sold or hidden for personal benefit.

According Lau, he was detained for a period of three months in Kisugu barracks as ordered by Brigadier Muhwezi for further investigations.

“That on completion of investigations, he was found innocent but it was decided that his money be given back to him in installments in Ugandan shillings through the office of DISO Arua” reads part of the letter.

Indeed, there is evidence that part of his money was paid to the tune of 2.5milion with copies of the receipt of the money dated Thursday 15^th December 1994 where he was paid one million, another receipt dated March 30^th 1993 where he was paid 500,000 and another time he received one million summing up to 2.5m but the balance of the dime is still not paid.

According to Lau Peter, the last time he was paid one million, an assurance was given to him that, there is no money the accused people owe him arguing they have cheated him and paid him less money, none of his lost property was recovered and given to him.

“I want the ruling government to check these officers who confiscated my property and money, if they are not available, NRM government is responsible for the loss and must pay me back since these officers worked in officers granted by this government” he reiterated.

In specific interest, I want the government to pay back my 836456 pounds, canon camera, and binoculars plus the balance of my 10,000 US$ which is equivalent to over 50m, Lau said in his interview.

End.

MP Scoffs at Crusaders of Divisionism.

MP Scoffs at Crusaders of Divisionism.

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.

Arua. October 17, 2012.

MP Okuonzi handing over footballs to Youths In Ajia Sub County.

Former State Minister for transport Simon Ejua. Picture By Robert Ariaka.

The Member of Parliament for Vurra County Dr. Sam Okuonzi Agatre has accused elders of Vurra County for spreading lies and preaching politics of divisionism to the youths.

He alleged elders of Vurra have lost their memory of sense but now they have resorted to the culture of individualism, divisionism and spreading lies to the current generation about false politics to split the voters.

He made the statement while handing over footballs to the youths in the county on Tuesday to promote unity and keep the youths busy.

 The law maker was reacting to a statement of the former state minister of Transport and MP Vurra county Ejua Simon during independence day celebrations in Logiri Sub County where he told the gathering that, Vurra people are still in dilemma about the leadership of the county. He claims the former MP Ejua who lost has failed to acknowledge defeat which is now making him use elders to confuse the youths against him.

Ejua alleged that, MP Okuonzi has no capacity to lobby for support from government but only requests for support from government through the windows without having direct access to ask on behalf of his people.

Ejua who lost in the 2011 general election to Dr. Sam Okuonzi said, there is lack of clear leadership for the district and specifically for the people of Vurra, they are now in dilemma since they voters keep calling him on phone demanding to know his intention to stand in the 2016 elections.

Meanwhile on the issue of the position of Vurra on development trend, he claims, the leadership in Vurra County has become a family affair where family members have taken control over the voters but do not deliver. According to Ejua, some leaders beg support from government through window openings but do not have direct capacity to directly ask from the government on behalf of their people.

“This issue of not loving one another and politicizing development has given a bad name for the leaders since they only appear on the media for bad issues” he said.

For this reason if the people of Vurra feel he can stand come 2016, he is ready to contest and appealed to the people Arua to understand one another.

“Our leaders have become agitators and criticize government programs without initiating their own project. According to him some people are seeking his consent to gather signatures to remove certain leaders who bull doze them, but he has kept calm on the issue advising them to take legal procedures” Ejua said.

According to Dr. Okuonzi, the people of Vurra have adopted a bad character of marginalizing the rest by diving the county into two where the people of Upper Vurra consisting of Logiri Sub County and Vurra Sub County have isolated themselves from the lower Vurra consisting of Ajia Sub County and Arivu Sub County claiming they are superior than the people of lower vurra.

“The issue of individual griefs of leaders who lost in the 2011 elections has now turned for them a point to divide the voters instead of uniting them for a common goal to lobby for better development. He said MPs do not work alone but work with the help of the people” Dr. Okuonzi reiterated.

During his visit to the four Sub Counties, all the LC3 bosses of these Sub Counties snubbed MPs visit on grounds that, they are not ready to work with him since he is not the leader they wanted for the county.

He promised to form Vurra elders association which he will facilitate to remind them on their roles and responsibilities on teaching the young generation better and correct history but not promoting politics of divisionism and false propaganda.

Dr. Okuonzi observed that, West Nile region has remained behind in development like Karamoja region because of selfishness interest of the people who only think of personal gains but forget of the spirit of togetherness for a huge achievement.

 The law maker warned the district and Sub County leaders especially the technical departments of CAO and Sub County chiefs to utilize central government monies effectively with clear accountability so that the locals realize the benefit.

There is need to strengthen the West Nile foundation association to promote culture for the region and elders be educated about the importance so that it can be recognized country wide for the people in the region to begin writing books in the local language he advised the leaders.

End.

Journalist Dies, fails to raise 15000 US dollars for Kidney transplant in India.

Journalist Dies, fails to raise 15000 US dollars for Kidney transplant in India.

Afayo Robert on his sick hospital bed at Arua Regional Referral Hospital. Picture By Robert Ariaka Yiti

By Robert Ariaka Yiti.

Arua. October 9, 2012.

A former Journalist identified as Afayo Robert 35, who worked with a local radio station Voice of life based in Arua has been confirmed dead after failing to raise15000 US dollars  an equivalent of UG shillings 40million to carry out kidney transplant in India.

Afayo died on Saturday 13, 2012 shortly after he was transported from Arua hospital to Mulago national referral hospital.

His body was transported to Arua on Sunday as arrangements for his burial proceed.

According to Afayo Robert whom our reporter interviewed while ob his sick hospital bed at Arua regional referral hospital recently, his problem started when he got a motor accident on July 4, 2011.

He knocked a boda boda rider who made a U-turn on the road and sustained injuries on the head and had abdomen pain by the time of the accident. Afayo was admitted in Kuluva hospital for four days from where he was discharged.

After his discharge, he developed pressure and was taken back to Kuluva hospital where doctors checked his skull but never checked the abdomen. The pressure later increased and become abnormal, and this forced the doctors to get his blood sample which was taken to Mulago National referral hospital for further examination.

It was found that, Afayo Robert had kidney failure. Doctors from Mulago asked him to be admitted in Mulago from where he stayed for one week but it became expensive and he was brought back to Arua.

One doctor called Dr. Musubuga from Mulago advised him to go for checkup in Mulago after every one month to which he obeyed but recently he could not afford to go for checkup since he lacks money for transport, medical bills, buying drugs and upkeep.

He said a eulogist consultant suggested to him to raise money and go for kidney transplant in India. Another surgeon expert called Dr. Keshavamurthy Mohan from India to whom Afayo talked for consultations advised that, the journalist should raise some money close to 40million which would help him fly to India so that one of his kidneys can be replaced since he developed kidney failure.

Another doctor called Dr. Kayonda advised that, Afayo Robert should have kidney transplant. This has since then become expensive and currently, Afayo is in Arua regional referral hospital admitted for more than three weeks.

He said other sicknesses like malaria, burning of the body, pneumonia, joint pain and others have commonly been weakening him which keeps him in the hospital so often.

Afayo Robert who worked with Voice of Life radio as an editor, presenter and news reader for close to six years is calling upon good Samaritans and well-wishers to help him with money for the kidney transplant.   

Anybody whose heart is broken to help him can call him on his personal contacts on, 0784494620, 0752657338, 0754213201 or you can deposit your help in his bank account at housing finance bank on account number 0114436282800 using the name AFAYO ROBERT or send through his mobile money account on 0784494620.  

The said 15000 US dollars will cater for his airlifts and back, hospital stay In a private room for the patient for 14 days and the donor 7days along with one companion.

This money was to help in his feeding with the donor and the companion, embassy approval and police registration, transplant surgery, medicines and consumables during the hospital stay, consultations and bed side charges.

End.