Author: Robert Atuhairwe

Hoima is among the six High Courts that have finally been operationalised by the judiciary exciting lawyers and residents. “Following the enhancement of the Judiciary budget and the appointment of more Judges, the Judiciary has operationalised six High Court Circuits,” the October 2 press statement read in part. The newly operationalised circuits are; Hoima, Iganga, Luwero, Moroto, Tororo and Rukungiri. The statement said the delay in the operationalisation of these High Circuits was due to logistical and manpower issues. Explaining the background of the new circuits, the Chief Registrar, Sarah Langa Siu stated that these were designated under Statutory Instrument…

The challenge of unemployment persists among the youths. Hoima district has not been spared from this experience. Young people mainly school dropouts who lack the requisite skills, capital to start or run businesses to be self-reliant largely respond by idling in trading centres, wasting with drugs and alcohol in frustration. However, Bugahya County Member of Parliament (MP), Pius Rujumba Wakabi, is supplementing other ongoing efforts to help them out of the unemployment trap through supporting those in organised groups to start income generating activities. The legislator launched the campaign on September 27, where he handed over two new motorcycles to…

The trial of Hoima district officials over abuse of road construction equipment, has started. Hoima district chairperson, Kadir Kirungi, who also doubles as the Secretary for works and technical services, on Monday, together with his vice chairperson, Benson ChiChe, who is also the councilor for Buhanika sub-county appeared in court. Others are James Mugenyi Mulindambura, the district secretary for production and natural resources and Kigorobya sub-county councilor, Geoffrey Komaketch, the Buseruka sub-county councilor-secretary for finance, Christopher Nyarwa, the equipment operator, among others. The Anti-Corruption court is sitting at Hoima magistrates court until Thursday (September 29) to allow state prosecutors present…

Queen Elizabeth II was a global icon and head of the Commonwealth, where Uganda is a member. But in Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, memories of colonialism particularly where British imperialists fought hard to trim the powers of Uganda’s oldest monarchy, undermine any good comment about her. The Queen died at 96 years, at the Balmoral Castle, Scotland on September 8 after 70 years on the throne. A cross section of elders and concerned residents in separate interviews with The Albertine Journal on September 12, 2022 – four days after the Queen’s death – argued that Bunyoro hardly has any fond memories of…

Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom has passed a sh15.8b budget for 2022/2023 fiscal year. The budget was presented on Saturday by Robert Owagonza, the Kingdom’s minister of finance and economic planning at the Kingdom Rukurato Hall (Parliament) in Hoima City. The Office of the Prime Minister took a lion’s share (Sh3.2b) followed by the ministry of finance and economic planning (Sh2.3b); the Ministry of Investment got Sh2.2b and ministry of culture Sh1.022b. The Attorney General Chambers was allocated Sh1b, production ministry Sh506m, natural resources Sh823m, Rukurato (parliament) Sh450m and ministry of gender Sh230m. The ministry of social services got Sh960m, ministry of external…

Leaders in the oil-rich Buliisa district have asked government to establish a vocational training institution in the area to enable residents gain hands-on skills which they say will help the youth to tap into different job opportunities. Apparently, the district is witnessing construction of different oil production facilities but many youths cannot benefit directly through employment due to lack of essential skills. Speaking during a handover of start-up kits to people whose land and properties were affected during land acquisition for Tilenga oil industrial park at Kisomere Primary School on Monday, leaders emphasized the need to have an institute established…

It is 2pm on a bright Monday in Kigwera Sub-County, Buliisa district. The elders are performing rituals during a food ceremony in their resolve to revive and preserve the past Bagungu community norms including conservation of indigenous seeds and natural sites. The rituals which lasted close to 30 minutes, are meant to ‘cleanse’ ecosystems in sacred sites. Led by 85-year old Aloni Kiiza of Kisansya village, a group of 20 elders was calling on their ancestors to ‘cleanse’ Lake Albert which is currently facing degradation and also regain fertility on the land so that food can grow. Kiiza said it…

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Uganda Limited which is operating the Kingfisher oil field in the mid-western district of Kikuube, has funded a sh1.6b water facility to serve residents. Under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, CNOOC contracted Samka Construction Company Limited in February this year to construct the solar-powered facility until June, 2022. The water scheme is located on River Masika with license from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and is meant to serve five villages in Buhuka parish, Kyangwali sub-county. The facility was officially commissioned and handed over to the Kikuube district Local Government authorities…

Farmers in Buliisa district are crying foul over an alleged invasion of about 20 stray elephants said to have been destroying their crops since June, this year. The elephants are said to have come from Murchison Falls National Park, which is 34.2 kilometres away from Buliisa Town Council. An estimate of 40 acres of crops; mainly maize, sweet potatoes, cassava, jackfruits, pawpaws and bananas, have been the most affected in the sub-counties of Ngwedo, Kigwera, Buliisa, Bugana and Kisyabi. Solomon Wamara a farmer in Ngwedo sub-county, accused Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) of delayed response in dealing with the elephants besides…

TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEPU) annual Football mini-league resumed on Saturday in Nwoya district. This follows nearly three years of halt due to movement restrictions meant to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The league, comprising sixteen clubs selected from all the sub-counties in the district, is being undertaken in partnership with Nwoya District Football Association (NDFA) and the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA). The tournament kicked off with new formations to include a 30-club qualifier football gala organised by NDFA. The winning team will benefit from a TotalEnergies sponsorship to the fifth division of the 2023 FUFA league in…