Author: Robert Atuhairwe

The Buhaguzi East Member of Parliament in Kikuube district, Stephen Aseera Itaza has denied allegations that he was involved in the illegal titling of two pieces of communal land. The MP who is currently at the centre of accusations alongside three others over the same says although his co-accused might have been involved in such, he is not involved in land grabbing. The lands in question are in Musaijamukuru village in Buhimba sub county and Mukabara village in Kiziranfumbi sub-county, Kikuube district with an estimated 5,000 residents. Itaza is accused alongside Charles Nyabongo Ochaki, a legislator in Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom parliament…

Farmers in the oil-rich Bunyoro sub-region had hoped that supplying food to companies involved in the oil and gas sector would put money in their pockets but many years down the road, there are no signs of this happening soon. Monica Kabatoro, the chairperson Hoima District Farmers Association (HODFA), in an April 22, 2022 petition to Bunyoro Parliamentary Caucus, expressed dissatisfaction with the way farmers’ attempts to participate in the oil sector have been frustrated. The petition, a copy of which The Albertine Journal has obtained, is copied to Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister, and district chairpersons from the region.…

Motorcycle taxi riders commonly known as bodabodas transport school girls in exchange for sex, contributing to the high number of teenage pregnancies in Bunyoro sub-region. The region’s pregnancy rate shows that a total of 70,357 adolescent girls got pregnant in 2021/2022 financial year, accounting for 14.3% of pregnancies. In a survey conducted by Uganda Human Rights Commission in 2021, 430 (39.5%) respondents out of a total of 1,089 people named bodabodas as top perpetrators of teenage pregnancy. Peer influence contributed 16.9% teenage pregnancy, businessmen (8.6%), teachers (10.2%), relatives (11.4%), neighbours (5.7%), child labour (3.4%) and fishermen (4.1%). The COVID-19 pandemic-induced…

The Bagungu – a sub-ethnic Bunyoro group – have lived in present-day Buliisa district on the northeastern shores of Lake Albert, for the past 1,000 years, deriving their livelihoods from fishing and farming, before the discovery of oil in 2006 which has disrupted their livelihoods. Bagungu who speak Rugungu dialect are a product of the intermarriage between the Bantu and the Paluo Nilotics, historically, they are part of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom which is led by Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru. But, since 2016, there are efforts by some leaders to break away from Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom and create their own cultural institution called…

The 2022 Nobel prize for literature has been awarded to the French author Annie Ernaux. The Swedish Academy announced on Thursday that it had awarded Ernaux “for the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory.” In her writing Ernaux consistently and from different angles, examines a life marked by strong disparities regarding gender, language and class. The Swedish Academy added that her path to authorship was long and arduous. Nominations for the literature prize, which can be submitted by members of the academy and its peer institutions, linguistic professors, previous…

On September 16, 2022, some residents of Hoima city protested over an Indian investor’s failure to demolish a building that they allege was constructed in a road and consequently, their leader Moses Aguda, was arrested. Aguda a former contestant in the Hoima East Division parliamentary elections also doubles as the coordinator for National Unity Platform (NUP) in Bunyoro sub-region. The ‘peaceful’ demonstration followed continuous demands for the demolition of the building that started way back in August, this year. The group alleges that the building’s existence has stalled the tarmacking of Rwentuha road measuring up to 0.45 km. The stretch…

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…