How youth in Rwenzori region have improved their skills, lives

Youth in Ntoroko District being trained on how to repair motor boat engines recently. The intervention has helped several youth out of unemployment. Photo by Felix Basiime 

By FELIX BASIIME

Posted  Thursday, December 3   2015 at  02:00   http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/How-youth-in-Rwenzori-region-have-improved-their-skills--lives-/-/691232/2981598/-/ynu5ll/-/index.html

IN SUMMARY

More than 1,000 youth in the districts of the Rwenzori sub-region have been trained in vocational skills that are changing their lives. The vocational skills have multiplied and the graduates are now providing employment to fellow youth in their communities.

Jolly Tumwebaze, 18, lives in Nombe village, Karugutu Sub-county in Ntoroko District. She dropped out of Primary Five at Harugongo Primary School in Kabarole District in 2011 due to lack of school fees. Born in a peasant family, she remained at home where her main preoccupation was doing domestic chores.

She had lost all hope of doing something else for a better future until some NGOs threw at her an olive branch through trainings.

“I was trained in March in bakery, I prepare chapatti and cakes. Every day, I earn Shs10,000, which I save and buy a goat every month” says Tumwebaze.

“On a good day, I earn Shs25,000. I no longer bother my husband to buy everything at home, I also contribute to the family budget”

Another youth, Salimu Mutalinga, 18, also from Nombe village in Karugutu, has five bee- hives and harvests 15kg of honey from each hive every season. Each kilogramme is sold between Shs15,000 and Shs20,000 locally.
“Through Ride Africa, I learnt how to make bee hives and before this programme (Youth in Action). I was just digging” Mutalinga says. Each modern bee hive is at Shs70,000.

Mutalinga has acquired the skills and now trains other youths in bee keeping.
“I also train others in apiary for a fee, my students pay me Shs20,000 per month to teach them, I also harvest honey for others at a fee of Shs5,000 per hive, I bought the costumes”.

Tumwebaze and Mutalinga are among hundreds of youths in Ntoroko, Kasese and Bundibugyo districts who dropped out of school until NGOs like Ride Africa, Fura, ANNPCAN and BAWILHA started work in the Rwenzori region four years ago.

Many youths in the area have acquired skills for various jobs including repairing motor boat engines, bakery, soap making, apiary, among others.

Up to 1,080 youths from Kasese, Bundibugyo and Ntoroko districts in August were passed out in Bundibugyo after acquiring various skills for self employment.

The youths first trained for five months conducted by Ride Africa in Ntoroko District, FURA and ANNPCAN in Kasese and BAWILHA in Bundibugyo with funding from Master Card foundation and Danida through Save the Children International.

This month, 1,237 youths from the region completed courses in saloon management, building and construction, bee keeping, metal fabrication, carpentry and joining, electrical installation, and tailoring, catering, soap making among others.

Youth from Rwebisengo and Kanara sub counties in Ntoroko District have also acquired skills in finance management, which have helped them to increase their savings.

Groups have been formed and registered at sub county and district levels. Among the members, there are savings and credit facilities (loans) which has empowered them economically.

Nefigi Tumwine says, “In the next 10 years, I will be counted among the rich people of Kanara Sub-county because I got a firm foundation through financial literacy and leadership trainings.”

Tumwine, 24, lives at Katanga A village, Kanara sub county; he is the chairperson of Kanara Youth Network.
He is among the lucky youths who benefited from Ride Africa with support from Save the Children under youth empowerment support project.

He had lived a hard life before of earning a living through fishing activities at Lake Albert after having dropped out of school at the age of 18 in Senior Three.
Having acquired financial skills, he saved Shs200,000 and started a palm oil business.
From this he accumulated Shs300,000 and started a fuel-selling point in July 2014.

“By the end of March, I had accumulated Shs 500, 000 as capital which enabled me to start another fuel selling point at Butungama, a neighbouring sub county” he says.

Selling fuel by the road side is a brisk business in the remote areas of Bundibugyo and Ntoroko districts as fuel pump stations are only on the main road at Karugutu trading centre in Ntoroko and in Bundibugyo Town. 

Many local businessmen in Fort Portal Town load fuel jerrycans on taxis to Ntoroko and Bundibugyo.
Tumwine adds, “With this business, I have been able to employ someone whom I pay Shs200,000 every fortnight and he is in charge of the Katanga business.

“I have not only provided employment to fellow youth but I am able to support my young brother who is in Senior Four at King Jesus Secondary School at Mubuku in Kasese District.
“Every term I pay Shs270,000 and cater for his up keep”.

Tumwine is optimistic that his brother will study up to university because his business is growing. He is planning to start a goat rearing project to diversify his income.

Children in schools too in Ntoroko have been empowered to participate in decision making and now demand for their rights and hold duty bearers accountable in their respective sub counties.

“This is achieved through involving children in child rights clubs and holding of children’s parliament” says Margaret Kabasinguzi, the programmes officer for Ride Africa in Ntoroko.

In Kanara Sub county, Ntoroko District the children’s councillor presented a number of issues to the area LC III council and technocrats demanding for resource allocation to monitor and follow up cases of child marriage and abuse, drug abuse, child labour especially in the fishing villages and high school dropouts.

“This prompted the sub county leadership to allocate Shs1.5 million in the sub county’s budget for this year to monitor children’s issues and programmes,” Kabasinguzi adds.

Ntoroko Woman MP Jennifer Mujungu says the projects have transformed the youths in the countryside.
“The skills the youths have acquired have helped them transform their lives through income generating projects by managing their finances while many have made savings in Saccos,” Mujungu says.

He adds, “The other skills have helped them to create jobs for themselves.so they can earn a living, I commend the NGOs for the job well done”.

Nahabweki: the woman with five sets of twins

Teddy Nahabweki (R) with her youngest daughter Ruth Kiiza, a Primary Three pupil at Nyakasura Junior Primary School. Kiiza wants to become a nurse. Photo by Felix Basiime.

By FELIX BASIIME & SCOVIA ATUHAIRE

Posted  Wednesday, December 2   2015 at  02:00 http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Nahabweki--the-woman-with-five-sets-of-twins/-/691232/2980718/-/v35ka4z/-/index.html

In Summary

Teddy Nahabweki’s dream was to have as many children as she could. And indeed she tried. At 60, she has had 18 children, including five sets of twins, but her life has not been as fruitful

Teddy Nahabweki, 60, is a mother of 18 children, including five sets of twins. One would imagine she would be happy with her offspring but it is far from it.

Her dream was to have as many twins as her womb would allow until age caught up with her. But, of the 18, death has robbed her of 12.

The single mother is a resident of Ibonde village, Nyakasura, Karago Town Council in Kabarole District.
She lives in a small room with her two children at an old house belonging to Bishop Jimmy Katuramu of the Pentecostal Church, Fort Portal. The church minister was kind enough to give her a place to call home at no cost. This has been her place of abode since 2002.

The four-bedroomed house accommodates three other families. Nahabweki and her two young children, a girl in Primary Three and a boy in Primary Six, survive on a meal a day. It is obvious they live from hand to mouth.

Determined to survive
On a typical day, she starts her mornings by doing household chores.

To make ends meet, Nahabweki hawks porridge locally known as Obushera bwekinga. “I prepare the porridge from millet and sorghum. Then I get a boda boda rider to take it to the selling point, which is about four kilometres from home.

On a sunny day, her porridge sells out but on cold days, which is often than not in Kabarole District, she has to take it back home.

To increase her profts, Nahabweki distributes the porridge to local grocery shops and resturants. On a good day, she can earn Shs20,000.

“I started this business in 2012 with 10-litre jerry can and when customers liked the porridge I doubled the production.
“This business is what has enabled me to survive and care for my children. I am able to provide food and pay school fees for these children.

She adds, “It is very challenging to get all these from my small business because when it is cold day, I incur losses yet my responsibilites do not change at all.
“Because of these uncertainties, we survive on one meal a day which is supper.”

Asked if these conditions are not harsh for the children, Nahabweki says her children are used to the prevailing conditions.

The situation at home
The living conditions in her home speak for themselves. There is no chair or table in her room. The room is bare, scattered with a few utensils and mattress.

Her last born Ruth Kiiza, 8, has learnt to put on a brave face even when she has to go to school on an empty stomach.
Fortunately, this has not affected her grades. The little girl is an excellent pupil.

“I was the second in class last term but I am aiming at the first position this term. I want to be a nurse so that I help other people,” Kiiza confidently says.
To realise this dream, her mother needs a miracle.

Fate
In spite of these challenges, Nahabweki is sad that she did not have even more children.

“If had resources, I wanted to produce as many sets of twins as possible before menopause. Doctors told me that I was able to but I had to stop because the relationship with my husband was volatile.”

Her host, Bishop Katuramu, says Nahabweki needs help from well wishers so that her children can have a brighter future. “This lady gave birth to twins five times, the husband did not care which led to the loss of some of the children. I gave her shelter but this is not enough, she has other needs,” he says.

Appeal
“I appeal to government and any Good Samaritans to come to my rescue, help with my children and settle me on a small piece of land,” that is all Nahabweki mutters when you ask what kind of help she needs. “At times my children do not attend school because I am unable to provide for their school fees.”

Advice
“Young girls should not rush into marriage but listen to their parents, she says, adding, “People cautioned me about the dangers of early marriage at 18. I wish I had listened to them perhaps my life would be different,” she adds.
“Had I followed my mother’s advice, I would not be living in such a mess,” she says.

“Wives whose husbands are providing at home should thank God. I also advise especially the women to leave bad relationships as soon as they realise that it is not ideal for them. It is better to leave while you still can before you make more mistakes.”

Most prolific mother ever in the world
The officially recorded highest number of children born to one mother is 69, to the wife of Feodor Vassilyev (b. 1707–c.1782), a peasant from Shuya, Russia.

In 27 confinements, she gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets. Numerous contemporaneous sources exist, which suggest that this seemingly improbably and statistically unlikely story is true.

According to The Gentleman’s Magazine, the case was reported to Moscow by the Monastery of Nikolsk on February 27, 1782, which had recorded every birth. It is noted that, by this time, only two of the children who were born in the period 1725–65 failed to survive their infancy.

The twins and her blotted family life

Nahabweki was born to a family of three in Mutolere village, Nyakabande in Kisoro District. Her father died when she was two-years-old.

“In 1972, my mother moved us from Kisoro District, my elder sister and I to our maternal uncle’s place in Kyomukama Village, Kyaterekera, Kibaale District. The following year, I got married to Matias Sebunyenzi.”

In 1974, she gave birth to her first born, a boy who unfortunately passed away.
In 1975, she gave birth to her first set of twins. Both were girls, but one later died. The surviving twin, Magdalene Nyakato, grew up and is now married in Kagadi, Kibaale District.
In 1976, she gave birth to her second set of twins, both boys, Isingoma Luke and Kato Mark who unfortunately passed on as well.
In 1977, Lady Luck smiled on her and she gave birth to the third set of twins, both girls, Josephine Nyakato and Margaret Nyangoma

In 1978, she gave birth to Mariam Kiiza. The following year she miscarried her what would have been fourth set of twins.
In 2004, she gave birth to the fifth set of twins, a boy and girl. The girl died but Daudi Kato survived. He is in Primary Six.

In 2007, she gave birth to her last born, Ruth Kiiza who is now in Primary Three.
“Of the 18 children I brought in this world, only six have survived,” Nahabweki laments.
“In 1982, doctors advised me to stop producing. There were so many wrangles at home and our relationship was not a good one,” she shares.

This explained why she separated from her husband.
“In 1983, I separated with my husband because he was a drunkard and could not provide for us. I am born again and I could not bear it any more. I decided to go back home.

How population pressure on land in Rwanda affects forests in Uganda

Mediathese Ntamuhera sits beside her sick daughter in Kanaga central reserve forest in Kibaale District.PHOTO BY FELIX BASIIME 

By FELIX BASIIME

Posted  Wednesday, November 4   2015 at  11:56   http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/population-pressure-land-Rwanda-forests-Uganda/-/691232/2942590/-/10neq0kz/-/index.html

IN SUMMARY

It is a case of spill over effects, an issue in one country becoming a challenge in another. As the population grows, and the resources become scarce, many come looking for land and their first port of call are the forests.

KIBAALE: It is a sunny morning in a freshly opened up patch of land in Kanaga Central Forest Reserve, Kibaale District. The clearing is about 500 square meters, with gardens of beans, maize and cassava. In between the gardens, stand huge burnt-out stumps and logs.

Close by are newly constructed makeshift structures, scattered all over. Most of them are thatched with grass or covered with old tarpaulins.

In front of one, lies a young girl, Trifonia Tumuramye, 13. She is lying on a mat and covers herself with a cloth. Dirty sauce pans and jerrycans are scattered around the compound. 

The mother, Mediathese Ntamuhera, 34, sits beside her with a sorrowful look. They are part of hundreds of Rwandese, who found refuge in Uganda after fleeing land pressure in Rwanda. And that is in the forests of Uganda, especially those in Bunyoro region, particularly Kibaale District. The area is home to 16 gazetted forest reserves.

“I was born in Rwanda in Birungi, Nyamarundi, where our family settled on a small piece of land and we were told that there is land in Uganda,” Ntamuhera says. “We came here in Kibaale about 18 years ago. At the time, the locals were selling a big chunk of land between Shs150,000 and Shs 200,000. We bought a piece of land not knowing that this was a government forest reserve”.

“Since then we have had run-ins with [National Forest Authority— NFA] over evictions. We can neither trace the people who sold the land to us nor is there anyone who can compensate us,” she narrates. “I lost my husband in February; he got sick and died without any medication. In March, we were evicted from the forest reserve by NFA, I have nowhere to go, I am resigned to my fate.”

Despite other challenges faced by NFA to manage forests in Uganda, the country has weak systems that have failed to stem illegal migration, coupled with the refugee settlements around the country, where refugees mingle easily with the nationals.

Over the years, they have come to own property and some are Local Council leaders who at times abet illegal settlement in Uganda’s forest reserves.

Uganda has porous borders that foreigners find it easy to cross and settle in Uganda unlike in any other country in the Great Lakes region.

Between 1995 and 2005, Hoima had a total of 61,170 hectares of forests. Statistics from the district forest office indicate that 38,000 hectares of forests were depleted by 2011.

According to the 2009 National Environmental Management Authority (Nema), in 1990, Uganda had more than five million hectares of forest cover. But by 2005, only 3.5 million hectares (8.6 million acres) remained.

Conservationists estimate that Bunyoro loses about 7,000 hectares of forests annually. So, Nema warns that if deforestation continues at the present rate, Uganda will have lost all its forested land by 2050.

Fredrick Atugonza, the NFA supervisor attached to Kangombe in Kibaale District, points out that deforestation has led to the extinction of important medicinal tree species.

“For instance, the Lovore tree, which we no longer see. It is a medicinal tree and there are many others,” he says.
“The rains have reduced; the seasons have changed in the last 15 years of encroachment”.

The NFA Kagadi Sector Manager, Charles Ariani says, “This sector has 16 forests, but we found all forests were encroached on and cultivated with bananas, maize, sugar cane, tobacco and beans”. 

He remarks that he is not convinced about the excuses he gets. “People say that they are hungry and have nowhere to farm. But we tell them they must return to where they were before 1994. So far, more than 1,000 people have left the forests.”

He adds, “We told them that whether you have 20 children or came from Rwanda or Kabale many years ago, and you no longer know where you came from, you must move out of the forests.”

Deforestation cuts across the Albertine basin. As a way to deal with the problem, the Rwenzori Anti-corruption Coalition (RAC) and Joint Effort to Save the Environment (JESE), NGOs based in Fort Portal, have joined hands to help in the management of environment and natural resources particularly forest resources.

“This is been attributed to the manner in which these resources are managed at national, district and sub county levels. This has caused immense destruction of these vital ecosystems especially in the Albertine region,” reads their joint report released in June.

The NGOs have formed an inter-district (Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa and Mubende) multi-stakeholder forestry and environment forum.

It is a coordinating mechanism to promote the sustainable use of environment and forests, proper accountability and advocating for increased investment in the natural resources sector in the three districts.

The forum brings together all key players in environment and natural resources for increased planning and voices in sustainable natural resources management.

In the last decade, civil wars in the neighbouring Rwanda and DR Congo have led to a steady stream of refugees in Uganda.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees has settled hundreds at Rwamwanja, Kyangwali and at Kyaka in Kamwenge, Hoima and Kyegegwa districts, respectively.

Lately, hundreds of refugees especially from Burundi have flocked into Uganda and have easily mingled with Ugandans and settled anywhere they find hospitable.

What others say about forest encroachment in Uganda

“The issue is that people of Rwanda origin who came here for land were duped by the locals who sold to them part of the government’s gazetted forests, some of them have been evicted by NFA and are now landless. Among the forests encroachers, the Banyarwanda are about 45 percent, then the rest are the Bakiga, Bakonjo and the indigenous Banyoro” George William Bizibu, Speaker, Kibaale District.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com

Why many incumbents lost NRM primaries in western Uganda

Bundibugyo District chairperson Jolly Tibemanya (L) and State minister for Primary Education and Bwamba County MP, Dr Kamanda Bataringaya (R), lost in the NRM primaries. PHOTO BY FELIX BASIIME 

By Felix Basiime, Enid Ninsiima, Ruth Katusabe, Ronald Tumusiime, George Muzoora & Edison Amanyire

Posted Sunday, November 1   2015 at  02:00

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/PeoplePower/Why-many-incumbents-lost-NRM-primaries-in-western-Uganda/-/689844/2936944/-/item/1/-/47xgksz/-/index.html

The wave of change in the NRM primaries did not only affect MPs, but lower councils too as some district chairpersons and councillors lost their flag bearer positions to new faces.

The just concluded NRM party primaries have seen some long-serving incumbents lose their flag bearer positions to new faces.

The reasons vary, ranging from poor service delivery to protest vote, while others lost due to demand for change by voters.

“To be honest, most incumbents have lost on principle. They promised what they could not deliver or what was not in their means,” says Mr Dan Rubombora, an opinion leader in Kabarole District, adding that, “They did not know what Parliament offers, they promised people roads, etc, and the trend will continue.”

Among the notable losers is State minister for Primary Education and Bwamba County MP, Dr Kamanda Bataringaya, who lost to Mr Gafabusa Richard, a new face in politics.

“People were tired of some of these incumbents, especially Dr Kamanda. He has been there for a long time,” says Mr Baguma Vivian Simoli, an opinion leader in Bundibugyo District.

Mr Musa Rujumba, an elder in Masindi District, says Bujenje County MP Kabakumba Masiko lost the primaries partly because she has a land conflict involving about five villages in her constituency.

But Mr Rujumba also says her implication in the UBC mast scandal could have had a part in her loss, although Ms Masiko was cleared by court over the matter.

“Having been an MP for Bujenje for three terms, people wanted to see a new face in names of Patrick Kasumba, who is young and vibrant,” Mr Rujumba adds.

Councils affected
The wave of change did not only affect MPs, but also lower councils as some district chairpersons and councilors lost the flags to new faces.

Bundibugyo District chairperson Jolly Tibemanya and his Masindi District counterpart Wilson Isingoma were some of the victims.

Mr Rujumba says Mr Isingoma took people for granted and invested little time in campaigns, adding that Masindi has not benefited much from government programmes compared with Hoima where government built a modern market and is currently building a hospital.

Mr Justus Arunga, an opinion leader in Kyenjojo District, says most incumbents lost in the primaries because they did not live to the people’s expectations. 
“They did not help in infrastructural development, especially in Kyenjojo district,” Mr Arunga says.

Petitions 

Five losers in the NRM primaries in Kasese District have contested the results and have petitioned the NRM electoral commission chairperson, Dr Tanga Odoi, requesting for result nullification or a recount.

Mr Erifazi Muhindi on Wednesday stormed out of the Kasese District tally centre after he lost to incumbent district chairperson Mawa Muhindo Dura.

“I have decided not to take part in receiving results that are marred by a lot of irregularities. I have already handed in my petition citing my dissatisfaction of the results. I request that those results from Bukonzo East constituency and Katwe–Kabatooro Town Council be either recounted or nullified,” Mr Muhindi said.

Defeated Busongora South NRM flag aspirant Constantine Siwako said his results were altered at the tally centre since his copies read differently.

“I will not accept such results that have just been declared where the declaration forms at the tally centre are different from what we collected from the field,” Mr Siwako claimed after he lost to the incumbent Boaz Kafuda.

Two of the Kasese District Woman MP contestants, Ms Jolly Kateeba and Peace Winfred Bukundika, lost to Jane Asiimwe Muhindo and blamed the winner for manipulating the results.

“We have evidence that our colleague handed in declaration forms whose votes exceed the number of registered voters in the registers,” Kateeba argued.

But Asiimwe attributes her victory to efforts put in and also advised those who lost to use the courts of law for redress or support her since there is no losing in the NRM party.

Most affected are Woman MPs 
Save for Ntoroko Woman MP Jennifer Mujungu and Kamwenge Woman MP Dorothy Nsheija Kabareitsya, the rest lost. 

They include Kyegegwa District Woman MP Flavia Rwabuhoro, Bundibugyo District Woman MP Harriet Ntabazi, Kyenjojo Woman MP Lindah Timbigamba, Kabarole Woman MP Victoria Businge and Bujenje County MP and former Information minister Kabakumba Masiko.

Lost

Those who lost in the NRM party primaries include long-serving Kitagwenda County MP Nuru Byamukama, Burahya County MP Stephen Kagwera, State minister for Primary Education Kamanda Bataringaya and Kyegegwa District Woman MP Flavia Rwabuhoro.

Others include Bundibugyo District Woman MP Harriet Ntabazi, Kyenjojo Woman MP Lindah Timbigamba, Kyaka County MP William Kwemara, Kabarole Woman MP Victoria Businge, Kasese Municipality MP James Mbahimba and Ntoroko County MP Martin Bahinduka Mugarra.

Others are Bujenje County MP and former Information minister Kabakumba Masiko, Mwenge North MP David Muhumuza, Buyaga East MP Ignatius Besisira, Masindi District chairperson Wilson Isingoma and Bundibugyo District chairsperson Jolly Tibamanya.

How natural therapy, raw foods have helped breast cancer patient

Apofia Natumanya, a lecturer at Bugema University Kasese Study Centre, was diagnosed with breast cancer. PHOTO by Enid Ninsiima. 

By ENID NINSIIMA & FELIX BASIIME
Posted  Friday, October 30   2015 at  02:00

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Health---Living/How-natural-therapy--raw-foods-have-helped-breast-cancer-patient/-/689846/2934768/-/12sii76/-/index.html

IN SUMMARY

Creating awareness. When treating cancer, one does not merely rely on the medication prescribed by doctors. One must also adjust their diet and lifestyle in order to help the body heal.

At first glance, it is difficult to tell that Apofia Natumanya, 26, a young lecturer at Bugema University’s Study centre in Kasese is living with a deadly disease until she narrates her ordeal.
Natumanya, who has spent a year battling breast cancer, explained her situation to Daily Monitor.

Discovering cancer
“In January this year, I detected a foreign object in my breast as I was applying body oil after a shower. I told my mother who later said she was going to connect me to a specialist,” she says adding, “In mid-February while at home in Bushenyi, I went to see a specialist named Dr Kapuru in Kasese. After examining me, he told me that I had fibroids but they were not cancerous.”

“When I called my mum with the results, she insisted that I must see another doctor named Mugyenyi in Mbarara who gave the same results. I was also told that I should undergo surgery to remove the ball-like object in my breast,” she recounts.

Natumanya did not give up the struggle to establish exactly what had attacked her body and she proceeded to Devine Mercy hospital in Mbarara where samples were taken for further investigation to establish the cause of illness.

Three weeks later in April, she returned to Mbarara for review and more samples were taken. These, she also took back to the doctor for interpretation only to be told that the swelling in her breast had to be surgically removed.

“I was told that the only way was excision which I accepted and it was done successfully. When it was removed, the lump looked like a growing irish potato with many roots. Test results came out on May 22 only to be told that I had cancer which had advanced up to stage 3B,” she states firmly.

Need for surgery
Natumanya explains she was then advised the whole breast would be removed because cancer cells spread fast and the earlier it was done, the better. She was referred to Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago hospital. 

“Doctors prescribed chemotherapy for three months and after that came radiography. I was supposed to be operated on but on taking the chemotherapy, it had negative effects. I started taking herbs alongside the medical treatment,” she says.

“I was counselled to change my feeding habits and lifestyle. I was advised to stop eating meat, drinking milk and all dairy products. Immediately after the operation, another big mass started growing,” Natumanya notes.
She adds that she was advised by friends to use other food supplements from a herbalist named Daniel in Busiika, Bugema in Luweero District while also taking food supplements from Forever Living. She started the natural therapy.

The now jolly Natumanya says since she started taking Agraveria leaf and fruit, a mixture of Aloe Vera, raw foods such as fruits and a mixture of beet root, apple and carrot juice in the morning, the ball mass in her breast has disappeared and she feels better though her recovery has not been medically certified.

Challenges

Natumanya says that it is not simple for an average woman to get quick treatment from Mulago National Referral Hospital since there are many patients and doctors are few, moreover some are working on parttime basis.

She added that another challenge is the process of testing for cancerous cells which takes months and allows the disease to spread faster in the body.

However, she is thankful to God for early detection, moral and financial support from her family and friends as well as exercises, all of which assisted her to control the disease.

She appeals to government to subsidise the cost of cancer treatment to accommodate the average village woman who has no support at all and who cannot get access to Uganda Cancer Institute.

“I appeal to government to try to shorten the process of testing for cancer so that the disease can be controlled in its earlier stages,” she appeals.

She said that she has also used the Korean machine found in Mbarara which offers a type of radiotherapy which she thinks has helped as well.

She appeals to all cancer patients to accept the disease and live positively, use herbal drugs and change their feeding habits and above all, trust in God.

She plans to return to the hospital for review at the end of the year to check whether the changes she has experienced are real or just temporary relief.

Living with cancer 

Doctor’s word. “If one has breast cancer that is driven by oestrogen in the body, we restrict fat in the body. When we restrict fat intake, sugars, we are aiming at reducing oestrogen in the body especially with women who are on cancer treatment or those that have been diagnosed with breast cancer,” says Dr Fred Okuku. 

Patient’s story. 

“I was counselled to change my feeding habits and lifestyle. I was advised to stop eating meat, drinking milk and all dairy products.”

Kings will hold sway as NRM stumbles in Rwenzori

Rwenzururu King Wesley Mumbere and his wife. Photo by Felix Basiime

By FELIX BASIIME

Posted Monday, August 17 2015 at 01:00

[http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Elections/Kings-will-hold-sway-as-NRM-stumbles-in-Rwenzori/-/859108/2835058/-/j4nf98z/-/index.html]

KASESE/KABAROLE.

The far southwestern Rwenzori sub-region that covers Kasese, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Kabarole, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo districts is known to be a predominantly NRM area.

During the 1996 elections President Museveni was given 97 percent of the votes cast here. He took 87 percent of the votes cast in 2001.

Obusinga (Bakonzo cultural institution) may no longer be a big issue in the politics of Rwenzori, especially in Kasese, but unresolved cultural issues and ethnic conflicts will play part in the 2016 elections.

Political analysts in the region say that because the government has down-played the conflicts here, the Opposition may occupy that space.

Government in 1993 restored traditional institutions, which institutions have been used by the sitting government to gain political capital. In some areas it has worked but not in others.

Mr Mwambutsya Ndebesa, a university don, last year told this paper that culture is being used as a mobilising tool and to exercise control over resources.

In Kasese, the cultural institution despite being in place for over 30 years, had to wait until October 2009 to be recognised after a lot of haggling.

Prior to this, the Obusinga was a big issue which influenced how the elections played out in 2001 and 2006 with the Opposition having a field day. This was after the Opposition politicians made the issues a main plank of the their campaign, winning the hearts of many Bakonjo as a result.

“It started in the CA where a provision was put in the Constitution recognising the cultural institutions to those who so wish” says Chief Prince Christopher Kibanzanga. “Prior to this, the elders over 30 years wanted to revive the cultural institution but some local politicians, especially of the ruling NRM party resisted the move”

Due to this resistance, two groups emerged; those opposed to the Obusinga and those for Obusinga.

“The Opposition asked government: why deny the Bakonjo their cultural rights when other areas had their cultural institutions recognised quickly but NRM continued resisting and so the Opposition became the spokesperson of the issue” says Kibanzanga.

In 2006, the Forum for Democratic Change won three parliamentary seats against two for NRM but after the recognition of Obusinga, the FDC shared the seats with the NRM. The NRM grabbed the Busongora South seat from FDC and also won the new constituency of Kasese Municipality.

“After the 2009 recognition of the Obusinga, the issue of Obusinga and politics relaxed a bit as NRM entered the palace” says Kibanzanga.

Asked how he sees the race to 2016 shaping up in the sub-region, Kibanzanga said, “The Opposition and the NRM may again share the six seats, Opposition in Kasese has grown weaker due to poor mobilisation.

“There are certain issues that the NRM has not handled well like the Rwenzori attacks (of July 5, 2014) which the Opposition may jump on and take the day.”

“Kasese is almost the only area where money doesn’t work in politics, it will be a two horse race between the FDC and the NRM in 2016,” says Mzee Tom Mboijana, an opinion leader in Fort Portal.

“The Obusinga won’t be an issue again in the politics of Kasese ahead of 2016 unless some propaganda is generated against the institution to confuse the people,” reasons Ms Rehema Muhindo an opinion leader in Kasese.

Ms Muhinda is confident that Mr Museveni “still takes it”, noting that former PM Amama“Mbabazi has been in the system for long, in fact for him he has more questions to answer than anyone else.”

“Mbabazi coming won’t make any big difference in this region, he is a new entrant, he has never been in this region looking for votes so the contention will mainly be with Museveni against Besigye or Muntu” reasons Mboijana.

Miles away in Tooro, cultural issues remain a talking point.

Recently President Museveni was in Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts. Among the groups he met were the warring factions in Tooro Kingdom. The King Oyo side and the Prince Kijanangoma side.

He advised the parties to settle disputes amicably and withdraw court cases against either side. He also advised the parties to set up an arbitration committee. The committee was set up, consisting mainly of religious leaders.

However, the Kijanangoma side still contend that if their issues are not well addressed, they will vote for any Opposition leader.

Their concerns are mainly around land in Tooro kingdom where they allege that people are forced to pay rent on the land that government paid for to the kingdom. They also complain about summary land evictions.

NRM primaries factor
Since the NRM electoral body announced new regulations, some aspirants have grown a cold feet and this may see more independent candidates or rebels emerge.

Already, three MP aspirants in Burahya County of Kabarole District have opted out of the NRM party primary elections.

They vowed not to participate in the NRM primaries reasoning that the party is not being fair to its members.

Mr Paul Katisa, the NRM flag bearer for People with Disabilities in Kabarole, has also vowed not to participate in the NRM party primary elections because of what he termed unfairness in the party.

“The party is giving the incumbents a lot of money and yet people who are going to compete have no money,” Katisa said.

Katisa also accused NRM for hiking the registration fee for intending candidates to Shs2 million which denies others the opportunty to participate in the elections.

Mr Patrick Bamanyisa Black who also wants to contest on the Burahya constituency said that he can’t waste money in party elections because they are always not free and fair.

“The incumbents rig elections with impunity and it is much better to participate as an independent candidate,” Bamanyisa reasoned.

Mr Derogations Mugisa, also an aspirant on MP Burahya reasoned that he has decided to opt out of the NRM party primary elections and stand as an independent because people are denied a chance of standing as independents after losing party election, under the new regulations.

The ruling party, therefore, goes into its primaries with mixed fortunes lying ahead as 2016 looms ever closer.

ADF survivor recounts the day the rebels attacked Kichwamba Technical College

Joab Kaganda Jr, 35, is an ADF survivor 

By Felix Basiime

Posted  Friday, August 7  2015 at  12:19

[http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/ADF-survivor-recounts-the-day-the-rebels-attacked-Kichwamba-TC/-/691232/2823396/-/140hl29/-/index.html]

On Monday, June 8, 1998, rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), raided Uganda Technical College Kichwamba in Kabarole District and burnt 80 student alive in three dormitories and abducted 100 others.

Joab Kaganda Jr, 35, is currently an engineer based in Fort Portal. He lives in Gweri village, Kabarole District. He was a student at Uganda Technical College Kichwamba in 1998 pursuing a building and construction certificate. He went back in 2000 for an advanced building and construction course.

Background
Uganda Technical College Kichwamba is located in Kabarole District. It is close to the Kabarole-Ntoroko district border at a sharp corner overlooking Mount Rwenzori. 

The narration
A year before, ADF had a failed attempt to attack Kicwamba but they had poor intelligence and found students had already gone for holidays. Instead, they attacked a nearby trading centre called Kihondwa at night and looted food and some goats from the locals.
The first week of June 1998, we received information that ADF rebels had camped at the top of Mount Rwenzori in a forest.

We told a UPDF officer in charge of security at Uganda Technical College Kichwamba. By that time there was a UPDF detach at the college. He told us that they had enough security and we should not get scared, that they would repulse them if they came.

On Sunday evening (June 7, 1998), I had gone for an evening walk together with my friends Joseph and Frank along Bundibugyo Road down the hills. We met there a group of five men who we suspected to be rebels; it was around 7:30pm. They convinced us to continue walking up to Karugutu, we refused and returned to the college, and jokingly I told my colleagues in the dormitory what had transpired. I told them that these were rebels and were coming to attack the college at night.

But I picked up my books and went for prep together with my friend James Muyomba who also died in the attack. We returned after midnight to the dormitory. I was residing in Rukidi and for him he was in Balya that was attacked and torched on in the wee hours of June 8, 1998.
In the wee hours, my friend Ivan, who was a cubical mate, woke me up to go for prep. I told him that I was tired and wanted to sleep. He accepted. In an hour’s time, we heard gun shots along Bundibugyo Road, the rebels were chanting songs and sounded like it was a big number. One colleague called Mulokore told us to run but I told him no, the army would come to our rescue, so we remained inside. The UPDF resisted for about 10 minutes but were overpowered.

The first thing the rebels did when they reached our campus was to burn the school lorry. I saw them myself, they shot at the generator and at the transformer and power went off. I was peeping through the window as it was approaching 6.30am and the darkness was clearing.

The rebels first camped between Kahaya and Rukidi dormitories before they headed to Balya dormitory. They were speaking English, Luganda, Rutooro and Swahili asking the students to come out of the dormitories. We could hear a lady commander giving orders. They told students to come out because they had come to liberate us but students refused.

They started shooting indiscriminately. They started burning three dormitories, targeting Balya and Kahaya South. Students of Kahaya central and Kahaya were abducted.
They also burnt Rukidi dormitory from the north wing as they were retreating. Some students escaped from Rukidi north to Rukidi central through the ceiling. A big number of students were abducted from Rukidi north.

Another group of rebels moved to the girls’ dormitory called Straker but the woman commander called them back and surrounded the burning dormitories as others took the abducted students. The number of rebels was many, and they were dressed in green army uniforms.

They were standing on the doors guarding the dormitories as they burned. Some rebels from the burning Rukidi North dormitory invaded us in Rukidi central and we were almost suffocating, when we peeped outside. The rebel, who was guarding our dormitory, had also been put off by the soot which was enveloping the area, we opened and escaped through Kahaya South route to the school farm.

We were many students fleeing and when the rebels saw us they shot at us and one student was killed. The few students who had not escaped could not leave the dormitory including my friend Joseph Bigirwa but finally escaped through the window and hid in the showers. The operation took about one hour.

We could now only view the burning dormitories and our abducted colleagues being taken uphill on the opposite mountain as it was getting to 7:30am.

We waited, hiding in the farm up to 8am until we saw the locals converging at the college, and we joined them.

The Principal, then Engineer John Mbabazi, called a roll call and established the missing numbers, the dead and abducted.

He asked about our other friends who escaped with us. By 8.30am, UPDF and Police had come to the scene, and then we all moved around the college to ascertain the damage. It is then that we got to know our friends who had died.

Thereafter, the college management told us to go home. Burial of the dead students was arranged later and the students were buried in a mass grave at the school.

As the attack came close to end of the 2nd semester, we had not sat for final exams and some of us sat them from different institutions like Kyambogo and St Joseph’s Technical College in Fort Portal.

Among those who were abducted, there was my friend called James Birolerro who escaped back from captivity after four months. He told me that there was a pastor (among the abducted students) who was allowed by the rebels to always lead others in prayers in the bush every morning.

Another student, Isingoma Dez, who also was abducted and later fled when they reached at the top of the mountain, told me that the day they were abducted, the rebels had roasted meat and cooked food which was an indication that they had camped there for days before the attack.

He said some of the abducted students were shot on the way up because they had failed to carry the heavy load of the looted food from Kichwamba area. School reopened after a year and I came back for another course but the enrollment was very low as students feared to stay at the college. The numbers later started growing after a lot of campaigns were done by the college and security restored in the area.

Another attack
In 2000 when I was still at this college, the ADF rebels attacked Katojo government prison in Fort Portal and reportedly took off with some prisoners. At Kichwamba we could hear the fire at Katojo and I hid in toilet with a colleague called Peter. That night I regretted why I had come back to Kichwamba when my parents and friends had discouraged me never to go back to this college.