LOCAL SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ORGANISATION

(LOSCO)

For Immediate Release

 

STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF A JOURNALIST IN KABALE FOR ALLEGED ABUSE OF OFFICE OF “EMYOOGA” SACCO FOR JOURNALISTS.

(Kabale 19^th July 2021) As more SACCOs and groups continue to be screened and approved to benefit from the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation- ‘Emyooga’, the program centered on economic empowering of people in organized groups investing in various enterprises and categories,  The screening process that continued to take place at the different Municipal Headquarters and the team from the President’s Office continue to visit the Municipalities and Districts for fact finding about the program progress in the country. Several SACCOs have so far fulfilled all the requirements Certificates of registration. The Ministry of trade and industry has so far cleared most of the SACCOs to enable them start fully operating in different areas of Uganda. The Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation program, commonly known as “Emyooga” targets SACCO’s formed in specialized fields that need capital to boost their incomes.

Mr. Moses Henry Tahoreraho, the chairperson for Kabale Municipality Journalists Emyooga SACCO based in Southern Division, Kabale Municipality is battling allegations of abuse of office that led to his arrest early in the week and has since been released on bond from Kabale Central Police station on Saturday 17 July 2021. He had been arrested on Friday 16^th July 2021 morning on orders of Darius Nandinda, Kabale Resident District Commissioner who said his office received over 15 complaints from Association members accusing him of failure to approve the release of their loans despite meeting all requirements.

Tahoreraho’s arrest he alleges; is a targeted attempt on him as an individual while he believes if there was a merit in the arrest, it would have also led to the arrest of the entire management committee of the SACCO. A statement from his Colleague, Mr. Manure Bright a Treasurer of the Association indicates that whatever is alleged against the journalist who has been in the field since 2009, a Director of Western Media Awards International ltd  is an attempt to silence him.

As a Community based organisation, LOSCO is concerned with the arrest of the journalist in question, States Albert Taremwa. “We call upon the Uganda Police Force to investigate the allegations behind the arrest of the journalists. Press Freedom is Cardinal”

Media Freedoms, Freedom of Expression, and Digital rights are core in the development of any given society. These same fundamental rights embolden the very democratic principles any society thrives on. Independent journalism and journalists for this matter are critical in holding leaders accountable through dissemination of information.

 

We therefore recommend that:

1. The Police carries out thorough investigations and find the underlying cause of the issues stated.
2. The Micro Finance Support Centre (MSC) and the Office of Community Development carries out an Audit on the same SACCO and produce a Report.
3. The District Executive Committee for Emyooga sits to verify the existing Emyooga Groups in the District and establish the Authenticity of the groups and their Management.
4. The President’s Office comes out with a statement on the position of the Emyooga Initiative and the control measures in place against such occurrences not to follow the Youth Livelihood Program funds.

 

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Taremwa Albert – Team leader – LOSCO - +256772935100 consultalbert@gmail.com

Mr. Muhereza Peter – Programs Manager – LOSCO - +256782479776 muherezapeter@ymail.com

 

 LOCAL SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ORGANISATION

(LOSCO)

For Immediate Release

 

STATEMENT ON THE BLANTANT ASSAULT OF A MEDICAL WORKER WHILST AUTHORITIES ENFORCED STRICT LOCKDOWN MEASURES.

(Kabale 9^th July 2021) As we witness the unprecedented global lockdown around the world and in Uganda, LOSCO joins hands in solidarity with all peoples of the world and citizens of Uganda to fight the spread of Coronavirus that causes COVID-19 that has claimed so many lives. LOSCO will continue to participate in all public information campaigns against coronavirus as well as related preventive actions to ensure that we reach all Ugandans especially those that risk being left behind.

As we do this, Muhammad Byaruhanga, an orthopedist attached to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital is nursing wounds after being tortured by the escorts of Kabale Resident District Commissioner, Darius Nandinda. According to Mr. Byaruhanga, he was on his way back home from taking his Landlord for an urgent Medical attention at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital on the evening  4^th July 2021, Sunday night towards 9:00pm. He said four men including the Driver occupied the RDCs Pick Up Double Cabin but the RDC himself was not there and he heard the Occupant in the Front seat commanding “FIMBO FIMBO” meaning “cane, cane” after he was intercepted along Bugongi Road near Revival Tabernacle Church.

According to Byaruhanga, on his way home, a double cabin pickup vehicle registration number UG 3314C that was being driven by a police officer he only identified as Julius emerged from the vehicle and intercepted him along Bugongi road in Lower Bugongi ward, Northern division, Kabale municipality and without asking for anything pounced on him and started beating him up causing injuries to his left ear and pain on his body.

Byaruhanga says that he later went to file a complaint at Kabale police station where an officer told him that he should go and finish those issues with the RDC (who endeavored to call him that same night), arguing that police do not handle such matters bounced him at gunpoint. However, the RDC said he was not aware of the involvement of his escorts in the assault of the medical worker, saying in any case this is a police case. Byaruhanga further said these could be dragged along the political lines since he is a Brother to Hon. Sheik Kassim Kamugisha.

Byaruhanga told LOSCO that he is not the only Health worker falling victim to brutality by the same people that there are others he did not want to drag into this case who have come to him alleging the same.

Sophie Namasoppo, the Director Kabale Regional Referral Hospital said that unless something is done, health workers will lay down their tools to protest police brutality.

Reuben Mutabazi, Kabale District Internal Security Officer promised to investigate the incident, saying he had received information and gave a call to Byaruhanga that night about the same.

He (Byaruhanga) has so far met with the DPC ASP Keneddy Ssebagala and OC CID Joel on the same issue and claims there are deliberate efforts being made to change the case and according to him, he does not know why!

As Human Rights Defenders, we condemn such acts of Brutality in the strongest terms by the security forces against the Citizens of this country and we stand firm to advocate for Justice and Equity especially in times of crisis like these. Our interdependence as members of the human race behooves us to look after and look out for each other.

We therefore recommend that:

1.       The state should ensure that rights of all citizens are protected and upheld at all times.

2.       The perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions.

3.      The forces including the Police, Army, Private, and Secret Operatives operate within the confines of the Law and respect Human Rights bearing in mind that no one is above the Law.

4.      Authorities i.e the Police do whatever is necessary to conclusively investigate the circumstances under which Byaruhanga was assaulted by Agents of the State and other related cases and hold perpetrators accountable.

5.      The Office of the RDC should exercise restraint while enforcing observation of the strict COVID-19 Measures.

 

For More information please contact:

TAREMWA ALBERT, CEO - LOSCO +256772935100 localsustainco@gmail.com

Keep a Girl Child in School Program

https://youtu.be/Esosc0cjtuE 

Women’s health and hygiene has been one of the key concerns over the years across the world. The awareness on menstrual hygiene and usage of sanitary pads is virtually absent in rural areas such as in Uganda. Poor menstrual hygiene can cause fungal infections, repeated infections to RTI, cervical cancer and vulnerable to infertility. Reproductive hygiene education and sexual education is not part of any education system in Uganda.

Millions of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa are disempowered by the simple biological process of menstruation. Affordable and hygienic sanitary protection is not available to girls in many areas. They resort to the use of unhygienic rags and cloths which puts them at the risk of infections.

Female students face great challenges in terms of hygiene and sanitation. For girls who are menstruating, these problems compound the difficulties posed by the inability to afford sanitary towels as well as cultural taboos around menstruation. As a result, Statistics indicate that 1 in 10 menstruating African girls skip school four to five days per month or drop out completely.