Attacks by armed groups over the past two months have claimed the lives of more than 500 civilians and displaced more than a million others in the territories of Djugu and Mahagi in Ituri province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an official said Wednesday.
UN radio in DR Congo was quoting the chief office manager of MONUSCO in Ituri, Marc Karna Soro, who was addressing journalists in the city of Bunia.
It said that Soro, who had just returned from a mission in southern Irumu territory, spoke about the overall security situation in the province. He said that 530 people were killed in two months and more than a million displaced people are concentrated around various MONUSCO bases.
Eastern DR Congo provinces including Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu have long suffered from attacks by armed groups who kill civilians and loot property in addition to raping women and girls. Anadolu Agency
Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri speaks to the press on May 17, 2023.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has announced a campaign to weed out fake lawyers and quacks across the country. The campaign, which was officially launched in Nairobi, will be effected across the country through LSK branches.
LSK President Eric Theuri urged Kenyans to be vigilant as they approach legal practitioner for representation in court or any other legal assistance. He added that they were working closely with law enforcement agencies.
“Before you engage a lawyer, please go to the LSK website and check his or her status on the online portal to confirm that he or she is licensed to practice in that particular year,” Mr Theuri said.
LSK members who have not renewed their operating licences have also been asked to desist from any legal activity until they are cleared by the council. By Kevin Cheruiyot, Daily Monitor
The death toll in Kenya from a suspected starvation cult rose to 227 on Wednesday as police said they unearthed 15 more bodies from land associated with cult leader Paul Mackenzie.
Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha confirmed the grim update during a press briefing, further amplifying the magnitude of the heart-wrenching incident.
"The number of missing people has risen to 611," Onyancha added, referring to an earlier call by the police urging residents in the area to come forward and file reports on their missing loved ones
Police say that as the investigation progresses, the focus remains on unraveling the complex dynamics surrounding the cult, shedding light on the factors that allowed such a tragedy to unfold.
Hundreds of bodies have been found at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County since mid-April during investigations into a cult run by Mackenzie, a pastor who leads the Good News International Church in Kenya.
He is accused of ordering his followers to starve themselves to death so they could go to heaven before the end of the world.
An investigation that started last month has revealed that some of the victims had their organs missing, which has led to suspicions of trafficking in human organs. - Andrew Wasike, Anadolu Agency
Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire
What you need to know:
John Okudi, a 27- year- old security guard attached to Saracen (U) Ltd was allegedly shot on Wednesday by his colleague, Moses Okedi, following a disagreement in senior quarters in Amagoro Central ward in Tororo Municipality where they had been deployed.
Okudi’s death happened just days after another guard attached to Capital Guards and Patrol, a private security firm allegedly shot a colleague dead in their rented house in Kalule Zone, Lukuli Parish, Makindye Division on May 13, 2023.
Police at Wandegeya, Kampala are investigating a case in which a private security guard allegedly shot himself dead Thursday morning as gun violence continues to rock the country. Rogers Atuhaire attached to SGA Security Company is alleged to have shot himself dead at around 9am at Buganda road zone, Nakasero III parish, Kampala central division.
“Atuhaire Rogers, who had been deployed at the beat for the past two days, was found dead at the scene. Initial reports suggest that the deceased was discovered by Okudu David, a day guard who had arrived for duty. David reported hearing the sound of a gun being cocked, assuming it was a routine safety precaution,” said Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire.
He said police found Atuhaire lying in a pool of blood, with a bullet wound visible on his throat, which had penetrated through his head.
“Investigations have revealed that Atuhaire was working alongside Mary Namumanya for the night duty. As part of the investigation process, witness statements have been recorded, and relevant exhibits have been recovered,” ASP Owoyesgyire added.
Six people have been detained for questioning to assist in the ongoing investigations. A comprehensive and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident will be carried out and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses, according to the police publicist.
Atuhaire is the fourth security guard to die by shooting in just five days. Yesterday, a guard attached to another private security firm was arrested on murder charges after he allegedly shot and killed a colleague in Tororo District in eastern Uganda, police said Wednesday, as gun violence rocks the country.
John Okudi, a 27- year- old security guard attached to Saracen (U) Ltd was allegedly shot on Wednesday by his colleague, Moses Okedi, following a disagreement in senior quarters in Amagoro Central ward in Tororo Municipality where they had been deployed. Okudi’s death happened just days after another guard attached to Capital Guards and Patrol, a private security firm allegedly shot a colleague dead in their rented house in Kalule Zone, Lukuli Parish, Makindye Division on May 13, 2023.
John Mujumbi, a 25-year-old security guard attached to Capital Guards and Patrol was allegedly shot by his colleague and roommate, Peter Ochoroi, 26, at around 12:30pm following a disagreement on Saturday. The two were attached to the same security firm and had been sharing a rented room provided by their employer.
On the same day, Ben Amaku, a security guard attached to Security Group Africa Company Ltd was shot dead by unknown assailants. The shooting happened at around 1:50am at Novafinia medical centre located along Rhinocamp Road in Baruku central cell. By Priscilla Maloba, Daily Monitor
Col Joseph Freddy Onata, the CEO of Wazalendo Sacco, has advised saccos to resist the temptation of becoming commercial banks.
“Not only are the foundations and mission goals of saccos and banks different, but it is saccos that can bring about mass financial empowerment and transformation. Whereas banks make profits for their shareholders and they serve customers, saccos serve their members and make profits for their members,” he said.
Onata was the keynote speaker at the official opening of the Ntinda, Kampala branch of Millennium Sacco 2012, on May 12, 2023. He added that Sacco leaders are elected from members whereas bank leaders are appointed from outside. Above all, the majority of banks are foreign-owned, and they repatriate their profits rather than invest in our economy.
While announcing that Wazalendo Sacco will go public next year, he shared that the idea of a bank had been suggested to them but they rejected it.
“So long as you ensure that your sacco is member-centred in all its activities, this will build a greater brand for you than being a commercial bank.”
With headquarters in Mbarara city, Millennium Sacco 2012’s Ntinda, Kampala branch is its eighth. Ronald Abaho, the general manager of Millennium, said the Ntinda branch is being treated as a pilot for Kampala, to guide them in opening three more branches in the capital city. It started operations mid-March 2023.
In less than two months, the branch has registered 85 new accounts, Shs 90.3 million in new savings and Shs 45 million in fixed deposits, and given out loans worth Shs 430 million.
Millennium Sacco 2012 is a brainchild of Ankole diocese bishop Rt Rev Dr Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa. It started in December 2012 on a small scale as a sacco for the diocesan staff only; its initial official name was Ankole Diocese Millennium Sacco. The bishop was the chief host at the Ntinda function.
Eng. Fred Tumwine, the chairman, explained that it was later decided that the membership include even non-staff of the diocese, and the name was shortened. He said anyone from any religious denomination can join the sacco because its goal is to spread financial empowerment and inclusion, and uplift communities.
Tumwine reported that the sacco so far has an asset base above Shs 21 billion, more than 21,000 members and a staff of 70 people. He reported consistent profitability despite the Covid-19 disruptions. In 2022 alone, the sacco made a net profit of Shs 1.4 billion. It paid Shs 340 million as taxes to Uganda Revenue Authority.
INVITATIONS TO OTHER DISTRICTS
Tumwine said that because of exemplary management and performance, Millennium has even been invited to open branches in other districts such as Katakwi and Kabale, among others.
Pamela Komugisha, representing Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, minister Francis Mwebesa disclosed that the ministry was taking a paper to cabinet soon to cause the revival of the Cooperative bank. She said such a bank would not repatriate the profits of its member saccos since it would be purely Ugandan-owned. By John Musinguzi, The Observer
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