FAKE COURT OFFICIALS REAP BIG FROM COURT CLIENTS

FAKE COURT OFFICIALS REAP BIG FROM COURT CLIENTS

BY

ABALO IRENE OTTO

GULU

The judiciary in Uganda is in a phase opening of judicial desks in the entire country in a bid to improve client relations and improve customer care in the different courts in the country.

Since 2014, the judiciary realized that even the courts need information desks where anyone can get information in case they have to inquire on anything about court.

Solomon Muyita, the Senior Communications officer from the judiciary told our reporter that the judiciary acknowledged that there are fake court officials or con men that confuse clients by being around court premises giving empty promises that they can connect people to the judge or help clients win a case hence conning culprits of huge sums of money.

“We acknowledge that there are fake court officials, con men who come to court to confuse court users. The service at the information desk is free of charge.”
Muyita says the judiciary is aware of such con men and the essence of establishing the information desks is to eliminate such people from court.

He adds that on average, court hosts over 100 people on a daily basis in the over 200 courts in the country and such people need a central person to answer some of their questions at each court and Court staff are also to be trained on customer care to have information at their finger tips.

“Court hosts over 100 people every day and there is need for a central person to answer their cases at each court so that they know what to do,” said Muyita.

So far 20 information desks have been established since 2014 in courts in Mengo, Makindye, Nabweru, Arua, Lira, Nakasongola, Luwero, Mbale, Entebbe, Iganga, Mukono and Mbarara among others.

The other target districts that are set to have information desks by June this year include: Gulu, Kitgum, Masindi, Hoima, Busia and Soroti.
The Senior Communications Officer urged court users not to talk to anyone they find in court since the officials at the information desk shall eventually have uniforms and tags to identify them.

“Do not talk to just anyone you find in the court premises, they will con your money.” Muyita advised court users.

Services at the desk are free of Charge.

Gulu Magistrates have also expressed concern about the scores of unsuspecting and desperate members of public who have been fleeced of their money by phony lawyers.

During the launch of Small Claims Procedure, an alternative method of dealing with civil proceedings in Gulu District on March 24, Chief Magistrate Deogratius Sejjemba said Small Claims Procedure would enable administration of justice on small claims to be expedited cheaply and support many since it does not require services from lawyers.

SIMON TOOLIT FINALLY FILES ELECTION PETITION FOR OMORO AT GULU HIGH COURT

Simon Akecha Toolit, the former FDC Parliamentary contestant for Omoro County in the just concluded elections has today filed his long awaited petition in Gulu High court after rumors had it that he was given unknown amount of money to kill the case.

Toolit was today addressing a press conference at Northern Uganda Media club in Gulu town to voice his dissatisfaction with the election results and how Ben Acellam, and Oringa Paimol spreading rumors that he has been bribed by Oulanya Jacob his competitor who was finally declared winner.

He says the returning officer acted unlawfully by announcing that Jacob Oulanya as the winner as the winner of the polls without giving the figures to show that he was duly elected and won.

He says that five Ballot boxes from Acet and Lalogi were not among those to be counted and some agents were not allowed to sign the declaration forms including the presiding officers.

He added that they have put across ten points in the petition to present the irregularities that happened in Omoro elections whose results were first declared without figures.

He further says the delays were from Uganda printeries who took long to bring out the results from the Gazette for public viewing until the 14th March when they embarked on compiling the affidavit.

The respondent says the petition will be served to defendants Oulanya Jacob and the Electoral Commission within seven days to answer on what took place during Omoro Elections.

He urged the people of Omoro to be patient and attend the court proceedings so that justice prevails.

Jacob Toolit is being represented by Lawyer Ladislas Rwakafuzi.

AMURU ON THE RACE TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS

World food programme in Partnership with Action Against Hunger is supporting 34 small holder farmer groups in Amuru and Lamogi sub counties in Amuru district to empower the farmers to demand for better prices for their agricultural produce.

Through their programme, dubbed Purchase for Progress(P4P), about 640 farmers have been brought together to Operate a store constructed in 2010 by Action Against hunger ,ACF, that handles the produce after harvest to avoid cases of arson or huts being burnt with produce inside that previously made farmers sweat at a loss.

Darius Arach, the community Facilitator for Action Against hunger (ACT), a partner working together with World Food Programme while in an interview with our reporter explained that the groups have been trained on a number of improved agricultural practices and post-harvest handling to have clean produce that can fetch higher prices at the market.

“We have also trained them on how to handle money because we realized that most of them did not have a saving culture and their spending habits were poor such that they sell everything in the house and use it up all within a short time and the whole family suffers at the end.”

He says the 34 groups were given among others tricycle to ferry their produce to the store and motorized maize Shellers to maintain the quality to meet the standard at the market.

The groups also sensitize other community members through drama on the how to improve their household incomes through saving in the bank, sales, Local Village saving schemes, handling money among others.

“The groups are also using drama to teach others on banking, sales and the right post harvest handling to keep the harvest clean and ready for better prices. It is easier for farmers to negotiate for better prices when the quality of the produce is superb,” Darius commented.

Christine Anek, the Vice Chairperson Lamogi WanenoAnyim Association, a local farmer group started in 2007 with about 600 members says that Word Food Programme and ACF constructed for them the store that they are using to keep their produce after harvest.

She says on average, an individual brings about 4-5 bags about 3 tons of produce after harvest and gets between 500,000/= to 700,000/= depending on the crop; maize, ground nuts, sunflower or soya beans that has greatly improved their livelihoods.

“I can now pay school fees for my four children and provide basic needs for my family with the money I get after the produce are sold. I encourage other women to also join us or form their groups so that they are supported and are able to fend for their families instead of depending on their husbands for everything in the home.”

However, amid the progress made, Anek says they still have challenges in transporting their produce from the various villages to the store for marketing due to bad roads and the unreliable rainfall that leads to poor harvest.

“Sometimes one can get only 100,000/= during a bad season. We need more training to empower us on how to handle such challenges as farmers,” said Anek while in an interview with our reporter From Amuru sub county.

Apiyo Josephine, the Coordinator Gender Based Violence Shelter, Amuru says the district has developed “Amuru Common Woman Manifesto” that is aimed at empowering especially the women economically in their agricultural activities to be able to support their households since they have a greater burden to take care of activities in the home.

She also appealed to the district authorities to lobby and open avenues for banks to open their branches in the area so that people can save and also borrow loans to improve their productivity.

Amuru district currently has no bank for farmers and the rest of the community to carry out their commercial transactions.

“You should not get money at the expense of your life,” says Aswa Region PRO

BY

ABALO IRENE OTTO

GULU

A 31 year old boda boda rider has been hacked to death by unknown assailants in Kalongo Town Council near Paimol Secondary school in Pader district.

Patrick Kilama met his death over the weekend when he was hired to transport the assialant to Paimol in the evening hours and his body was discovered in the wee hours of Monday Morning.

Police were alerted to the scene of crime and the body was taken for a post mortem as investigations begin to net the assailants.

Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa Region Police Spokes person confirmed the death of Kilama and said the deceased could have been hit at the back of his head by a harmer before the assailants made off with his motorcycle, a red bajaj boxer, Reg UEF 574Z.

“It appears he was hit at the back of his head possibly by a harmer,” Okema told journalists in Gulu Town yesterday.

By the time of filing this story, no arrests had been made but investigations are on going.

Okema advised boda boda riders especially those with new motorbikes to desist from moveing at night and transporting people to distant places when they are alone because the thugs target such bikes that have more monetary value.

“You should not get money at the expense of your life. You rather get money when you are sure of your life,” Patrick Jimmy Okema advised boda boda riders.

A new bajaj in Gulu town costs between 3.5 to 4 million shillings depending on the store one is buying from.

” Know that thugs target new boda boda because they know the value attached to such bikes,” Okema added.

FIVE HAWKERS FROM LIRA ARRESTED IN A LODGE IN GULU TOWN

At least five boys from Lira were yesterday arrested from a lodge in Gulu town and detained at Gulu Central Police Station for suspected theft and robbery at night according to reports from the District Police Commander.

Martin Okoyo while in an interview with our reporter from his office yesterday said the five boys were netted sleeping in a lodge mostly during day time and at night they go out for unknown purposes.

He says the five boys were sleeping in Northern City lodge particularly Room five where they claim to transact in selling various phones and shoes.

“We found them in Northern City Lodge, particularly room five and we were able to recover a number of items that they could not account for. We suspect that these are the boys causing problems in town.”

He says, “police suspects them to be among those who come to the town to rob people at night and they are not from here, there are from Lira,” lamented the DPC

The DPC also revealed that the police mounted an operation and recovered 10 various types of phones wallets and women shoes that the boys could not account for. They were also found with gambling materials without license which is illegal.

“We also found them with gambling material but they do not have the license,” said Martin Okoyo, Gulu DPC.
He says the police suspect the boys to be among the click of iron bar hits men who are increasingly terrorizing the municipality by hacking those who move at night.

Okoyo urged those who run lodges and guest houses to be security conscious on those who stay for more than three nights and only sleep during day time but are out in the night.

He similarly warned land lords who take in tenants with quire behavior and urged them to give information to the police such that the culprits are brought to book.

The DPC appealed to the community to remain calm as the police are doing all that is possible to bring back sanity to the town.

“Give us information about this people and we shall arrest them.We have arrested them and we have them in our custody,” said the DPC

Gulu has for the past three weeks seen a rise in crime especially on the suburbs of the town where six cases of iron bar hits men hacking their victims have been registered at Gulu Central Police Station which is becoming a security concern to the authorities according to police reports.

POLICE IN ASWA REGION RECOVER 9 STOLEN VEHICLES

POLICE IN ASWA REGION RECOVER 9 STOLEN VEHICLES

BY

ABALO IRENE OTTO

GULU

Police in Aswa region have recovered 9 stolen vehicles beginning January 16th to date in an operation to net the robbers and thieves who come majorly from Kampala via Gulu to Congo and Sudan. Most of the vehicles are stolen from either Kampala or outside the district.

Aswa region police spokes person, Patrick Jimmy Okema told reporters yesterday form Gulu town that the suspects always move in a gang and they are always ready to counter police whenever they are netted. No arrests have been made.

Okema revealed that on the 4th of this month, police fought and engaged in fire exchange with one of the suspects who took off and abandoned the Hypsum vehicle was recovered by police.

“So far 9 vehicles have been recovered except one on the 4th of this month where our police fought with the thugs and all took off. They had to shoot the tire to stop the vehicle from moving. But the Hypsum was recovered.”

He also said that police was able to recover a number of vehicles. They were; a Noah Reg UAT 423 recovered from Tangi Village in Nwoya District and a taxi reg. UAT 884 J believed to have been stolen from Kampala.

Okema added that there are syndicates of thugs who are dealing in cars and use the Northern Route from Gulu to sneak to other countries but they are recovered from the region.

“Most of the vehicles are either stolen from Kampala or other districts but they are recovered from here.”

He further said once a vehicle is stolen and the case is reported to police, details are sent to a system that keeps all police offices on the alert to check and coordinate. Continuous follow up on the messages keeps truck of the where about of the vehicle for recovery.

TWO WOMEN ARRESTED IN LAYIBI WITH OPIUM IN A SACK

BY

ABALO IRENE OTTO

GULU

Two women were yesterday arrested by police for being in possession of opium that they had tied in a sack.

Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa region Police Spokes person told journalists from Gulu town that the two women were arrested from Layibi Central Sub ward in Gulu Municipality after a tip of from the residents.
“We have arrested two women from Layibi central sub ward in possession of Opium in a sack.”

The women arrested were identified as Aciro Reacheal Rokia and Akwo Susan.
According to Okema, the women are in police custody awaiting trial before court for being in illegal possession of unknown quantity of drugs.

“We have the women in our custody and once their documents are ready, they will appear before court.”

He appealed to the general public to report issues related to crime so that arrests are made and the culprits are brought to face the courts of law.

According to the National Drug Policy and Authority Act 1993;
“No person shall—smoke opium or Indian hemp or frequent any place used for the smoking of opium or Indian hemp; permit premises owned or occupied by him or her to be used by persons smoking opium or Indian hemp; or have in his or her possession pipes or other utensils for use in connection with the smoking of opium or Indian hemp.”

POLICE REPORTS INDICATE INCREASE IN NIGHT ATTACKS IN GULU TOWN

POLICE REPORTS INDICATE INCREASE IN NIGHT ATTACKS IN GULU TOWN

By

ABALO IRENE OTTO

GULU

Police in Gulu town have arrested six men in connection to an attempted murder of a technician last night along Ring Road in Gulu municipality.

Aswa Region Police Spokes person Patrick Jimmy Okema while addressing a press conference today from Northern Uganda Media Club said is holdingOjok Geoffrey, Akena Emmy, Okello Moris Opio Sammy and one Ali Moses in their custody for attempting to cut, Acio Micheal, a 25 year old resident of Tegwana parish in Pece Division for unknown reasons.

“The suspects tried to cut Acio Micheal 25 years, a technician at Tegwana in Gulu municipality but we have them in our custody awaiting trial.”

Okema revealed that police has recovered the exhibits from the crime scene to help with investigations. They include: pangas and clothes with blood stains.

He added that since 28th Feb, police has registered 6 cases of iron bar hit men at Gulu Central Police Station. The hit men mostly attack their victims at night hour.

However, the PRO called for calm as the patrol team is working day and night to ensure safety of people in the region.

“We are not really sleeping as some people are saying. We are working day and night to ensure the safety of our people.”

He urged the general public to cooperate with police and report any suspicious people in their community or in their neighborhood for the law to take its course on such people.

The suspects will be arraigned in court to answer charges of attempted murder once their file is forwarded to court for trail.

According to Article 187 section 1 of the penal Code Act, “Any person who by an unlawful act or omission causes the death of another person commits the felony termed manslaughter. Any person who commits the felony of manslaughter is liable to imprisonment for life.”

GULU INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL ON THE SPOTLIGHT FOR DIRECTING SEWAGE TO WATER SOURCE.

Gulu Resident District Commissioner has noted with concern the poor sanitation conditions and health hazards that Gulu Independent Hospital poses on residents in the neighboring areas.

Santos Lapolo while addressing journalists from Gulu town today said that after a tour of the town, he realized that Gulu Independent Hospital is creating a health risk for residents along Oitino Stream by depositing toxic wastes and directing sewer lines to the main stream that lead to Oitino dam where National Water and the community get water for home consumption.

He therefore gave an ultimatum of one week for Gulu Independent to dig a sock pit and stop dumping wastes in the stream or else the health facility will be immediately closed.

Lapolo lamented that the health facility is taking advantage of the locals who are voiceless on the deplorable conditions that they are subjected to by the hospital.

However, Ritah Tamale, the Site Clinical Officer denied having recieved information about the ultimatum giving to the hospital and was not willing to give details on waste disposal at the health facility.

Meanwhile the RDC has directed Gulu Municipal mayor George Labeja to work on the sanitation of the town as preparations are in high gear to welcome it being pronounced a city.

The mayor reiterated that he and his team will follow up the matter and also work on other sites including the Lagoon where unhealthy vegetables are grown and brought to the market for human consumption.

Labeja appealed to people in the municipality to maintain good hygiene in their home areas as well as in public places to make it a responsibility of every one to live in a clean and health environment.

‘Respect the dignity of your opponents and play clean politics,’’ Prime Minister asks leaders.

‘’Respect the dignity of your opponents and play clean politics,’’
Prime Minister asks leaders.
BY
ABALO IRENE OTTO
GULU
The Paramount chief of the Acholi Cultural Institution, Ker Kwaro
Acholi has congratulated those elected in various elective positions
and thanked the people of Acholi for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere
during and after the elections and urged leaders to forget about
things that divide people.

This was revealed by the Prime Minister, Olaa Ambrose from Kwer Kwaro
Acholi Palace in Kanyagoga, Bardege division, Gulu Municipality during
an interview with our reporter to appreciate the Acholi people for
their positive role in the just concluded 2016 general elections.

The prime minister said the cultural institution is willing to work
with all elected leaders for the common good of advancing issues that
affect their people at both the local and central government.

Olaa says the Paramount Chief Rwot David Onen Acana II calls upon
those who won elections to work together and avoid hate speech and
reconcile after the elections.

He urged leaders to help people in programs that change their mind set
to utilize the available opportunities around them to improve their
livelihoods by making money from developments around them like the
good roads that are being constructed to realize a positive change in
their individual homes.

He asked leaders to respect the dignity of their opponents and play
clean politics because it is the ideas not the family background of a
leader that wins elections of works for the people once a leader is in
office.

Early this month George Labeja, Gulu Municipal Mayor and DP party
president Norbert Mao were at logger heads over smear campaigns that
involved insulting family backgrounds but the latter apologized after
the elections in a sign of reconciliation and goodwill towards the
mayor.

Ker Kwaro Acholi is due to meet with the newly elected MPs, District
Chairpersons and those outside the leadership pattern from Acholi Sub
region on the 2nd Next month in a bid to forge unity and design a
mechanism that makes the Acholi people more listened to at both the
local and central government level.