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Drivers Not Happy With Chinese Contractors Over Mistreatment And Torture

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A copy of the Suspension Letter Given To Okolimong Who Was Driving Chinese Car In Moroto- PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

By Steven Ariong

Drivers working with China Railway Number 03, a Chinese company which is upgrading Moroto- Lokitanyala road are not happy and are tired of alleged being mistreated by their Chinese bosses working on the road.

A section of drivers who spoke to this website allege that the mistreatment they are going through including torture and kicking by the Chinese at the workplace was beyond  unbearable.

One of the drivers who spoke on condition of anonymity fearing to be reprimanded said the Chinese nationals are so arrogant towards the Ugandans working with them in their company in Moroto.

“We are just in slave in our own country, these Chinese are so rough, anything small attracts a slap and kicking without any sympathy,” he says

James Emmanuel Okolimong another driver says he has been suspended for delaying to pick up a phone call from his Chinese boss. Okolimong further says whenever they suspend a worker, they dont write exact reason why they suspend him instead they write it claiming its poor performance.

“I was in the latrine and I couldn’t pick up a phone call in the toilet when i returned running, only to be served with suspension letter and they didn’t want me to say anything”- Okolimong says

Another driver says they are wondering why government is not bothered to punish such indiscipline individuals in the Chinese companies.

A copy of the Suspension Letter Given To Okolimong Who Was Driving Chinese Car In Moroto- PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

“We are just like foreigners in our own Uganda country, there is a lot of pain workers go through from these Chinese but they are keeping quiet fearing to be fired from work,” he says

Martine Satya another driver hired by the Chinese company accused the Chinese national of torturing him and suspending him over baseless allegations of siphoning fuel something he said he never did.

Li Wang the project manager of China Railway N03 could not pick up our repeated calls to get his comment about the allegations.

However, Mr. Shaban Bisang the human resource Manger in China Railway N03 said some workers are indiscipline but they are mistreating them instead they terminating their work using the company’s policy.

“Whoever feels he or she has been mistreated can use the right channel including going to the district labour office so that they can he heard,” he says

The relationship between this very company with the community in Moroto has not been good, last year a group of Karimojong planned to attack the the camp of these Chinese after they allegedly poisoned more than 30 goats and sheep in their comp.

After realizing danger, the Chinese with the help of some local leaders called for the aggrieved pastoralists and paid them Shs18million as compensation for the dead goats.

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Karimojong, Turkana Pastoralists In Panic As Shs6.7 Billion Water Dam Nearly Dries Up.

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John Robert Akiki The LC3 chairperson of Lotisan Standing At Kobebe dam- PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

By Steven Ariong

MOROTO: The Karimojong and Kenyan Turkana pastoralists in Moroto district are currently gripped with panic of massive death of their livestock following the reduction of water volume in the  multibillion Kobebe water dam.

Kobebe water dam located  50km away from Moroto town in Moroto district was constructed by the minister of water and environment  in 2010 at the cost of shs 6.7billion.

The dam was constructed under initiative of the first lady also the minister who was then   Karamoja affairs Minister with the move to address shortage of water from the pastoralist community and also to improve on food production through irrigation scheme.

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However, due to the influx of hundreds of pastoralists with their thousands of livestock, the dam is drying up. According to the plan, the dam was expected to store 2.3billion liters of water and serving over 3,000 animals on a daily basis but it currently serves over 8,000 daily.

John Robert Akiki The LC3 chairperson of Lotisan Standing At Kobebe dam- PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

This website has learnt that the dam had been serving over 300,000 heads of cattle, goats, sheep, camels and donkeys of both the Karimojong and the Turkana who also crossed to graze their animals in the area after persistent drought in Kenya.

John Robert Adupa Akiki the sub county chairperson of Lotisan sub county said the water level had reduced from the dam adding that even the control valves are all leaking and others are damaged..

“We need the ministry of water and environment to come for our rescue so that our pastoralists don’t suffer,” Adupa Requested

Mathew  Lokut one of the pastoralists grazing his animals in Kobebe says their animals that had got used of taking enough water and pasture will grow thin should the dam completely drie up.

“The health of our animals had greatly improved and am worried if the rains delays and this dam completely dry up, then we shall lose animals,” Lokut appealed

John Lokuruka a Turkana pastoralist also grazing in Kobebe has sent his plea and prayed that God should help and release rains to fill the dam as soon as possible.

“Its only Uganda and Karamoja particularly that had been our rescuing center where we run to whenever we face drought in Kenya now where shall we run again if this dam dries up,” Lokuruka cried.

On his side, James Olinga the Engineer in the ministry of water and environment in charge of Karamoja blames the current situation on the influx of livestock. He says every year they have been spending a lot of money repairing the gate valves in the dam yet the district should be responsible.

Olinga further says they will send their team to cross check the level of damage in the dam and see how to work on.

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Valley Dam Excites Katakwi Cattle Keepers.

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By Steven Ariong

KATAKWI: Residents of Palam sub county in Ngariam county Katakwi district have a reason to smile following the completion of She500m valley dam in the area.

The dam which was constructed by the ministry of water and environment has been seen as a relief to cattle keepers who have been struggling to find water for their livestock during draught season as of now.

It’s also expected to reduce flooding in the area since water will be entering in the dam instead of flooding into homes and gardens.

John Ojakol one of the residents says they are now giving water to their their animals in the animal traps.

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“It has been so hard for us here in Palam and getting water source for animals has been a big challenge, we have been sharing water sources like boreholes with animals which is not good health wise but now we are happy to the government of Uganda and ministry of water and environment,” says Ojakol

Abdu Okeng the Palam Sub county LCV councilor and also secretary of works and social services said the completion of the dam came at the right time when rains are about to return and cause floods in the area.

“The major thing we are happy with this dam is that it will help us to contain water that could have caused flooding in people’s gardens, “he said.

Animals Taking Water At The Newly Constructed Dam-PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

Okeng also appealed the ministry of water to consider providing an irrigation system so that farmers can plant vegetables during dry season.

According to Patrick Okotel the Engineer in the ministry of water and environment in charge of Eastern region, he acknowledged that in the short time they will provide an irrigation system in the area.

“We have done with the installation of solar system to pump water to the animals  trap and we are still finishing up some few things but 99.9% of the works in the dam are complete,” says Okotel

Okotel urges the Katakwi district leaders and Palam sub county leaders to take the responsibility of keeping the dam by not allowing animals enter inside the dam.

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NCHE Clears Africa Renewal University For a Charter

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The Africa Renewal University has been granted a charter contrary to what Media houses reported indicating it on top of the list of Universities that were at risk of being closed by the National Council of High Education.

After a period of two years of rigorous verification following the University’s application to the National Council of Higher Education, Africa Renewal University after a meeting with the National Council of Higher Education on January 20th, 2023 has been granted a charter.

Addressing journalists in Kampala early this week, the executive director of NCHE, Prof Mary Okwakol, said by acquiring charter status, the universities will help in delivering quality education that meets international standards.

“But at the moment, we are studying the road maps and guiding each institution. We expect not long from now, all of them should be able to apply for charter status,” Prof Okwakol said

Now after going through all the necessary provisions and requirements Africa Renewal University will join a list of a few of those Universities which are chartered whose courses and programs will be recognized internationally.

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Decent Accommodation Motivates ASTU Personnel To Fight Criminality In Karamoja

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By Steven Ariong

The establishment of decent house for the Anti-stock theft unit  personnel in Karamoja has been attributed to the current success of eliminating cattle rustling and criminality in Karamoja.

A one week survey by this website  noted Karamoja region has a total of 2,500 Anti-stock theft unit personnels deployed to jointly work with UPDF to end cattle rustling in Karamoja.

However the beauty of it is that each personnel lives in a decent new unipot unlike in the previous years of 2004 to 2010 where the Astu personnel build their own small houses using mad and water (commonly used to be known as mama ingia Pole) in Kiswahili.

This website also learnt that each personnel has about three to four pair of Uniform unlike the previous personnel who could have only one pair of uniform.

While on patrol each personnel is loaded with dry ratio and water this has been seen as the most motivational approach that has made the personnel to work without any regret to be in Karamoja.

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ASTU is a police unit which was carved from Field Force Unit and is mandated to prevent theft of cattle and currently their headquarters are in Karamoja.

The entire Karamoja region has a total of 100 detaches of Astu with all new unipots for the accommodation of the personnel.

Some Of The ASTU Accommodation Units In Moroto- PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

Last year, the UN office of the high commissioner of human rights rated the force as the best in respecting human rights in Karamoja as they continue pursuing rustlers to hand over guns.

One of the personnel who spoke to this website on condition of anonymity because he’s not authorized to speak to the media said what they are enjoying in Karamoja has made them never regret why they were deployed in Karamoja

“We used to fear when we were brought to Karamoja because of the history of the region, no accommodation, rustlers are serious fighters but we have find life here so good and we are enjoying working in Karamoja.

Commissioner of Police who’s the commandant of the force  Erias Kasirabo said he looked at decent accommodation for the personnel as one things that will make it easy for the personnel to deal with cattle rustling.

“Welfare of a personnel is the genesis of success, we are making success in eliminating cattle rustling in Karamoja together with our sister forces the UPDF simply because the personnel live in a decent accommodation, they have food and others,” said Kasirabo

According to Commissioner Kasirabo with the current joint operations in the region, Karamoja will not remain the same.

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Former Cattle Rustlers Reap Big Through Making Animal Mineral Lick Stones 

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Some Of The Reformed Rustlers Knitting Capes In Napak-PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

Story By Steven Ariong

Napak: A year of 2006 exchanging smile and laughing with  Augustino Nangiro a cattle rustler was something that everyone could not try  because the commander of warriors was very hostile and his appearance  was covered with killing, rob and stealing livestock.

During those days nobody would wish to talk to Nangiro even his own relatives ,

“I recalled one day it was a Thursday when we laid an ambush in Kamusalaba on the high way of Moroto, Nakapiripirit road  by then raid was real when the cattle traders dared traveling from Pallisa, Mbale, Bugisu and Teso districts  in their two fuso lories to buy animal in Moroto district they succeeded and they bought about  70 cattle and loaded them to their trucks but on their way back, we  ambushed and killed all of them and took their animals’- recalls Nangiro

The ambush was laid by about 13 armed Karimojong warriors who were commanded by Augustine Nangiro,  the warriors killed all the 16 traders and they took their animals including the money the traders had.

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Nangiro abandoned his home in Lonangat Village, Natopojo Parish in Nabilatuk district at the age of 14years and spent most of his time in the wilderness raiding cattle from the neighboring districts and ambushing vehicles killing people, his first raid he says started in Turkana where he succeeded and raided 200 heads of cattle but he sold all and crossed to Southern Sudan to buy more strong weapons.

When he bought new weapons from Turkanas in Kenya  he didn’t use them for the long time before giving them to other warriors whom he went along with to raid again in Turkana.

“I remember it was a Monday  when I went with a group of 40  armed Karimojong warriors to lay an ambush for the second time at a grazing area in Turkana, it was tough this time around, we raided 340 heads of cattle but as I was coming back with cows with my colleagues, we fell in a serious ambush by UPDF soldiers, we fought with UPDF soldiers for about four hours and we killed all 9 UPDF soldier I also lost 14 of  my colleagues,” he narrates.

He said the animals got scattered and he took off with other three of his colleagues for their dear lives because the army had come with helicopter to look for them

According to Nangiro  after he commanded the fight that killed the six  UPDF soldiers he was put under number 15 of the most wanted warriors on the army list.

“The army launched serious hunting for me after killing  soldiers, so I fled living in Turkana for about 2 years, from there my relatives started consulting the army to pardon me. When the army pardoned me that was all the  turning point and I stopped living in the bushes and killing people along the roads, “he tells this website.

He said he tried to be with people at the village but people including his relatives were fearing him because of his past behaviors of raiding animals.

“When I realized that I was somehow now free I joined the group of youth who were making bricks for sale but it was difficult because I was not used to such activity,” Nangiro states.

He started again charcoal burning but still it was very difficult for him until when he thought of selling tomatoes.

Nangiro’s luck was after he become one of the many people trained by Ecological Christians organization ECO a Christian  organization in conjunction with UNFAO to be trained on how to make animal mineral lick stone using burns.

Mineral lick block is essential vitamins which contains salt, essential macro and micro trace elements including calcium and phosphorus.

This stone also contains added vitamins required for optimum performance for use in breeds and ages of cattle, goats and sheep.

It also has minerals which are very import for milk production, appetite, growth rate and fighting infertility from the animals.

“What we are now getting from making mineral lick stone  is  much better than  what I used to get through killing people I have regretted  a time I wasted in the bush if I had been making this mineral lick stone, I would also be rich like other farmers”- Nangiro tells this website

Nangiro who doubles as Chairperson of their group says they are now making animal lick stones to sale to other districts.

Paul Lokol the district chairperson Nabilatuk said Skilling the Karimojong reformed youth would help in eliminating criminality in the society and calls upon other development partners to always concentrate in rendering skills to the youth instead of giving them handouts.

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Kapelebyong Leaders Decry Delay In Construction Of Dams

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Karimojong and Turkana pastoralists watering their animals in Kobebe in Moroto last week (photo by Steven Ariong)
Karimojong And Turkana Pastoralists With Their Animals At Kobebe In Moroto-PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

Story By Steven Ariong

KAPELEBYONG: Political leaders and residents of Kapelebyong district in Teso sub region  have decried the delayed construction of a community valley dams.

The government through ministry of water and environment released unspecified amount of amount of money for the construction of three valley dams in the district but residents  and their leaders say nothing is tangible yet.

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Francis Akorikin the district chairperson Kapelebyong said the ministry of water engineers tried to do work on the two dams such as Odukul and Napak dam but failed to complete them since 2020.

He added that other dams such as Odimai which president museveni directed to be constructed has not been done yet 2026 general elections are at the corner.

“As the district chairperson i have failed to understand the truth from the ministry of water and environment, their engineers had promised to come back to us but now two years down the road nothing is on the ground,” says Akorikin

Akorikin however calls upon the ministry of water engineers to give information to the district about the status of the dams adding that people are now forced to share water sources with animals yet those dams would have helped them with water for their animals.

Karimojong and Turkana pastoralists watering their animals in Kobebe in Moroto last week (photo by Steven Ariong)
Karimojong And Turkana Pastoralists With Their Animals At Kobebe In Moroto-PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

Moses Odongo a resident of Odimai said they regret a lot voting for the NRM massively yet they haven’t benefited from the Museveni government.

“If we earlier knew that all will be empty, we would have resorted to voting other parties and remain without any project than voting the ruling party thinking it will deliver services to us,”Odongo says.

While Grace Achipa another resident says they would also be doing irrigation if those dams were completed.

“Right now there is draught and getting  greens and vegetables is difficult but if those dams were functioning, we would planting greens,”Achipa Laments

Patrick Okotel the Engineer in the ministry of water and environment in charge of Eastern region acknowledged the delay on the works but attributed to lack of funds and also insecurity caused by Karimojong rustlers that had frustrated the works

“We hope that by next month if the funds are available will be finishing those dams and install the solar system for the animals to drink water,” says Okotel

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BIG STORY: The Four Commanders That Have Brought Sanity Back In Karamoja.

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R-L: RPC Francis Chemust, Brig Felix Busizoori, Brig Joseph Balikudembe  And Commissioner Erias Kasirabo Addressing Media-PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

Story By Steven Ariong

In October 20th 2019 is the year that Karamoja region again experienced a new wave of cattle rustling and  road ambushes soiling the 15years of peace that the region had gained after the successful disarmament exercise of 2004 to 2008 where government managed to collect 49,000 guns in Karamoja.

These incidents hampered the high speed of development that the region had  started seeing until 2021 when the joint security forces, Army and Police  relaunched  another deadly operation to get rid of the guns used by the Karimojong.

No body at one point could believe that the forces would again reinstate order in the region.

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But with the presence of four no nonsense commanders led by Brig Joseph Balikudembe the 3rd division commander, his deputy Brig Felix Busizoori, Commissioner of Police Erias Kasirabo commandant Anti-stock theft unit and Francis Chemusto the regional police commander Mt.Moroto region.

 

R-L: RPC Francis Chemust, Brig Felix Busizoori, Brig Joseph Balikudembe And Commissioner Erias Kasirabo Addressing Media-PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

The four head boys have managed to scatter the hideouts of the Karimojong cattle rustlers who had massively regrouped themselves to destabilize the region.

So far under the joint disarmament, 600 guns have been recovered in the region and more are still being recovered.

These two sister forces work jointly where by cattle rustlers arrested without guns are prosecuted by police in the courts of law while those with guns are prosecuted by the army court martial.

The major routes that had become impassable due to insecurity such as Moroto to Kotido, Kotido to Kaabong have now become passable with army and Astu personnel patrolling the routes

Speaking to this website Brig Joseph Balikudembe said the current situation in Karamoja is under control adding that no more warries.

“We are on top of the situation and Sanity is already back in Karamoja expect some small  theft but we are addressing that one also,”-says Balikuddembe

While Brig Felix Busizoori the deputy 3rd division  commander said they have embarked on dealing with criminals sneaking into the country with guns.

“We have embarked on closely monitoring the porous border to make sure that no guns cross from Kenya, South Sudan to Karamoja,”Busizoori told this website.

Additionally, Erias Kasirabo the commandant of Antistock theft unit said all the illegal cattle markets that rustlers had established for selling stolen animals have all been closed.

According to Commissioner Kasirabo, cattle rusting had turned out to be a lucrative business where rustlers would connive with animal traders in Teso, Bugisu and other parts of the country.

“The raiders would raid animals and the traders load them into the trucks and move at night but when we established animals check points, we are not registering theft of animals as it used to be,”says Commisioner Kasirabo

On his part, Francis Chemust the RPC Mt.Moroto region says most of the rustlers are already in jail and that they will continue jailing them until the region becomes peaceful.

Mose Tikol a resident says so far the region is relatively peaceful unlike those days when people could enter into their houses as early as 5pm fearing to be attacked by rustlers.

The district chairperson Nabilatuk Paul Lokol also acknowledged that the region is peaceful but implores security to deal seriously with some remaining pockets of cattle thefts.

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Ultimate Story Creates Panic As UNRA, Chinese Contractor Rush To Repair Cracks On Newly Constructed Moroto-Soroti Road

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Some Of The Repair Works Of The Cracks On The Moroto- Soroti Highway- PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

Story By Steven Ariong

MOROTO:On 09th this month we published a story where we exposed life threatening cracks that had started developing on the newly constructed Moroto- Soroti high way which was constructed by a Chinese farm. (READ STORY HERE)

As we publish this article now, a yet to be known Chinese contractor together with the Uganda National Roads Authority have deployed their workers to repair many widening cracks on this newly constructed Moroto- Soroti highway, some thing that had created panic among motorists.

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The road which was constructed by two Chinese contractors namely China communications construction company and China Railway Number three has not even lasted four years and not yet officially commissioned by the president but it had developed serious cracks.

Some Of The Repair Works Of The Cracks On The Moroto- Soroti Highway- PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG

The Shs300billion road had developed major cracks around Lorengecora  trading centre and around Iriir trading center in Napak district. Other spots that had started creating panic were in Nakicument and the areas of Morulinga in Kangole which had caused worries among the motorist operating on Moroto-Soroti road of accidents.

Since Friday last week, the workers have been seen closing some parts of the roads and  repairing the cracked sections of the road.

Moses Lokut a resident of Iriiri sub county in Napak district said the investigation into the quality of the road should done adding that they suspect poor workmanship.

“We have all remain in disbelief about this road because not even three years the road is rotting away, we need an independent team to carry investigations into these roads,”Lokut advised.

Mathew Lokwang another resident said the current road  by the next three years from now would completely damaged.

“The way these Chinese did this road for sure was not good I know we are not learnt but they didn’t do much on it,”- said Lokwang

Efforts to get a comment from Mr. Allan Sempebwa, the Uganda National Roads Authority’s media relations manager failed as he could not pick our our repeated calls.

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DR LINDA LILIAN: End Time Love Affairs and a Remedy

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By Dr. Linda Lilian
Isaiah chapter 4:1 prophesies that “in that day so few men will be left that seven women will fight for each man, saying, “Let us all marry you! We will provide our own food and clothing.”
The world today has rocked the feminist movement to a gear where women are ready to be the ‘maleness’ without being male. This has mushroomed an era of single mothers raising boy children who would rather depend on a woman than provide. Moreover these boy children are prone to commit the players offense and impregnate as many girls as they can, while not being supportive. The products of the girl empowerment and male dormancy movement, are also a bunch of low grade males, unempowered to become anything but women’s toys often falling prey to older women for cash.
Amidst all this is the growing hunger for women to retain their men and in that pursuit, provide for the hapless men even more than their mothers could.
It is worse, when the women and girls take the fight to the cat’s rear and have become passionate in destroying each other. While it is not new that women could fight over a man. 2023 in Uganda has begun on a new height with Nicole Pretty being thumped, Patricia in Kawempe burnt to death, Esther Kyomuhendo in Kanungu murdered. All these cases have a man lurking in them.
Questions arise. Have men become more precious, more than life itself. Are they scarce or are these women and girls emotionally untamed to manage the situation in a more humane way. 
 
In 2013 Bresin Konrad and Robbinson Michael pointed out that higher levels of trait anger were predictive of worse motor control. When emotions are out of control the body’s reaction is at its worst which leads to irredeemable actions unless a level of restraint is made.
For some, childhood training and psychosocial grooming creates the required restraint.  For others, christian practice helps and for some, having the right peers or counsel helps.  This would be the thought for the girls, women, boys and men having to face the relationship pattern.
Having a level of self control, that prevents crimes of passion and those of lust. And being able to take responsibility for every action produced by one’s actions; is a vital skill and effort that is required.
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