KIGALI, Rwanda

At least 31 people were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Ituri province, in the latest attack attributed to Uganda’s Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, a rights group said on Wednesday.

“These civilians were killed at the boundary between Mambasa and Irumu territories on Monday and Tuesday. The victims included men and women,” said Christophe Munyanderu, coordinator of the local group Convention for the Respect of Human Rights in Ituri.

He said that the death toll is expected to rise “because there are missing residents.”

Daniel Sumanzi, a civil society member in Irumu, confirmed the attack and said the dead included two girls aged 12 and 14, who were executed after being raped by the gunmen.

Civilians suffer regular attacks orchestrated by the ADF rebels and the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) among other militias.

Thousands of people from the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri live in camps.

Since October 2022, at least 1,334 people, including 107 children, have been killed in these eastern provinces, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said last week.

In late 2021 Congolese and Ugandan militaries launched joint operations to flush out ADF rebels.

Gen. Wilson Mbasu Masudi, the chief of general staff of the Ugandan army and Congolese army’s Lt.-Gen. Christian Tshiwewe arrived in North Kivu province on Wednesday to assess the joint operation.  By James Tasamba, Anadolu Agency  

Suspected bandits have shot dead five people in Lami Nyeusi, West Pokot during an early morning raid and made away with 18 goats.

Confirming the incident, West Pokot county commissioner Apollo Okello said suspected armed bandits crossed the border from Turkana and ambushed the residents leaving at Lami Nyeusi and made away with18 goats.

He added that the bandits shot dead five people who live in Lami Nyeusi along Kapenguria - Lodwar highway. 

“The incident happened around 4.00am on Thursday morning. When police officers responded, they found the five had already been gunned down. We are searching for the bandits who cross over to Turkana county with the goats,” he said.

He added that there is tension in the area as a contingent of police officers have been dispatched to quell tension and ensure transportation is not interrupted along the busy highway. 

“I will be visiting the place with top security officers. Those who were gunned down are business people who usually engage in gold mining business,” he said.

He said the bodies have been removed from the scene and taken to Kapenguria county referral morgue, awaiting postmortem.  By Irissheel Shanzu , The Standard

Former Kitui county governor Charity Ngilu has urged Ukambani leaders to come together and protect the Kamba land because there are many people salivating for the land.

Speaking in a burial held in Makueni on April 5, 2023, Ngilu praised the Machakos county governor Wavinya Ndeti, for telling off Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria on Portland land in Athi River. 

"There are so many people who are salivating when they see land and they will come and crush you, Governor Wavinya congratulations I saw you telling Moses Kuria to keep off from Kamba land," Ngilu said.

Ngilu told Governor Wavinya to keep the same spirit of protecting what he termed as Kamba land, promising to support her to fight for the community despite her having retired from politics for she is behind her.

End of last year there was a heated exchange of words between Kuria and Machakos county governor Wavinya Ndeti on Portland land in Athi River, Machakos County. 

On November 8, 2022, Kuria threatened to eject squatters at Portland land in Athi River urging those who live in that land to move to other places before he moves them.

"I will not bow to squatters, but I will look at hundreds of people who I will give jobs right here, I know you are an irresistible force but in me, you will find an immovable object," Kuria said.

"I want NYS to start digging trenches here. Not even a centimetre of Portland land will be grabbed. If this squatter problem cannot be solved by Moses Kuria then who else can? This will be the end of them taking public land."

His remarks agitated the Machakos governor who responded to him on November 9, 2022, warning him against any removal of 'her people' from the land.

"Before you start talking down on us or commanding us you should come and sit down with Machakos people and know where the problem is," Governor Wavinya said. 

She said that those people working in East Africa Portland are the ones who have stolen the land. She explained that before, East Africa Portland was working well before another lot of managers were introduced who took loans against the community land.

"We gave them community land to mine, and after mining, they should have returned the land to the community, they never bought it, then they even took a loan with our land," Wavinya said.

The county boss said that they will not allow the Portland land to be sold, for it is a community property.

"Wewe Moses Kuria shamba ya Wakamba hapo Portland hauchukui na hatukuogopi, niliona venye ulifanya jana, uliongea na ukanitumia video (Moses Kuria, you will not take Kamba land in Portland and we are not fearing you. I saw what you did yesterday, you talked and sent me a video, I am not scared of you," the agitated governor said.

She later advised CS Kuria that he should talk to them nicely because they were not against development but he should not make them look bad to the President. 

Speaking about her absence in Azimio's anti-government demonstrations, Ngilu said she is behind them despite her not being involved directly in the demonstrations.

"I know one of the leaders said they can not see Ngilu and it is very true that you can not see me but am not far away," Ngilu said.

The former county boss also noted that the Kenya Kwanza government has not yet fulfilled its promises to the people of Kenya noting that they promised to lower prices of food commodities and fuel which has not yet been witnessed. By Zipporah Ngwatu, People Daily 

A former Uganda Revenue Authority tax officer, Dennis Tumusiime has been remanded to Luzira prison over allegations of causithe ng government a financial loss of over Shs 9 billion.

Tumusiime, 43, was remanded by the Anti Corruption court on Wednesday after being charged with six counts of abuse of office and causing financial loss.

The court heard that as URA tax officer between 2019 and 2021, Tumusiime adjusted and reduced the tax of various companies and individuals without justification - well knowing that his actions would cause government a financial loss. Tumusiime reportedly adjusted the ledgers of Fast Forwarding and Shipping Company Limited from Shs 648,729 to zero.

The prosecution also contends that between January and December 2020, Tumusiime reduced the tax liability worth Shs 1.1 billion for African Capacity Development and Research Institute, Bageine and Company, Bageine and Company Limited, Brandguard Limited, Flavish Events Limited, J and E Civil Engineering Works Limited, Krystal Concepts Limited, Mass Projects Uganda Limited, Mr Shem Bageine Bajura, Mukasa Couriers Limited, Prime Machinery Limited, Summy Trading International Company Limited, Swisa Enterprises Limited and Twincom Technologies Limited.

It is also alleged that between January and December 2021, Tumusiime reduced tax worth Shs 4.5 billion from goods of Amiancy Investments Company Limited, Arcano Investments Limited, Grand Victoria Limited, Mr Kalungi Godfrey, Mr Robert Blick Migadde, Power Consults Engineering Limited, Prestige Electronics and Computers Limited, Rizwan Trading (U) Limited, Sarjan Construction Uganda Limited, Smartec Electronics Limited and  Taste Buds Limited. 

During the same time, Tumusiime is also accused of reducing the tax liabilities of Smartwatch Solutions Limited, Tumbine Enterprises Limited, Mr Abas Kalule, Grand Victoria Limited worth Shs 3.7 billion. According to the prosecution led by Stuart Ahabwe,  the actions of Tumusiime were arbitrary to the interests of his employer, Uganda Revenue Authority. Tumusiime who was being represented by lawyer Diana Kasabiiti pleaded not guilty and has been remanded until April 13 as inquiries continue. - URN/The Observer