In Brief

SRPS quitsTORORO — The Special Revenue Protection Services (SRPS) has withdrawn its military personnel on the Uganda-Kenya border and on the highways, following a directive from the Tororo district security committee. The decision was taken yesterday at a security meeting chaired by RDC Kizza Rwebembera. This follows the shooting of a suspected smuggler.-----Youth pollsKAMPALA — The long- awaited elections for the Kampala district youth executive committee will take place on March 28, Hajji Aziz Kasujja, the chairman of the Electoral Commission, has said. The elections flopped earlier due to failure by the Lubaga Division youths to elect their leaders on two occasions. -----‘Cops distort’KAMPALA — The LC5 councillor for Central division and former boxer, Godfrey Nyakana, has accused the police of distorting facts about the death of Henry Kato, a fellow boxer. Kato’s body was dumped at Kabalagala Police Station on Saturday morning by angry demonstrators organised by Nyakana, who accused the police of extra-judicial murder.-----BitangaroKAMPALA — The state minister for gender and culture Sam Bitangaro has insisted that he is not a competent witness in a fraud case against the former managing director of Oil Seeds, Charles Twagira. The Director of Public Prosecution last week demanded that court orders Bitangaro to appear and give evidence against Twagira.-----Thugs robKAMULI — Armed thugs on Saturday at Iringa, Namwendwa, intercepted traders dealing in fish and robbed them of more than sh7m. The District Police Commander, Fred Ssekiwere, said more than 30 traders who were travelling on a Fuso truck registration number UAA 767S, were heading for Irundu landing site when the thugs travelling in a saloon car attacked them.-----One deadIGANGA — One person died instantly while three others survived with serious injuries, when the vehicle they were travelling in rammed into a tree at Mazuba on the Iganga-Tirinyi highway on Sunday afternoon. The victims travelling in a Pajero registration number UAD 151V were going for an introduction ceremony in Pallisa. The driver reportedly died on the spot.-----Assault caseKAMPALA — A teacher has been charged with indecent assault at Makindye Magistrate’s Court. Michael Kisawuzi, 34, of Bunga trading centre, allegedly attempted to rape an 11-year-old pupil of St. Peter’s Primary School, Nsambya. Court heard that on October 8, 2001, Kisawuzi, who claims to be a teacher at Kampala Parents School, tried to force the pupil into sex.-----K’jong gunsMOROTO — Resident District Commissioner John Abingwa told The New Vision recently that voluntary surrender of illegal guns in Karamoja is still going on. Abingwa, who is also the district security committee chairperson, said the gun surrender was going on alongside forceful disarmament to enable those who doubted government’s commitment to protect them against external attacks to do so.-----MP Kikungwekampala — Kyadondo South MP Issa Kikungwe, facing charges of supplying fake human drugs, has appealed against a court ruling that he has a case to answer. Through his advocate, Wycliff Birungi, Kikungwe, 37, appealed to the High Court, saying the trial court’s ruling was contrary to the law.-----‘UPE a right’Jinja — The LC3 chief, Richard Gulume, has proposed that Universal Primary Education (UPE) should be incorporated into the Constitution and made a right. Gulume was presenting views to the Constitutional Review Commission at Bugembe yesterday.