CP on talks
KAMPALA - Opposition parties should be accorded an observer status during the final stage of the Juba peace talks, the Conservative Party (CP) has said. CP president general Yusuf Nsubuga Nsambu said there are political demands which need the input of political parties, especially those represented in parliament. In a statement on Friday, Nsambu said involving political parties was necessary since Uganda transited to a multiparty political system. He commended the government and LRA leader Joseph Kony for expressing willingness to end the war.

Museveni meet
LONDON - President Yoweri Museveni yesterday met hundreds of Ugandans in the diaspora at The Royal National Hotel. By press time, he was scheduled to address the gathering on the situation in Uganda and future prospects for the country. Present was finance minister Ezra Suruma and Kampala mayor Nasser Ntege Sebaggala.

Water boss held
LUWEERO - The district water engineer, Umaru Katongole, was on Thursday arrested on suspicion of extorting a sh50,000 bribe from residents. The district CID officer, A. Oweka, said Katongole was arrested after the Police and resident laid a trap for him. He demanded the money so that he could allocate the residents a borehole. Sixty-four boreholes are to be constructed in the on-going programme implemented by the district water department.

Immunisation
NEBBI - The district scored over 110% in the national mass measles and polio immunisation exercise. immunisation against measles stood at 111%, while that for polio was at 118%. The district health inspector, Anthony Andrionzi, attributed the success to local councillors. The councillors reportedly registered all children eligible for immunisation. He said the exercise was timely because there was a threat of polio and measles from Sudan.

Teacher held
JINJA - A primary school teacher was remanded in Kirinya Prison on Thursday over defiling an 11-year-old pupil. Nathan Mukambwe of Police Barracks Primary school is said to have defiled the girl at Rubaga preparatory school on November 8.

Food sent
LIRA - The World Food Programme has donated 160 metric tons of food to 1,298 internally displaced people living with AIDS. The food was handed over on Friday to Alice Odyek, the coordinator of COSBEL, an NGO.

Child meet
KAMPALA - Uganda is to hold the 5th annual African conference on child abuse and neglect. A member of Africa’s Network for Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect, Rebecca Nyonyintono, said the meeting would be held in March 2007.

Critics irk MP
KAYUNGA - Ntenjeru North MP Sarah Nansubuga Nyombi has advised parents to ignore critics of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme. “Most of the people who attack UPE have children in private schools. Some criticise the programme for selfish reasons,” Nansubuga told parents of St. Anthony G.J Infants P/S on Wednesday.

Lions boost
MASAKA - The Lion’s Club will operate on 350 patients suffering from eye cataract, the district club president, Ham Mungereza, has said. Speaking on Saturday during the visit of the Lions District Governor, Dr Hashim Kassim, at Zebra Hotel, Mungereza said 200 eye patients had been successfully operated on in Masaka Lions Norway Clinic.

Herbalists
JINJA - Busoga kingdom is to register traditional healers and herbalists in the region. The exercise follows a letter signed by the presidential adviser, Zimula Mugwanya, to Busoga premier Martin Musumba.

Chief jailed
LUWEERO - Bamunanika sub-county chief Charles Ddungu was on Thursday remanded in Kigo prison for issuing two cheques which bounced. Court heard that Ddungu of Lungujja issued the cheques worth sh2m each to Moses Mubanze, the manager of Mumaka Financial Investments Company.