Defilement hits Kibaale
KIBAALE - A total of 297 defilement cases were recorded in 2008. In the annual crime report released recently, the officer in charge of crime, Michael Ogwal, said 134 cases were taken to court, while 40 were dismissed as not detected and 123 are still under inquiry. He said in the 40 cases that were dropped either the girls were above the age of consent or the parents had withdrawn, saying they had lost interest. Ogwal said after the Police had issued medical forms, some parents used them to solicit for money from suspects.

‘New religions mar growth’
BUSHENYI - Women have been cautioned about the mushrooming religions. Enid Rubegyemera, the district vice-chairperson, said such religions had increased problems in society. She said the women were spending a lot of time on religious issues instead of engaging in productive work. Rubegyemera was meeting women groups in Mutara sub-county on Friday. She said most new religions had a hidden agenda.

School closes after storm
KABAROLE - Authorities in the district on Wednesday closed St. John’s Yerya Primary School in Kibito sub-county after the roof of its classrooms was blown off during a storm. The headmaster, Alfred Rwanyizire said: “We have closed the school until further notice.” He said nobody was injured by the storm which occurred at 10:00 pm when children and teachers were at home. The school had 1,350 pupils and is the second largest in Bunyangabu county.

UBOS gives motorcycles
KIBAALE - The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has donated two motorcycles to the production department to help in supervision of data on agriculture. The production officer, Peter Ssentayi, said: “We had a problem of supervision in the on-going agriculture census. The bikes will help to tackle real farmers’ needs.”