Princess Komuntale Makes First Public Appearance in Fort Portal

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Ruth Komuntale, the Princess of Tooro Kingdom had made her first public appearance in Fort Portal since she ended her marriage to Christopher Thomas. Komuntale showed up for Christmas mass at St. John's Cathedral together with Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru, the King of Tooro Kingdom, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa and the Tooro Kingdom Premier Dr. Steven Kaliba.

It is at the same cathedral where Komuntale tied the knot with Thomas last year at a ceremony presided over by the retired Archbishop Church of Uganda, His Grace Luke Orombi. When Dr. Kaliba introduced Komuntale, the congregation erupted in thunderous applause. Kaliba then requested Komuntale to greet the congregation, since it was her first time in Fort Portal since her marriage to Thomas ended.

Steven Kaliba, Princess Komuntale, Bishop Kisembo, King Oyo and Best Kemigisa

Komuntale stepped forward and in a speech that lasted only 11 seconds, wished the congregation Merry Christmas and thanked the people of Tooro for standing by her when her marriage ended. After the speech, they were murmurs in the congregation, an indication that they wanted to hear more from her.

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In October, Komuntale announced an end to her marriage with Thomas. Komuntale accused Thomas of being promiscuous and physically abusive. Since then she has kept a low profile after requesting the media for privacy. In his sermon, the Bishop of Rwenzori Diocese, Reuben Kisembo decried the rampant corruption which has been so rife this year. He cited the OPM scandal, the pension scam and embezzlement of funds in the local governments.

Kisembo asked the implicated leaders to use Christmas as a day to reflect and be changed persons in 2014. He also castigated local leaders in Kabarole district for doing nothing to combat HIV/AIDS, whose prevalence rate stands at 14%. He called for introduction of sex education in schools, saying it will create awareness on the dangers of the scourge.

He also called for an end to the ethnic clashes between the Bamba and Bakonzo, Bakonzo and Basongora, which have in the past two years rocked the Rwenzori region.

Expectant Mothers Share Ward With TB Patients in Karugutu

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Expectant mothers at Karugutu Health Centre III in Ntoroko district are sharing a ward with patients suffering from Tuberculosis (TB).

Karugutu Health Centre III located in Karugutu town council is a major health facility which serves residents from Nombe and Itoojo sub counties. The health centre has one general admission ward and a TB ward.

When Uganda Radio Network reporter visited the facility, they were more than 10 expectant mothers and TB patients in the same ward.

Boaz Mugabe, one of the visitor’s taking care of his pregnant wife, fears that the arrangement will expose them to TB infections.

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Faith Businge, one of the expectant mothers at the facility claims to have no option but to remain the ward because she cannot afford health costs in distant private health centers.

Benjamin Katusabe, the in charge of the health center says the lone maternity ward they had was closed because it was dilapidated. He adds that the other maternity wards are too congested to be used by the pregnant women.

In a bid to reduce on TB patients in the ward, some patients are given drugs and sent back home, while those who are in a bad state are left to share the same ward with the pregnant women, Katusabe says. There are also plans to refer them to Fort Portal and Bundibugyo referral hospitals, he adds.

However, Sam Mugulusi, the Ntoroko district TB focal person says that he has petitioned the district to remove the pregnant mothers from the TB ward. He says that some TB patients are being deprived of treatment because the ward is congested.

According to Katusabe, the health centre plans to construct more wards, but they are constrained by lack of adequate funds, since the Health Center receives 795,000 shillings per quarter from Central government which is too little for constructing new wards.

Richard Irumba, the acting Ntoroko District Health Officer says that they have written to the Ministry of Health to contribute funds for construction of the wards. 

Expectant Mothers Shun Health Vouchers

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Expectant mothers in Kabarole district are shunning the Voucher health system introduced to them by Marie Stopes health providers to increase access to health facilities.

The arrangement is designed to widen access to safe motherhood services for poor Ugandan women with quality, subsidised services. It is delivered through a voucher scheme that targets subsidies for services and by providing technical assistance to private obstetric units in underserved areas.

It’s based on research findings that indicated that women weren’t attending all recommended antenatal visits and only 17% of the women in rural areas were giving birth in health units.

A voucher entitles the holder to four antenatal care visits, delivery and one postnatal care visit in over 20 districts of south and western Uganda. Free referral is available in the event of a complication.

Marie Stopes sells vouchers to Village Health Teams (VHT) at a cost of UGX 1,000 each. The VHTs and distributors in turn sell the vouchers to pregnant women at UGX 2,000.

However in Kabarole the system isn’t being utilized. In Kichwamba Sub County, records by the Village Health team indicate that in the past five months, only six pregnant women have used the vouchers.

Ritah Komuhimbo, a resident of Karago village in Kichwamba says that the system is good, but she doesn’t think that it will solve the problem of accessing health units.

Komuhimbo questions the importance of the voucher, yet the roads in the area are in a sorry state, a reason why some expectant mothers still can’t access health units despite holding a voucher

Yet still, some health units are too congested and lack adequate facilities and personnel to attend to patients, she argues.

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In Bukuku Sub County, some mothers are ignorant about the system. Irene Kobusinge, a resident of Kyakaigo says that the district health department hasn’t done enough to sensitize mothers about the system.

Vincent Mugisa, a VHT volunteer in Bukuku Sub County also attributes the lack of interest to the influence of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). Mugisa says that the TBAs are frustrating the work of medical personnel by de-campaigning the project.

Mugisa however says that they plan to work with the TBAs, with an aim of popularizing the voucher system.

Attending ante-natal care visits and delivering at health facilities is a challenge for many pregnant women in Uganda. According to the 2011 Uganda Demographic Household Survey, only about 25% of pregnant women in Uganda make all four recommended ante-natal visits, and about56% deliver at health facilities.

Prince Saul Mpuuga: Komuntale Should Reconcile With Husband

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Prince Saul Livingstone Mpuuga, the elder brother of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, has called for reconciliation between his sister Princess Ruth Komuntale and her estranged husband Christopher Thomas.

In an interview with Uganda Radio Network in Fort Portal, Prince Mpuuga (33) said he hopes the couple can reconcile. He believes this is possible if both families are involved in talks to bring together the former couple.

Prince Saul Mpuuga

Mpuuga says it is unfortunate the Komuntale-Thomas match did not last more than 10 months yet it had been an occasion of celebration for thousands of people when they got married.

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Last month, Princess Komuntale announced an end to her marriage with Thomas. She accused Thomas of infidelity and physically abusing her.

But Mpuuga's advice may go unheeded as he confesses that he has difficulty catching the eye of King Oyo. He says he has been blocked several times from meeting his younger brother.

He has, however, had a chance to chat on social media platforms like Facebook with his sister Komuntale and she has expressed a desire to meet him.

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Prince Mpuuga is currently pursuing his studies at Nyakasura School. He will be reporting for senior 4 next year. Mpuuga decided to go back to school 14 years after he had dropped out. He returned to school in 2011.

Going back to school has been a challenging experience for the prince who until last year was largely unknown to the public.

Prince Mpuuga rose to prominence late last year when he revealed that he was the elder son of the late Omukama Patrick Olimi Kaboyo II. Mpuuga said that his late mother, Joyce Rubuga met Kaboyo in the King’s palace where she worked as a maid. He was later officially recognized by the Kingdom and royal family at the home of Professor Edward Rugumayo in Fort Portal town.

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On the King’s recent graduation in the United Kingdom, Mpuuga says that it will inspire school dropouts to return to school.

Mpuuga also says that he is happy that King Oyo has started making personal decisions and involving the youths in kingdom activities. He however says that the King needs more support from the subjects and even Kingdom administration.

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UNESCO Inscribes Empaako Tradition

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The Empaako tradition has been inscribed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO as an intangible heritage in need of safeguarding.

Empaako is a naming system practised by the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi communities in western uganda.  In the tradition, children are given one of twelve names shared across the communities in addition to their given and family names. Addressing a person by her or his Empaako name is a positive affirmation of social ties. It can be used as a greeting or a declaration of affection, respect, honour or love.

The tradition was inscribed by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage during the UNESCO conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday.

According to information obtained by Uganda Radio Network, the Empaako traditional was the only element from Africa. The other element that was inscribed was the Mongolian Calligraphy, which is the technique of handwriting in the Classical Mongolian script, which comprises 90 letters connected vertically by continuous strokes to create words.

The inscription of the Empaako tradition now means that UNECSO will provide financial support to implement the programme of safe guarding the tradition like mass sensitization. UNECSO will also help promote and popularize the tradition through its systems internationally.

The need to recognize the Empaako tradition was initiated in 2011 by Engabu Za Tooro (EZT), a cultural organization in the Rwenzori region.  The organization was accredited by UNESCO during the 2003 convention on intangible cultural heritage.

 This follows a research carried out by the organization which indicated that the tradition was under threat from groups like cults especially the Bisaka cult, which has a large following in Kyejonjo District. The cult prohibits its believers from greeting using the pet name, which they associate with the demi- gods.

The inscription of Empaako comes after several views were collected from district councils, and clans in areas where the pet names exist. The views were then presented to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, who then forwarded them to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.

According to UNESCO, it was established that Use of Empaako can defuse tension or anger and sends a strong message about social identity and unity, peace and reconciliation.

But The transmission of Empaako through naming rituals has dropped dramatically due to a general decline in appreciation of traditional culture and the diminishing use of the language associated with the element.

Steven Rwagweri, the Executive Director, Engabu Za Tooro, who was present at the inscription ceremony, told Uganda Radio Network in a telephone interview that the misconceptions about the empaako tradition will be fought since the tradition has been recognized by UNECSO.

Rev. Richard Baguma, a regent in Tooro Kingdom says that since the tradition has been recognized, there should be a cultural policy passed and the pet name be attached to official names and also revive the ritual of giving a pet name when a child is born.

Amakondere Dance at Verge of Extinction

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The Trumpeters

The Amakondere dance, which is meant to entertain the Kings of Tooro and Bunyoro Kingdoms, is at the verge of extinction. The dance can also be performed in the absence of the King with permission. A horn-shaped wooden trumpet is the main instrument used for Amakondere.

The cylinder like trumpets, are built in different shapes and sizes, which are played alongside drums local known as empango. The Amakondere involves dancing in twos, side by side. The dancers alternately lift one foot in forward motion. Amakondere is associated with jubilation. Dancing to the Amakondere is locally known as Okuguruka Amakondere.

To produce melody from the trumpets, the Abakondere (trumpeters) draw breath from the depth of their lungs and press their lips hard on the wood. Their costumes consist of bark-cloth fastened over the right hand shoulder. However, this dance that is revered in the Kingdom is at the verge of extinction because of lack of experienced trumpeters.

Experienced trumpeters have either died or retired due to old age and have never been replaced. The number of trumpeters is also inadequate. They are supposed to be more than twenty; however the number has dropped to less than ten.  The trumpeters also look shabby because of lack proper costumes. 69-year-old Francis Kajura, who has been a trumpeter for more than 10 years says that the current crop of trumpeters is inexperienced, which explains why the melody produced is not good.

He says some of the trumpeters haven’t gone through training, which is a prerequisite. According to Kajura, failure by the Kingdom to motivate the trumpeters explains why they have lost interest in the dance. Kajura says that in the past, the King used to give the trumpeters presents like cattle and pieces of land to motivate them because blowing the Amakondere is strenuous.

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Benjamin Busobozi, a trumpeter says that whenever there are kingdom functions like the King’s birthday and coronation anniversary they are never facilitated. He says that sometimes they perform without a meal and also meet their own transport costs.  Rev. Richard Baguma, Tooro Kingdom regent says Amankondere dance is a sign of respect that is deeply rooted in the Bunyoro-Toro way of life insisting that there is need to safe guard it.

Baguma blames the Babito clan for neglecting the dance. He says he feels embarrassed when the King is visiting some parts of the Kingdom and there are no trumpeters to welcome or entertain him and his guests. He says some of the trumpeters who perform at functions like the coronation anniversary are inexperienced and should be trained adequately.

Charles Kamuarsi, the head of the Babiito clan in Toro Kingdom admits that the dance isn’t popular as it was in the past. Kamurasi, says the Kingdom is doing all it can to revive the dance to its former glory. He says they will provide special budget for the trumpeters in the next year. The

Kichwamba Residents Demand Funds For Road Repairs

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Residents of Kichwamba Sub County are protesting the failure by Kabarole district local government to remit money levied on Pozzolana truck drivers.

Pozzolana is a fine, sandy volcanic ash, which can form compounds possessing cement-like properties. It can be used for making concrete structures or combined with other elements to fortify cement. In Uganda pozzolanic deposits occur in the Rwenzori region and in Kisoro district. In Kabarole, Pozzolana is mainly mined in Kichwamba in the parishes of Bwanika and Nyantabooma. The miners sell the material to construction companies, individual builders and Hima cement factory.

The residents now complain that the roads in the area have been damaged by the heavy trucks which collect the mineral from the mines and have never been repaired, even when the truck drivers are paying money to the district.

Records seen by Uganda Radio Network indicate there are more than 70 trucks which ferry pozzolana from the mines. Each financial year the truck drivers through their association pay 80 million shillings to the district, which it remits to the sub county to rehabilitate the roads that have been damaged.

However in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 financial year, no funds have been remitted to the sub county, which has angered residents.

Moses Baguma, a resident of Bwanika parish, says the roads are impassable especially during the rainy season, which has hindered the residents from accessing markets and health facilities. Baguma says sometimes traders and children are forced to find alternative routes to markets and schools.

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Charles Businge, the Kichwamba Local Council 3 chairperson, says that the district has never remitted the money to the sub county. Businge says that on rainy days the truck drivers continue to use the road and can’t be stopped since they have receipts indicating that they pay to the district.

Businge says each financial year, the sub county is allocated 12 million shillings for road repairs, which isn’t adequate and yet the funds from the truck drivers, if released, would go a long way in maintaining the roads in the sub county.

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However, Moses Ikagobya, the district secretary for works, says the truck drivers defaulted and have never remitted the money to the district. Ikagobya says they demand more than 160 million shillings from the truck drivers. Asked why they are allowed to operate and yet they have defaulted, Ikagobya says the district opened a case at Fort Portal police station against the truck drivers.

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But a source at Fort Portal police station who handled the case says the file was closed after the drivers paid the money.

Ikagobya, however, insists that the truck drivers still owe the district money.