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Jinja hospital faces four-month sickle cell drug shortage

Sickle cell patients at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital have gone about four months without hydroxyurea, a key medication used to manage the disease, forcing some patients to buy the drug themselves or go without treatment.

Hydroxyurea helps reduce painful crises and other complications in people with sickle cell disease by increasing foetal haemoglobin levels in the blood.

The concerns were raised on Monday during a visit to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital by Parliament’s Health Committee to assess the state of health services at the facility.

Dr Alfred Yayi, a Senior Executive Consultant at the hospital, said the sickle cell clinic at Nalufenya has about 1,500 registered patients, with up to 200 children attending on a busy clinic day. He said the hospital had not received hydroxyurea for about four months despite the drug being critical in managing sickle cell disease.

‘Hydroxyurea is a life-saving drug for our sickle cell clients,’ Dr Yayi said, adding that the shortage had shifted the burden to patients who must either purchase it or go without treatment.

He said patients who cannot afford the medicine risk a decline in their quality of life, while the hospital continues to engage National Medical Stores (NMS) over the supply.

Senior pharmacist at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Matthias Mayanja said the hospital requires about Shs4 billion annually to meet its medicines and supplies needs but currently operates on a budget of about Shs2.3 billion. He said the shortage had affected several medicines, including hydroxyurea, which had been out of stock for about four months.

Mr Mayanja said the hospital previously procured about 100 packs of hydroxyurea every two months using its medicines budget, but the quantity was insufficient for the number of sickle cell patients.

He said the drug was later placed under an NMS programme, meaning the hospital was no longer required to pay for it, but supplies have not been delivered consistently. He said the hospital had not received hydroxyurea in the previous two supply cycles, contributing to the prolonged stock-out.

Mr Mayanja said the hospital had contacted NMS over the shortage and was told that the medicine was not available at the time medicines were being packed for delivery.

Dr Timothy Batuwa, the Jinja South West MP and a member of Parliament’s Health Committee, said government policy requires hydroxyurea to be procured and provided free of charge at regional referral hospitals.

Dr Batuwa said the Health Committee had taken up the matter and would engage NMS management and, if necessary, the manufacturer to ensure the medicine is supplied, noting that Busoga is among the regions heavily burdened by sickle cell disease.

The committee’s deputy chairperson, Mubende MP Grania Nakazibwe, said the government should consider changing the supplier if the current arrangement cannot meet demand.

‘We cannot afford to lose patients just because the supplier whom they chose or who qualified cannot produce to their expectation,’ she said.

However, speaking to the Daily Monitor on Tuesday, NMS Principal Public Relations Officer Ms Sheila Nduhukire disputed the claim that the manufacturer had failed to supply hydroxyurea.

‘NMS has hydroxyurea in its stores, and the manufacturer has not in any way failed to supply the medicine to NMS,’ Ms Nduhukire said.

She also asked the hospital to clarify whether hydroxyurea had been included on its procurement plan.

The NMS response raises questions about whether the shortage at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital is linked to national availability, facility-level procurement planning or distribution.

Sickle cell burden

Uganda records an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 babies born with sickle cell disease each year, with nearly half reportedly dying before their fifth birthday, according to the Ministry of Health records.

In Busoga, about 5,000 children are estimated to be born with the condition annually, according to the Busoga Health Forum.

The Ministry of Health has included hydroxyurea on Uganda’s Essential Medicines List as part of efforts to improve treatment and management of sickle cell disease.

Azerbaijan to welcome astronomical autumn

The seasons will turn in the early hours of September 23, when astronomical autumn arrives in Azerbaijan at exactly 04:05:08 Baku time.

According to the Astrophysics Department of the Faculty of Physics at Baku State University (BSU), this precise moment marks the autumnal equinox – the point in the year when day and night are nearly equal in length.

At the equinox, the Sun rises almost exactly in the east and sets almost exactly in the west. Yet the two sides of the day are not perfectly balanced: atmospheric refraction and the apparent size of the Sun’s disk make daylight slightly longer than nighttime.

The equinox also marks an important point in the Sun’s annual journey across the sky. The Sun crosses the celestial equator from the Northern Hemisphere into the Southern Hemisphere, bringing the start of astronomical autumn to the Northern Hemisphere and spring to the Southern Hemisphere. From then on, days in the north gradually grow shorter while nights become longer.

The changing seasons are not caused by Earth moving closer to or farther from the Sun. Instead, they result from Earth’s yearly orbit around the Sun and the tilt of its rotational axis relative to the plane of its orbit. This tilt changes the angle at which sunlight reaches Earth’s surface throughout the year, producing the familiar cycle of seasons.

Astronomical autumn in 2026 will last 89 days, 21 hours, 45 minutes and 1 second. The season will come to an end with the winter solstice on December 22, marking the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere and astronomical summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Uber bullish on Kenya after pulling out of Uganda, Tanzania

Uber says it sees ‘strong potential’ in Kenya despite high operating and rising fuel costs in its only remaining East African market after exiting Uganda and Tanzania.

The American ride-hailing giant says Kenya remains a key market as it reviews its operations across Africa. Uber pulled out of Nigeria and Uganda last week after exiting Tanzania in January 2026.

‘Kenya remains an important market for Uber, and we continue to see strong potential for the business here,’ Uber told the Business Daily via email.

Uber entered Kenya in 2015 and is one of the leading ride-hailing platforms in the country, competing with Estonian firm Bolt, Russia’s inDrive, Rwanda’s Yego and local players Little and Faras.

But the company has faced pressure from drivers who have gone on strike and staged protests in recent years over rising operating costs, low fares and high commissions – fees Uber deducts from drivers’ earnings for every completed trip.

In 2014, the company raised its minimum fares by 10 percent in Kenya following driver strikes and protests over unsustainable earnings amid high fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.

‘We recognise that (Kenyan) drivers are facing pressures from rising fuel, maintenance, insurance and other operating costs,’ Uber said.

‘Our focus is on supporting sustainable earning opportunities and helping drivers manage their costs, while ensuring that mobility remains affordable and demand remains strong.’

Drivers in Nigeria and Uganda also raised similar concerns. In Tanzania, Uber was involved in a long-running dispute with the transport regulator, LATRA, over commission caps.

In 2022, LATRA introduced fixed guide fares per kilometre and per minute, set a minimum fare and lowered the commission ceiling from 33 percent to 15 percent.

Uber halted operations that April, terming the model unsustainable. It resumed in early 2023 after the regulator allowed commissions of up to 25 percent and restored a booking fee.

Commenting publicly for the first time on the Tanzania exit, Uber’s general manager for East Africa, Imran Manji, said regulating fares and commissions had become an ‘obstacle’ to the firm’s expansion.

‘Unfortunately, sometimes in this region we tend to put in place obstacles… if you, as a regulator, put in place price floors and price caps on the private sector, you’re killing innovation,’ Mr Manji told a forum in Nairobi.

‘Around the world, Uber is live in 10,000 cities, and only three countries cap commissions: Portugal at 25 percent, Tanzania at 25 percent and Kenya at 18 percent. We are an outlier in the wrong direction.’

He said Tanzania’s restrictions prevented the company from introducing premium ride tiers such as Comfort or Safari, which are available in markets such as Kenya.

‘You cannot even launch electric bikes because you cannot price lower, even though they are cheaper to run than petrol bikes … ultimately, it led us to exit Tanzania,’ said Mr Manji.

Kenya, however, also faces regulatory uncertainty over commissions and minimum fares. Last week, the High Court blocked enforcement of the 18 percent commission cap that Uber and its competitors charge drivers and vehicle owners.

The move marked a win for operators, who have long opposed the limit. The State introduced the cap in 2022 as part of efforts to protect drivers from high fees, down from previous rates of up to 30 percent.

The National Transport and Safety Authority currently caps ride-hailing platform commissions at 18 percent per trip, including digital service tax.

The High Court, however, found the restriction unconstitutional, saying the State had not demonstrated its necessity or proportionality through the required regulatory process. It also said the price-setting provisions lacked statutory foundation and economic justification and constituted ‘an unconstitutional deprivation of property and contractual autonomy’.

‘We will continue to engage constructively with the relevant authorities and stakeholders,’ Uber said in response to the ruling.

Nlex San Simon, Tulaoc portions fully reopened

ALL three lanes in both directions of the San Simon Interchange and Tulaoc section of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) reopened to all vehicle types at 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday, ending more than a week of flood-driven closures that had made the expressway’s Pampanga corridor a chokepoint.

With the lanes restored, the toll rebate granted to motorists on the San Fernando-Pulilan stretch was lifted at 12:01 p.m. on Wednesday, North Luzon Expressway Corp. Said in a statement.

The temporary toll exemption for provincial buses stays in force, however.

The reopening followed what the tollway operator described as ‘sustained flood mitigation and clearing work’ undertaken with its government and private sector partners.

‘These efforts helped restore all lanes in the affected sections, allowing the resumption of normal traffic operations,’ the company said.

Nlex said it is continuing flood mitigation measures at the site, including the dredging of the Tulaoc River and clearing and improvement works along the Nlex embankment, to improve water flow and help temper flooding in the area.

The rebate now being withdrawn was put in place at the direction of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) while flooding persisted. It took effect at noon on September 2 and covered both northbound and southbound passages on the San Fernando-Pulilan stretch, with credits applied to a motorist’s radio frequency identification (Rfid) account the day after the toll passage. Regular toll on the Pulilan-San Fernando route is P113 for Class 1 vehicles, P281 for Class 2 and P338 for Class 3.

The closures traced back to days of habagat, or southwest monsoon, rains that pushed the Pampanga and Tulaoc rivers over their banks, sending water onto Nlex and the parallel McArthur Highway and overwhelming the area’s ability to discharge it. Traffic backed up worst at the Tulaoc Bridge in San Simon, with the southbound queue stretching close to eight kilometers at its peak on September 1.

Earlier Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon laid out a three-part fix for the section: Blocking the inflows feeding the expressway and inspecting breaches along the Pampanga River, deepening the trench beside Nlex with the operator’s help to increase its holding capacity, and installing pumps to move water off the highway and out to the waterway.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has also been deploying sand-filled flood barriers sourced from Italy to replace the sandbags stacked along the section.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), which owns and operates Nlex, has separately committed to raise the northbound and southbound pavements at Tulaoc once the elevation of the Tulaoc Bridge is finished, a step it has framed as the permanent answer to recurring flooding on the San Simon segment.

Nlex said it will keep working with its government and private sector partners to help ensure the safety and accessibility of motorists and to support flood mitigation efforts in the area and in affected communities.

Proadprans to take over as SAT chief from Oct 1

The cabinet approved the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ proposal to appoint Proadprans Samarnmit as the governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, government deputy spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said on Tuesday.

Proadprans’ appointment is in accordance with the resolution of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) board of directors last month and will be effective from Oct 1 to March 31, 2029.

Proadprans will be the 14th SAT governor and the first woman ever chosen to lead the national sports governing body.

She will succeed Dr Gongsak Yodmani, whose second term as SAT governor will come to an end on Sept 30 after an eight-year spell in charge.

Proadprans, 57, hails from Khon Kaen. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Chulalongkorn University and a master’s degree in political science (public and private sector management) from Ramkhamhaeng University.

She joined the SAT in 1991 and rose through the ranks within the organisation, holding positions such as director of public relations (2012-2017), director of the governor’s office (2017-2021), deputy governor for strategy and information technology (2021-2022), deputy governor for sports promotion (2022-2024) and deputy governor for professional sports and boxing (2024-present).

Diseases, perinatal deaths threaten Kigezi families

In the beautiful yet challenged Kigezi region, a silent crisis of disease and perinatal deaths continues to weigh heavily on families.

Health workers and community leaders are now calling for a major shift in how healthcare is delivered, urging a move from focusing solely on diseases to embracing a more compassionate, patient-centred approach.

This call came during the 4th Kigezi Regional Annual Health Sector Joint Performance Review, held at Volcano Hotel in Rubanda District. Organised by Kabale Regional Referral Hospital together with Ministry of Health and partners, the event focused on how governance and partnerships can potentially improve patient care across the region.

Mr Henry Kunya, an epidemiologist at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, said pneumonia, road accidents and cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, stroke and hypertension are the leading causes of death in Kigezi region.

The 2025/2026 statistics show that 801 babies lost their lives around birth, an alarming number that calls for urgent action.

Mental health is also a growing concern, with hundreds of cases of alcohol abuse, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, schizophrenia and anxiety recorded.

Maternal mortality remains high, with 55 mothers dying for every 100,000 births, while perinatal deaths stand at 13 per 1,000 births.

On a positive note, more than 317,000 HIV/Aids tests were done, identifying more than 3,300 cases, all linked to life-saving treatment.

Dr Birungi, a consultant from Rubanda Community General Hospital, appealed to local governments to pass laws curbing alcohol and drug abuse, which fuel many health problems. He also urged government to provide solar power to health centres without electricity to improve service delivery.

‘We need to ensure our health workers are well-trained, especially in essential newborn care,’ he emphasised, adding that some maternal deaths result from anaesthesia errors.

Dr Gilbert Mateeka, the Kabale District Health Officer, challenged health workers to think deeply about the experiences of their patients, from the moment they walk into a health facility until they leave.

‘Client-centred care is more than medicine. It’s about timely attention, compassion, respect,’ he said.

Dr Anne Marion Namutebi of Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, observed that alcohol-related illnesses continue to dominate hospital records, driving up cases of injuries, mental illness, and preventable deaths. She called for behaviour change to save lives and reduce government spending on treatment.

Dr Gerald Mutungi, the head of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) prevention and control programme at Ministry of Health, reminded health workers to avoid absenteeism and work tirelessly to tackle the region’s high perinatal death rates.

The event awarded Kabale District for best healthcare service delivery in Kigezi, with Rubanda and Kanungu following closely behind.

Kanungu, Kisoro, Kabale, Rukungiri, Rubanda, and Rukiga, the six districts that make up Kigezi region, face significant health challenges, but with renewed focus on leadership, partnerships and patient care, there is hope for healthier future for families.

Climate shocks, rising prices deepen families’ food crisis

In previous years, consistent rainfall ensured that many parts of Uganda were covered in lush vegetation, while rivers, wells and valley dams provided water for communities and livestock.

This year, however, the picture is starkly different. The country expected rains in August, when many areas would ordinarily be green and rivers flowing. Instead, prolonged dry conditions have left water sources depleted, crops wilting and livestock struggling for food and water.

The effects are being felt across the country, from Karamoja and Teso in the north-east to Sembabule, Greater Masaka, Bugisu and West Nile.

In Karamoja, Oxfam estimates that nearly half a million people are experiencing acute hunger as climate shocks compound longstanding vulnerabilities.

Mr Francis Shanty Odokorach, the Country Director for Oxfam Uganda, said residents were not only facing food shortages but were also running out of options.

Mr Odokorach cited findings from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), indicating that only 54.1 percent of households still have food stocks, with most expected to exhaust them within a month.

‘Immediate support is crucial for families to purchase food, access safe water, and protect their livestock, which is vital for their recovery. Although the government has provided assistance, it remains insufficient to address the scale of need amid limited humanitarian funding,’ he said.

Water sources dry up

Mr Peter Adei, the chairperson of the Karamoja Council of Elders, said critical water sources relied on by the Karamojong and neighbouring Turkana communities had dried up, worsening the suffering.

The crisis has also been compounded by wildfires that have destroyed settlements in Kalapata, Kaabong and Napumpum in Kotido District.

‘The pain is much, some of these fires are caused by young children trying to force out edible rats from their hiding, before they know in their innocence, the fires get wild, leaving hundreds of households in their way completely burnt to ashes,’ Mr Adei explained.

In neighbouring Katakwi District, Mr Juventino Maruk, LC1 of Akamurei Village, Akamurei Parish, Ongongoja Sub-county, said valley tanks in Oroboi, Aumoi, Akamurei and Angolekit had completely dried up.

Food prices have also risen sharply. Mr Maruk said the price of cassava had doubled from Shs35,000 to Shs70,000 per basin at Ocorimongin cattle market.

‘The solar-powered water facilities installed to support the community have also been unable to withstand the intense heat, which has adversely affected the water table levels,’ he stated.

Mr Godfrey Omolo, the Katakwi District chairperson, said more than 250,000 gardens had been affected by the current climate shocks.

The government has since started distributing more than 50,000 tonnes of posho and beans.

Farmers spend more to save livestock

In Sembabule District, farmers have resorted to hiring mobile water tanks after valley tanks and dams dried up.

Mr Henry Basiima, a farmer in Nabitanga Sub-county, said livestock watering points had dried, leaving animals without sufficient water and pasture.

‘Farmers are compelled to pay between Shs200,000 and Shs250,000 for mobile water tanks to refill the dried valley dams on their farms. This water is insufficient to sustain the livestock, and many farmers are concerned about the future of their animals if the rains do not arrive by mid-September 2026,’ he explained.

Mr Joseph Semu Nduhura, another farmer, said he had spent nearly Shs2 million in one week hiring a mobile water tank to refill a dried-up valley dam at Ntuusi Sub-county.

‘The nearest water source for refilling mobile water tanks is approximately 18 kilometres from my farm. I incur a cost of Shs180,000 per tank to replenish the dried-up valley dam on my property. I am reluctant to drive the animals to Kakinga Dam for watering due to the considerable distance they would need to travel. Several farmers have experienced livestock losses due to starvation,’ he said.

In Kyanja B Village, Nabitanga Sub-county, farmers said hiring a mobile water tank costs between Shs250,000 and Shs300,000 because of the distance from Kakinga Dam, the only available water reservoir.

Mr Patrick Nkalubo, the Sembabule District chairperson, said several coffee gardens had withered.

‘The ongoing dry spell has severely impacted Sembabule. Numerous valley dams have dried up, forcing farmers to hire mobile water tanks to replenish them for animal watering. The situation is dire, with some farmers already losing livestock due to the drought. We have also recorded instances of withered coffee gardens,’ he said.

Drought pushes up food prices

In Jinja, the central business hub for Busoga, cattle traders and butchers say prolonged drought in cattle-producing areas is reducing both the availability and quality of livestock reaching the city.

Mr Ronald Mutabi Byalugaba, the general secretary of the Jinja City Abattoir and Traders Association, said cattle farming in Busoga had declined as many farmers shifted to sugarcane growing.

Traders now rely heavily on livestock from Ankole, Teso and Karamoja, but drought has affected several of these source areas.

‘Drought has affected us greatly. When animals lack adequate grass and water, they become weak and some die,’ Mr Mutabi said.

The price of cattle has also risen, with a 100-kilogramme animal now costing about Shs2 million, up from between Shs1.5 million and Shs1.6 million.

In Kabale District, food and fruit prices have also risen as dry conditions affect surrounding farming areas. Mr Jackson Nasiima, the chairperson of the Meat and Cattle Traders Association at Kabale Main Abattoir, said scarcity of cattle from neighbouring districts had pushed up prices.

‘The price of a kilogramme of beef has risen from Shs16,000 to Shs18,000, while goat meat has increased from Shs18,000 to Shs20,000. We remain hopeful that prices will decrease once cattle supply stabilises with the onset of rains. However, for now, scarcity is the primary driver of this price hike,’ he said.

In Bugisu, where many farmers depend on rain-fed agriculture, concerns are growing over food security and household incomes.

‘We are staring at a disaster. If rains don’t come, we will face a severe food shortage,’ Mr Amiri Manana, a resident of Bukonde in Mbale City, said.

The situation is similar in Namisindwa, Bulambuli, Sironko and Manafwa districts, where crops have been affected and livestock are struggling to find pasture and water.

Mr Amuza Wamono, a researcher based in Mbale, said the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries should scale up irrigation programmes.

‘The farmers can longer rely on rainfall and if the government cannot intervene now, we are likely to face a hunger crisis,’ he said.

In Nebbi District, farmer Santo Ogen said unreliable rains had put his one-acre bean garden at risk.

Mr Ogen said he had invested about Shs300,000 in the garden but was now worried about losing the crop.

‘I am now seeing that the leaves are turning yellow. And this is not a good sign. I pray some rain comes soon mid this month, otherwise, it will be a great loss for me after investing about Shs300,000 in the garden,’ he said.

In Arua District, farmer Grace Alia attributed the worsening situation partly to environmental degradation. She called for government subsidies to make irrigation equipment affordable.

Beekeepers count losses

The changing weather pattern has also hit beekeepers in Teso, where apiary farmers are reporting losses for the second consecutive season.

In Atiira Sub-county, Serere District, more than 100 beekeepers have failed to harvest honey during the mid-year season.

Mr David Oluka, a retired head teacher who keeps bees and grows citrus in Apokor Village, said the missed harvest had cost him an important source of income.

Under normal conditions, he said, the mid-year harvest would earn him between Shs3 million and Shs5 million, money he uses to pay fees and tuition.

Mr Ben Amodoi, proprietor of Teso Honey and related products, said the problem had persisted since last year.

Cost of drought

Shs70,000: Price of a basin of cassava in Katakwi, up from Shs35,000.

Shs2 million: Price of a 100kg animal in Jinja, up from Shs1.5m-Shs1.6m.

Shs18,000: Price of a kilogramme of beef in Kabale, up from Shs16,000.

Shs20,000: Price of a kilogramme of goat meat, up from Shs18,000.

Shs250,000-Shs300,000: Cost of hiring a mobile water tank in parts of Sembabule.

BIR allows EOEs to claim VAT refunds in the interim

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will allow export-oriented enterprises (EOEs) to claim refunds on value-added tax (VAT) passed on to them while awaiting the issuance of their VAT zero-rating certifications from the Department of Trade and Industry -Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB).

Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza issued Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 096-2026 amending the VAT refund guidelines to cover VAT paid on local purchases and imports used for qualified zero-rated sales beginning November 28, 2024, up to the date their certification was issued.

The certification, however, must be issued within the prescribed transition period ending December 31, 2025, the BIR noted.

The clarification covers exporters that were already qualified for zero-rating but had yet to receive their DTI-EMB certifications when they incurred VAT on their purchases and imports.

‘Export-oriented enterprises received their VAT zero-rating certifications on different dates during the transition period,’ Mendoza said. ‘We are clarifying how VAT incurred while these certifications were being processed should be treated so qualified export-oriented enterprises will have a clear basis for their refund claims.’

To qualify for a refund, EOEs must submit the necessary documents and show that the VAT they are claiming is directly related to their qualified zero-rated sales.

VAT that has already been reimbursed, credited, adjusted, recovered from suppliers or otherwise utilized may not be the subject of a VAT refund claim, the BIR said.

EOEs that met the 70-percent export threshold in the preceding taxable year but failed to secure the required DTI-EMB certification are likewise not entitled to a VAT refund for the immediately succeeding year, the bureau added.

Any unused input VAT may instead be carried forward to succeeding taxable quarters and used against future VAT liabilities, subject to existing tax rules.

‘Our objective is to ensure fair and consistent tax treatment for qualified export-oriented enterprises during the transition to the new zero-rating certification system,’ Mendoza said.

‘If they complied with the requirements and their certification was issued within the prescribed period, the VAT they properly incurred while waiting may be refunded in accordance with the law,’ he added.

The DTI issued Administrative Order No. 25-03 last March 2025, setting the certification guidelines for EOEs under the Create More Act. The BIR followed with RMC No. 37-2025 last April 2025, which laid out the procedures for claiming VAT refunds.

Under the earlier guidelines, EOEs could seek refunds for VAT incurred on local purchases and imports starting November 28, 2024, until the DTI-EMB began processing their zero-rating certifications.

However, the validity dates of the certifications varied during the transition period, ranging from May 14 to December 26, 2025, according to the BIR.

Abuja Court Jails 2 Over Possession Of AK-47 Rifle

An Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2 has sentenced Muhammed Sani and Usman Muhammed to one year imprisonment each for conspiracy and illegal possession of an AK-47 rifle.

Chief Magistrate I, Moriyike Osunbajo handed down the sentence after finding the defendants guilty under Section 27(1)(C) and (5) of the Firearms Act 2007.

The court sentenced the duo to six months for conspiracy and one year for illegal possession of the firearm, but ordered the sentences to run concurrently without an option of fine.

The case followed the recovery of an AK-47 rifle without a bridge number and a magazine containing 30 rounds of live ammunition during a police investigation.

During the proceedings, Sani admitted ownership of the firearm, saying he bought it to protect his cattle from suspected rustlers. He pleaded with the court for leniency, expressing concern over his two wives and seven children.

However, Usman, a provision seller, denied involvement in the purchase of the firearm. He told the court that Sani had only visited his shop to seek advice on acquiring a gun for the protection of his cattle.

The prosecution called Inspector Abiloma Shehu, attached to the Force Intelligence Department, who testified that he recognised the defendants and recovered the firearm.

Shehu also told the court that the AK-47 had deteriorated due to where it was hidden.

In her judgment, Magistrate Osunbajo said she considered the nature and circumstances of the offence before imposing the one-year sentence on each defendant.

Work progresses on $ 291 m Sahasdhanavi power project in Kerawalapitiya

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) has certified the registration of its agreement with Sahasdhanavi Ltd., paving the way for the development of a 350 MW RLNG/diesel-operable combined-cycle power plant at the Kerawalapitiya Industrial Zone.

The BOI Agreement was registered on 13 August 2026 under Section 17(2) of the BOI of Sri Lanka Law No. 4 of 1978, covering an envisaged investment of $ 291.19 million in the power generation project.

The investment comprises $ 90 million in share capital, $ 196.19 million in loan capital and $ 5 million from other sources, with funds to be deployed towards fixed assets and working capital.

The project is being developed on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis and is expected to supply electricity directly to the national grid.

It will be implemented in two phases. Phase I will comprise a gas turbine with a generating capacity of 243 MW using LNG, or 213 MW using diesel, while Phase II will add a steam turbine capable of generating 107 MW using LNG, or 105 MW using diesel.

The project is scheduled for completion within 42 months of the Agreement date.

Initially, the plant will operate on diesel, with the ability to transition to re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) once the required national infrastructure and gas supply arrangements are in place.

The transition is expected to support a cleaner fuel mix while improving the reliability of electricity supply and providing additional generation capacity as demand grows and Sri Lanka diversifies its energy mix.

The project is also expected to generate 1,147 new employment opportunities once it reaches full operational capacity. In addition, construction and subsequent operations are expected to create demand for engineering, procurement, logistics, manufacturing and other related services.

The Sahasdhanavi plant will further consolidate Kerawalapitiya as a major electricity generation hub.

Together with the 350 MW Sobadhanavi Combined Cycle Power Plant and the 300 MW Yugadhanavi Combined Cycle Power Plant, the three facilities are expected to give the area combined generation capacity of approximately 1,000 MW.

The development comes as Sri Lanka seeks to strengthen generation capacity and improve the resilience of its electricity supply while gradually moving towards greater use of natural gas and other cleaner energy sources.

The BOI said the project demonstrates continued investor interest in strategic infrastructure and the energy sector, while Sahasdhanavi Ltd., thanked stakeholders for their support in advancing the project.