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#COVID-19: NRM donates Shs380m

By
Trevor S Baleke
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The ruling party, National Resistance Movement (NRM) has this Sunday afternoon donated Shs380 million towards the fight against #COVID -19.

The donation was presented to the Chairman of the National Task Force Dr. Ruhankana Rugunda by the party 1st National Vice Chairperson Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo during the brief function held at the Office of the Prime Minister and witnessed by the Secretary General, Justine Kasule Lumumba and the National Treasurer, Rose Namayanja Nsereko.

Kigongo reminded Ugandans to respect and observe the fatherly guidance from President Yoweri Museveni on how to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus without questions. He commended the National Task Force for the commitment on duty, so far exhibited.

Rugunda lauded NRM for setting a good example and called upon other members of the IPOD to emulate them.

“I salute the National Chairman and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the entire leadership of NRM for demonstrating their commitment towards serving the people of Uganda”, Rugunda remarked.

 

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No death as police investigate collapse of a gate at sudhir site

By
Our Reporter
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The collapsed main gate

Police has commenced investigations into the collapse of the main gate which was under construction at a yet to be constructed site by city tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia.

Entebbe District Police Commander (DPC) Michael Kasigire said they are investigating what had led to the collapse of the main gate.

Kasigire however said there are those construction workers who had got injuries but were receiving treatment at Entebbe hospital and other medical facilities in Entebbe.

“Initial investigations reveal no death and serious injury but there is no cause for alarm as some people had alleged that people had died”.

Sudhir under his Meera Investment Limited is in a pipeline of constructing a Shs36 billion hotel at the former Ssese Gateway beach.

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Don’t expect to remain immune when you are being used in political schemes- Gen. Muntu warns Judiciary

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Gen. Muntu

 

 

The National Coordinator for Alliance for National Transformation Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu has warned the judiciary should feel ashamed that it has been dragged into such political schemes from which it is expected to be immune.

Gen. Muntu in a missive posted on his social media, he says the judiciary set a wrong precedent when Justice Wilson Kwesiga ruled that for former Security Minister, Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde to get bail, he should present army sureties of his rank or above his rank with permission from the Chief of Defence Forces.

“I hope and pray that the judiciary corrects this absurd precedent before it becomes a permanent stain on the institution whose very legitimacy is dependent on the idea that justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done. Even in the army, this is not a legal requirement, but an established practice based on logic that an officer of a lower rank (standing surety) would not be able to compel an officer senior to him/her to adhere to court summons. It is therefore, only useful as a practice within military setting. It has no standing in the civilian courts more so in regard to retired military officers” Gen. Muntu wrote.

 

Below is the statement

 

The requirement that one gets officers of his/her rank or high to stand as surety for him or her is only applicable when: (a) One is a serving officer and (b) In the army courts.

Even in the army, this is not a legal requirement, but an established practice based on logic that an officer of a lower rank (standing surety) would not be able to compel an officer senior to him/her to adhere to court summons. It is therefore, only useful as a practice within military setting. It has no standing in the civilian courts more so in regard to retired military officers.

Even more absurd, was the court’s ruling that on top his rank or higher the said sureties should attach letters of introduction from the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). This is not even applicable within UPDF. It is neither in the army Act nor a practice that an officer to stand surety for another needs the permission of the CDF.

That the High Court set this requirement for Lt. Gen. (Rtd Henry Tumukunde is a matter that goes well beyond this particular case. Left unchallenged, this legal precedent will potentially affect all those who have served in uniform whether retired or not. Their service to the nation will keep hanging over them like a threat leaving them with the sense that the powers that be can choose to oppress you even in retirement on account of your time in uniform.

Serving your country is one of the highest honours one can hope for. For many men and women in uniform, it comes with putting one’s life on the line for the good of the national literally and severally. And while this should never be used as a basis for living above the law by those who have served, neither should it be used to hold them ransom. No one should make those of us who have served feel as if it was hold them ransom. No one should make those of us who served feel it was a crime to do so by making it impossible for us to enjoy our civil rights in retirement. While it may be targeted towards one, it affects all of us. It not only reflects an incredulously pettiness with which a serious legal right to bail is being handled but it is also mean-spirited.

The judiciary should feel ashamed that it has been dragged into such political schemes from which it is expected to be immune.

For the officer whose name was not mentioned who refused to respond to bail summons, the court should issue orders for his/her arrest so that it ceases to be used as an excuse to victimize others who are law abiding.

I hope and pray that the judiciary corrects this absurd precedent before it becomes a permanent stain on the institution whose very legitimacy is dependent on the idea that justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done.

 

Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu

National Coordinator

Alliance for National Transformation

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#COVID-19: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation commit more assistance to Africa 

By
Our Reporter
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Bill and Melinda Gate

 

 

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced that it is working with Africa Centre for Disease Controls to strengthen capacity and research in the wake of #COVID-19

In a statement sent to Eagle Online, the foundation says given the weak health systems across Africa, there is need to build capacity among those systems so as to help in the fight against infectious diseases.

“We’ve also assisted in scaling up local disease surveillance and testing in the past several weeks. At the start of the year, for instance, only two countries in sub-Saharan Africa had the ability to test for #COVID-19. In early February, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started training health workers for how to test for the virus. Our organization was very proud to support that work, and now 40 of 54 African nations have the capacity to analyze #COVID tests”.

 

Below is the statement

 

Our Approach to #COVID-19 in Africa

Since the virus emerged late last year, #COVID-19 has largely been a disease of the Global North. Its worst and deadliest effects have been felt in Europe, East Asia, and North America. But that is likely to change. As the pandemic reaches its peak and begins to slow in these places, epidemiological models suggest it will accelerate in developing nations—including those in sub-Saharan Africa.

There is much we still don’t know about #COVID-19, but we can be sure of this: the African experience with the disease will be different than anything we’ve seen so far.

The continent’s health systems are less well-equipped than others, for instance. Data suggest that even a single Manhattan hospital has more intensive care beds than most African countries.

When I joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation last year as its Africa Director, I never imagined that the continent would be dealing with a situation of this magnitude, and I salute the continent’s leaders for adopting measures to prevent the virus’ rapid spread amongst their populations.

I also stand ready to help. The entire Gates Foundation does. And, in fact, we are already working with our African partners to accomplish four goals during this pandemic:

protect the most vulnerable; accelerate detection and containment of the virus; develop treatments and a vaccine; and minimize societal and economic impact.

That’s how we think of our work inside the foundation – as being divided among those four categories – but the easiest way to understand what we’re doing might be just to split our work into two rough areas: the immediate response, and longer-term efforts.

The first area is where the bulk of our work has been focused since the outbreak. We’ve helped stand up Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), for example, and have been working with partners like the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa.

We know physical distancing measures are necessary to slow the spread of #COVID-19, but we also know that those distancing measures – as they were applied in the United States and Western Europe – might not work in the African context. Many more people on the continent face a terrible choice – stay home or feed their children. We know that genuine community engagement might help overcome this obstacle, and we’re working with our partners to support the effort.

We’ve also assisted in scaling up local disease surveillance and testing in the past several weeks. At the start of the year, for instance, only two countries in sub-Saharan Africa had the ability to test for #COVID-19. In early February, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started training health workers for how to test for the virus. Our organization was very proud to support that work, and now 40 of 54 African nations have the capacity to analyze #COVID tests.

These steps are vitally important but even as we work to tackle this emergency, we are also taking a longer-term view. Starting this week, the foundation is devoting some resources to answer questions like: How will we make sure the pandemic doesn’t erase the progress that the continent has made fighting poverty and other diseases? And what can Africa do to emerge from this crisis better prepared for others in the future?

No one has all the answers to these questions yet. But our partners do have some. The 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, for example, taught us that during an epidemic most deaths aren’t caused by the infectious disease itself but by lapses in routine care. Children die because they don’t receive the standard immunizations, and people of all ages suffer because they don’t get medicines for diseases like HIV, malaria, or TB. So, now we’re supporting ways to ensure that care continues even in the midst of the #COVID-19 crisis.

We’re also investing in long-term R&D like the efforts of national laboratory services to validate new testing methods. This will help us detect novel diseases down the road.

Ultimately, the short-term and long-term components of our strategy go hand-in-hand, and elements of an emergency response can be useful long after the crisis has passed. For example, we’re working very hard to help stabilize the market for medical supplies that #COVID-19 patients need like oxygen. In the future, those same oxygen systems will also save the lives of newborns and other people who need them.

Expanded testing capacity for #COVID-19 can be applied to fight other diseases too, and our foundation is working with the Africa CDC, as well as other regional centers and national public health institutes, to strengthen that infrastructure.

The private sector has also quickly mobilized to fight this virus, and the capabilities they’re developing will help later too. Many companies are figuring out new ways to finance and distribute food and drugs. Others are innovating in the health space, making advances in telemedicine. This work will bear fruit now, as well as later, and our foundation is committed to continuing our work with the private sector.

In the end, our approach to fighting #COVID-19 in Africa is the same as our approach to the all the foundation’s past work there: it’s about reducing inequality.

Pandemics have a way of magnifying inequalities. Look at gender, for instance. Women account for the majority of the health care workforce which means they’re more exposed to the disease. At the same time, less attention is usually paid to their health, and areas like family planning and maternal care are typically the first to be cut during an economic downturn, meaning that women and girls who manage to navigate #COVID-19 and its financial consequences may still face restrictions to basic care.

There are also inequalities between nations, not just within them. We’re seeing these inequalities play out now in international bidding wars for PPE. Often, a shipment of masks or ventilators is going to whomever can pay the most. This should not happen. We must make sure that all supplies – especially an eventual #COVID-19 vaccine – go to the areas of greatest medical need, and not the ones of greatest economic power. (We’re fortunate that there are organizations like Gavi, which has 20 years of experience making sure that children in low-income communities get new vaccines at the same time children in high-income countries do.)

Our partners and frontline workers across the African continent are performing extraordinary feats, but a global pandemic requires a global response, and the responsibility for action must rest with us all.

This pandemic has shown what our partners in Africa have always known: our global health is only as strong as our most vulnerable community. We can defeat this virus, but it will require us to fight it fairly. Not just with the needs of the most powerful in mind, but with the needs of all people, especially those in Africa.

Cheikh Oumar Seydi is the Africa Director for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Expands Commitment to Global COVID-19 Response,

Calls for International Collaboration to Protect People Everywhere from the Virus

Additional funding brings foundation commitment to more than

$250 million to support development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines; help strengthen African and South Asian health systems; and help mitigate the social and economic impacts of the virus

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced an expansion of its funding for the global response to COVID-19. The increase includes an additional $150 million of grant funding plus a commitment to leverage the resources of the foundation’s Strategic Investment Fund, which could be deployed to catalyze the rapid procurement of essential medical supplies and help life sciences companies secure financing to produce COVID-19 products. In announcing the funding, the foundation called on world leaders to unite in a global response to COVID-19 to ensure equitable access to diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines.

“It is increasingly clear that the world’s response to this pandemic will not be effective unless it is also equitable,” said Gates Foundation co-chair Melinda Gates. “We have a responsibility to meet this global crisis with global solidarity. In addition to contributing to the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, these funds will support efforts against COVID-19 in low-and-middle-income countries, where local leaders and healthcare workers are doing heroic work to protect vulnerable communities and slow the spread of the disease.”

The foundation’s new $150 million commitment will fund the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, as well as new efforts to provide partners in Africa and South Asia with resources to scale their COVID-19 detection, treatment, and isolation efforts.

The foundation will also leverage a portion of its $2.5 billion Strategic Investment Fund, which uses a suite of financial tools to address market failures and incentivize private enterprise to develop affordable and accessible health products. These funds, which can include equity investments, loans, and volume guarantees, will be used to help health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facilitate the rapid procurement of personal protective equipment for health care workers, COVID-19 diagnostics, oxygen therapeutics, and other essential medical supplies. Any financial returns generated by the Strategic Investment Fund are re-invested in Gates Foundation philanthropic programs.

The funding announced today builds on the $100 million the foundation has committed to date to support the global response, as well as $5 million in resources to support public health agencies and frontline response organizations in the greater Seattle region. Initial foundation funding has helped to kick-start the search for COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines; enhanced virus detection capacity in Africa; and contributed to the response in China. The foundation has also directed its programmatic technical expertise to support multilateral, national, and sub-national responses to the pandemic.

“COVID-19 doesn’t obey border laws. Even if most countries succeed in slowing the disease over the next few months, the virus could return if the pandemic remains severe enough elsewhere,” said foundation co-chair Bill Gates. “The world community must understand that so long as COVID-19 is somewhere, we need to act as if it were everywhere. Beating this pandemic will require an unprecedented level of international funding and cooperation.”

While there is not yet global consensus on the total resources required to turn back COVID-19, the figure is more than any one contributor will bear. A coordinated, international effort bringing together all sectors will be required to mobilize the billions in funding needed in the months ahead. Institutions such as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance are in place to coordinate the development and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, but they require an influx of new resources to do so. Other organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), national governments, and private companies will need to be involved in funding the at-risk manufacturing of vaccine candidates and deciding how to ensure equitable access to essential products for populations worldwide.

“This pandemic has unleashed an extraordinary philanthropic response. While significant, it is still only one small part of what must be a coordinated effort to beat this global crisis,” said foundation CEO Mark Suzman. “Philanthropy cannot—and should not—supplant the public and private sectors. What philanthropy is good at is testing out ideas that might not otherwise get tried, so governments and businesses can then take on the successful ones. With all sectors working together, we can avoid the worst-case scenarios of human, economic, and social costs.”

In announcing its new $150 million commitment, the foundation identified four priority areas for investment:

Accelerating Virus Detection

The foundation will provide partners in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia with funding to scale their COVID-19 detection, treatment, and isolation efforts. In some countries, this will include leveraging emergency operations centers normally deployed to support polio eradication and malaria elimination efforts toward COVID-19 detection.

Protecting the Most Vulnerable 

Foundation funding will help partners in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia pilot different approaches to physical distancing and infection suppression in settings where stay-at-home policies and other physical distancing strategies may not be practical. The goal will be to identify infection suppression strategies that can be effectively sustained over time with minimal social and economic disruption. A key focus will be building on lessons learned from two decades of experience in implementing infectious disease prevention programs, specifically the importance of community-designed and community-led engagement efforts.

The foundation is also considering gender equality issues in its response, and it will support research into the differential health, economic, and social impacts of the pandemic on women and girls in LMICs. This will help to inform the foundation’s short-, medium-, and long-term policy response to the pandemic and global policy responses. This effort will build on the foundation’s existing work to improve gender data by designing and implementing gender-specific metrics and surveys to capture data that reflects the experiences of women and girls.

Minimizing Social and Economic Impact  

The foundation will provide non-medical funding to help LMICs strengthen social and economic support for people who are living in extreme poverty or who are at risk of falling back into extreme poverty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia together account for 85 percent of the 629 million people around the world who live on less than $1.90 per day, and past pandemics have had a disproportionate impact on people who cannot afford adequate nutrition, safe sanitation, and quality housing. People living in extreme poverty are also less likely to be able to practice physical distancing because they cannot afford to stop working.

The foundation will work with partners to help expand access to social payment systems to communities that are most at risk of serious social and economic disruption due to public health measures undertaken to suppress COVID-19 transmission.

Develop Products for a Sustained Response

The foundation will continue to invest in efforts to accelerate the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for the COVID-19 response while working with governments, the private sector, and multilateral institutions to ensure scaled manufacturing and the equitable procurement and distribution of these products as they become available.

This work will include efforts to develop affordable and accessible point-of-care diagnostics, as well as support for the development of treatments and vaccines whose production can be quickly scaled once clinical trials have demonstrated their safety and efficacy. The foundation has committed to working with governments, CEPI, and the private sector to help provide financing for the at-risk enhancement of vaccine manufacturing capacity. This will allow the production of vaccine candidates so that global vaccine supply can be quickly scaled once clinical trial results are available.

The foundation will work with national governments and international organizations such as the WHO; UNICEF; Gavi; and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to ensure that LMICs have equitable access to essential commodities and to ensure that supply and distribution chains are well prepared to facilitate their rapid and widespread delivery to Gavi- and Global Fund-eligible countries.

Detailed summaries of previous commitments can be found at https://www.gatesfoundation.org/media-center/press-releases.

For more on the foundation’s response to COVID-19, please see this post by Mark Suzman on The Optimist.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Strategic Investment Fund

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) aims to stimulate private sector-driven innovation, encourage market-driven efficiencies, and attract external capital to priority global health and development initiatives that improve the health and wellbeing of underserved people around the world. These investments can take the form of equity investments, loans, and volume guarantees to both for-profit and not-for-profit partners. Since 2009, the SIF team has made more than 80 investments through its mandate to leverage the foundation’s technical and investment expertise to make markets work for the poor. Any financial returns generated by the Strategic Investment Fund are re-invested in Gates Foundation philanthropic programs.

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COVID-19: Lock down delays Kyambogo ongoing capital development works

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Artistic impression of Kyambogo University Main gate.

The Work at Kyambogo University which was expected to be complete by the end of May, may take long due to COVID-19 lock down.

Kyambogo University planned for capital projects for fiscal year 2019-2020 amounting to Shs6,722,845,106 which was expected to be completed by end of May 2020.

According Eng. Patrick Kalule, the University Engineer, the project includes rehabilitation and upgrading of fisher road to standard bituminous paved surface which is approximately 1.08 kilometer stretching West end Entry gate to East End gate.

“This will have some sections with dual carriage and others will be single carriage. Its estimated to cost Shs3.18 billion.” Eng.Kalule said.

He says that the contractor is MUGA Services Limited and the contract signing was on the March 27, 2020, and works are estimated to take two months to be completed.

He also noted that It will be 7 meters wide with walkways, covered drains, open drains and street lights. The design and supervising consultant is UB Consulting Engineers.

Eng. Kalule said there will be also the construction of state of the art entrance gate at west end campus. And that the project is estimated to cost Shs410 million.

“The contractor is Carl Investments Limited and the project duration is expected to be two months from date of contract signing dated March 27, 2020. The Gate comprises of security office with toilets and a control room that will encamps systems for gate barriers. The design consultant is Kyambogo University Main gate artistic impression.. said Eng. Kalule.

The university further is working on improving drainage system of East end football pitch and that the project whose total cost will be Shs470 million and works is expected to be complete within three months from contract signing of March 13, 2020.

The works involves leveling the pitch to attain a standard gradients of football pitch that allows for proper drainage.

According to the designs, the pitch will contain a permeable layer on which approved grass will be planted and the project will include an athlete truck of 8 lanes with drainage systems and the contractor is Amber Construction Company.

The project involves renovation of special needs faculty and that the project involves roof works in order to stop the leakages, painting works, and replacement of asbestos sheets along the corridor.

The project cost is Shs180 million and is estimated to take two months. The Signing of contract was on the March 14, 2020 and the contractor is Omega Construction Company and work done is at currently 50 per cent.

Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Prof. Elly Katunguka Rwakishaya credited for the development.

There is also re-roofing of central stores project which is now standing at 95 per cent  complete. The project involved the removal of asbestos sheets, fixing iron sheets, internal painting and construction of splash apron. The project cost is approximately Shs94 million and the contractor is Principle Engineering Contractors Limited.

Main building, East library and West end library plumbing works where improved by changing the plumbing supply pipes, installation of new sanity appliances, fixing doors. These works involved supply of materials and labor supervision refurbishment and completion.

However, according to Reuben Twinomujuni, the Senior Public Relations Officer Kyambogo University the #COVID-19 lockdown there has been slow works by the contractors.

Twinomujuni further says if it was not this delay, the project would be complete by the end of May, as it was planned.

 

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Greedy MPs insist ‘we don’t care’ we need money to supervise #COVID-19

By
Our Reporter
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Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga

The under firm greedy Members of Parliament have insisted that they need each Shs20 million to monitor fund released by government to curb Coronavirus.

Through a press release, the MPs say they must be given money in order to monitor and play their oversight role.

“It is important to note, at this point, that the Constitution of Uganda, under Article 164(3) gives Parliament the mandate to oversee/monitor expenditure of all public funds. As such after the approval of the Supplementary of Shs304 billion, it was only automatic that oversight is provided because the large amount of funds are to be expended in a short span of time”.

This comes after Speaker Rebecca Kadaga banned legislators from debating the matter in the media.

Below is the statement 

THE OVERSIGHT ROLE OF PARLIAMENT DURING THE #COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The public at large, through the media and other avenues, is up in arms over media reports that the Parliamentary Commission was allocated Shs10 billion during the disbursement of supplementary funds intended to facilitate the fight against #Covid-19 in Uganda.
The Supplementary budget, which was passed by Parliament last week, was intended to facilitate different organs of Government (publicly funded entities) to provide emergency response services to the pandemic.

Parliament, from the onset, came out strongly to participate in the fight against #Covid-19, through first of all, taking precautionary measures as an institution; providing a fleet of official vehicles with drivers to the Ministry of Health to transport health workers all over the country; highlighting, debating and adopting a well prepared report on the impact of #Covid-19 on the Economy; nominating Members of Parliament to serve on the National Task Force on #Covid-19 and provision of private vehicles (ambulances) by some Members of Parliament to the Ministry of Health at their
own cost.

Mid last month, after Government raised the red flag on the #Covid-19 pandemic, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, named a Parliament Technical Taskforce on #Covid-19, comprising of Members of Parliament to support the National taskforce, and provide oversight to the management of the pandemic countrywide. This is necessary, given the substantial amount of public funds allocated in the Supplementary.

It is important to note, at this point, that the Constitution of Uganda, under Article 164(3) gives Parliament the mandate to oversee/monitor expenditure of all public funds. As such after the approval of the Supplementary of Shs304 billion, it was only automatic that oversight is provided because the large amount of funds are to be expended in a short span of time.

It is a fallacy, therefore, to state that Parliament must wait until an exercise has been completed before they can conduct their oversight mandate. Otherwise, this would mean closing Parliament until July or some other time at the end of the financial year or even only after the Auditor General has done his work. Parliamentary oversight is continuous.

The Parliament Technical Task Force on #Covid-19, has in the course of its work, visited and assessed the readiness of health facilities to manage #Covid-19. Additionally, during the visits, it has assessed awareness levels of the district leadership and communities about #Covid-19; interacted with different teams in the areas they have visited to sort out underlying issues which may affect managing health crises; assessed the impact of funds allocated to different districts to the needs
on the ground, and assessed the readiness of health facilities to ably handle cases of other longstanding and pre-existing health conditions which are not necessarily Covid-19.

The Parliament #Covid-19 Technical Taskforce will also assess the state and welfare of the medical workers as they deliver the essential services and ensure that all medical workers across the country are catered for in as far as Personal Protective Equipment goes.
To date, the Committee has already been to Busia, Malaba, Kabale, Ntungamo, Mbarara, Jinja and Tororo. The Committee is expected to give regular reports to Parliament about the assessment visits. The Parliament Technical Taskforce will obviously not be able to visit all areas, but will rely on their colleagues to gather information on what is happening on the ground.

Lastly, about 200 Members of Parliament voluntarily offered their private ambulances, to be used by the Ministry of Health to transport patients and health workers to different health facilities around the country during the #Covid-19 crisis. The Speaker of Parliament has widely spoken about this matter.

It should be noted that this is not the first time in which special circumstances dictate that MPs are facilitated to intervene in circumstances, given their mandate. In the past such facilitation has been given. This is not new, and should not be politicised.
It is no open secret that MPs are the first point of call before any government interventions are implemented in constituencies. Members of Parliament are under so much pressure to deliver and need to respond to issues raised in their constituencies before government reaches them, and is exactly what is happening with the #Covid-19 pandemic. The interventions being handled by Members of Parliament go way beyond the Shs20 million that has been deliberately misunderstood.

Lastly, for Parliament to sit and conduct business under the current circumstances is a service to ensure that the country functions. Demonising Parliament and its Members of Parliament will not solve the issues at hand now. However, standing together as a country to fight #Covid-19 will.

 

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#COVID19: ChildFund Uganda releases Shs1.4B to 29,000 households

By
Geoffery Serugo
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ChildFund International (JPG Web-MSOffice)
ChildFund Uganda has disbursed funds worth Shs1.4 billion to nine local partners to implement cash transfers to 29,000 enrolled households.
The funds are peddeld at empowering people during the outbreak of #COVID 19. Currently Uganda has 55 confirmed cases of #COVID19.  So far 12 patients have been discharged after being diagnosed with COVID19
The Country Office decided to reprogram its available funds to respond to the emerging needs of vulnerable enrolled households in the communities it serves in
the 28 districts in the country.
The transfers will be made through mobile money, banking and other appropriate platforms available to families to access the cash.
Rural households will receive Shs50,000 while urban households will receive up to Shs100,000.
This contribution to vulnerable households is intended to enable families access immediate hygiene kits including hand washing facilities, as well as meet the basic
needs in the households.
ChildFund has also been supporting awareness efforts on prevention and control of #COVID19 through messages aired on different media platforms across the country.
“The endeavors are part of our response to complement the government of Uganda actions in responding to #COVID19 including supporting the most vulnerable families.” ChildFund Uganda Country Director Moses Otai said.
ChildFund continues to monitor the situation and will make additional response mechanisms as the situation evolves, he added
“This pandemic requires a concerted response and cooperation from all stakeholders,
every preventive, control and mitigation measure is valuable, and every person and entity can make a difference to stop the spread of this virus and protect our children and communities.” Otai said.
In addition to national partners, ChildFund will continue to work closely with the nine local implementing partners: Acholi Child and Family Program in Gulu, Masindi Child Development Federation in Masindi, Lango Child and Community Development Federation in Lango, Community Efforts for Child Empowerment in Kiboga, Kampala Area Federation of Communities in Kampala, Jinja Area Communities Federation in Jinja, Partners for Children Worldwide in Soroti, Mbale Area Federation of Communities in Mbale and Busia Area Communities Federation in Busia.
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Absa Bank Uganda introduces COVID-19 customer payment relief

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Mumba Kalifungwa
As Uganda and the rest of the world confront the public health, financial and economic implications of the #COVID-19 pandemic, Absa Bank Uganda is rolling out an extensive payment relief programme for eligible customers that have been directly or indirectly impacted.
Under the programme, customers in sectors that have been directly or indirectly affected by the disruption presented by #COVID-19 will be offered payment relief to ease their financial burden.
“While we appreciate the measures put in place globally to curb the spread of this pandemic, we are also cognizant of the effects they have had on individuals and the business community. Currently, some of the sectors that have been adversely impacted include hotels and restaurants, tourism and hospitality, wholesale and retail trade, transport and logistics, among others. In light of this, we are therefore aware that some of our customers will experience difficulty meeting their financial obligations and we have introduced a comprehensive customer, business and corporate relief programme to help them navigate this difficult time,” said Mumba Kalifungwa, Managing Director of Absa Bank Uganda.
Customers will be offered payment holidays of up to six months, with needs being determined on a case-by-case basis and solutions tailored on individual circumstances; through proactive engagement with our customers.
“Support for corporate and business banking clients will entail solutions based on their unique requirements and operations. Businesses and corporates are encouraged to contact their relationship managers for further details,” Mr Kalifungwa added.
In the case of salaried customers, the bank will proactively engage with the employers through the Relationship Managers or directly to determine the support to be offered.
These measures will be implemented with immediate effect. Additionally, eligible customers who are in need of relief can apply and qualify at no additional administration fees.
Mr Kalifungwa said “The unprecedented nature of the pandemic means that we are all adapting to the situation as it changes. We reiterate our commitment to our customers and to Uganda to ensure that our livelihoods are secure with minimal disruption. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and adjust our relief programme where necessary.”
To allow benefits to reach more customers, Absa Bank Uganda encouraged those who can fulfill their obligations to continue making payments.
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#COVID-19: Letshego donates assortments worth Shs38m to police

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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GIVING BACK TO SOCIET: AIGP Asan Kasingye receiving a donation from Letshego Uganda CEO Giles Aijukwe at their head office in Kololo.

Kampala, Uganda- Thursday 16th April 16, 2020: Letshego Holdings Limited, under its subsidiary Letshego Uganda has today handed over a consignment worth $10,000 (Shs38 million) towards the Uganda Police Force as a compliment to their efforts in sustaining the rule of law as well as guiding the population in adherence to guidelines from Ministry of Health and the president’s office.

During the handover ceremony at Letshego offices in Kololo, Letshego Uganda’s Ag Chief Executive Giles Aijukwe presented their donation to AIGP Asan Kasingye (on behalf of IGP Martin Ochola) amidst cheer and applause. Comprising of water, sanitizers and food rations, Letshego Uganda’s retrospection is premised on the robust, agile and supportive role that the Police continues in and around the country.

“The role of the Uganda Police Force can never be understated. If anything, it is their diligence, round-the-clock supervision that has enabled adherence to the lockdown procedures, maintaining peace and sanity in the country. We are therefore cognizant of their work and we appreciate and encourage them to keep doing their best as we fight to eliminate the deadly Corona virus,” Acting Chief Executive Giles Aijukwe amplified.

“We have purchased sanitizers, safe drinking water and food rations (Sugar, cooking oil and rice) to assist the police force. Our contribution as Letshego Uganda is part of Letshego Group overall commitment of investing more than $251,538,63 as a group wide intervention across its 11 markets,” he clarified.

Mr Aijukwe went on to state that collective efforts by the private sector to support the government to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic will go a long way in enabling us humble this deadly disease. “As a company, we firmly believe in safety of our staff and the citizenry within which we operate, so it is this obligation and duty that has enabled our participation.”

“The dramatic spread of #COVID-19 has disrupted lives, livelihoods, communities and businesses worldwide. However, our people are operating to support our customers during the lockdown, leveraging technology and secure digital infrastructures. Our branch networks are in operation to assist those visiting the outlets but please note that filling of forms, assistance with inquiries and client support are also being handled using our online platforms to ascertain an efficient flow of work,” Aijukwe stressed.

Letshego Uganda and the Ministry of Health continue to appeal to the general population to remain calm but vigilant and practice these preventive measures: wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol based sanitizer at least three times a day, maintain a social distance of at least four meters and if you have flu like symptoms, cover your nose and mouth with a mask.

Around half of the planet’s population is under some kind of lockdown as governments struggle to contain the spread of a disease that has now infected more than 1,287,095 people while over 70,523 are known to have died and 271,882 have recovered according to a Johns Hopkins University tally. To date, as per reports from the Ministry of Health, Uganda has 53 confirmed cases of Coronavirus that are being quarantined, observed and reviewed and kept away from the general population to eliminate contamination.

The Letshego Group is an African multinational, originated, headquartered and listed in Botswana while maintaining its focus on delivering inclusive finance solutions to underserved populations across 11 Sub Saharan Markets.

With a staff compliment of over 3,000 – including both direct and indirect sales agents – and more than seven hundred thousand customers, Letshego leverages innovation and technology to improve the lives of individuals who have limited access to traditional financial services.

As Letshego celebrates more than 21 years of supporting regional communities, the Group remains focused on being a world class retail financial services organisation.

 

 

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Police arrests a thug with a toy gun

By
Trevor S Baleke
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The suspect and his toy gun

 

 

Police in Wandegeya have arrested a thug with a toy gun and a teargas canister.

Haruna Kasirye, a resident of Lugala Masanafu, Rubaga Division, Kampala was found in possession of government stores.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesman, Patrick Onyango has in a statement said that the suspect was on Wednesday found a UPDF Identity Card, a teargas canister and a black toy gun (pistol).

Kasirye who was driving is a private motor vehicle Reg. No. UEB 038V Toyota Wish landed in trouble at a police checkpoint in Wandegeya while the police was enforcing Presidential directives intended to curb the spread of COVID19.

“One of our officers, D/CPL AMANYA BRUCE while at Wandegeya traffic lights checkpoint stopped the car a view of establishing if the driver had a sticker allowing him to drive since use of private vehicles was banned.

Cpl Amanya searched the vehicle and found the driver in possession of government stores.

The police say, the suspect claimed he was heading to give relief to the National Task Force insisting that he should be allowed to proceed to Prime Minister’s office.

This made the detectives to interrogate him further and a team of detectives proceeded with the suspect up to his residence.

A lawful search was conducted where other items such a uniform similar to that of the UPDF (army green in colour) and other tools used in house  breaking in were recovered,” reads the statement.

The suspect is currently detained at Wandegeya Police Station on two counts of being in possession of Government stores and possession of breaking implements.

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