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UGANDANS: Let’s be our brother/sister’s keeper!

By
Our Reporter
-
President Yoweri Museveni

According to Ministry of Health, today, Saturday, April 11, 2020, three people who have been completely healed of the Covid-19 disease in Uganda and will be discharged to return home.

We thank God for this first victory in the national response against the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s indeed a great milestone and a welcome Easter present for all Ugandans who have braved the inconveniences that come with fighting this enemy and stayed home in the past two weeks as the country observes guidelines enumerated by President Yoweri Museveni and the Ministry of Health which are highly important and necessary to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng

We also congratulate the country for temporarily flattening the infections curve as all 439 samples tested on Good Friday returned negative — for the second day running! Our cases remain at 53 for Easter, and with continued discipline required of everybody, we should hope for the best.

 

Although we are yet to hit the epidemiological flat curve, this milestone in Uganda happening at a time when the global case and death rates are still growing on average by 2.68% and 6%-10% respectively, is surely a success worth celebrating!

We, the Online Media Publishers Association of Uganda (OMPA) exceedingly commend all our healthcare workers, the leadership of our Ministry of Health under Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and colleagues and the technical wing under Dr. Diana Atwiine and colleagues.

Special mention also goes to the staff of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) who have done a commendable job in testing.

We also higly commend the political leadership of the country under President Yoweri Museveni and the national taskforce headed by Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda for being focused on the fight against the pandemic.

This concerted and commendable leadership and effort has given the country ability to identify, isolate and test suspected cases on an average of 11% daily. To date, 4,301 cases have been tested.

We also commend the leadership of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance under Hon. Judith Nabakooba and colleagues and the technical wing headed by Hon. Vincent Waiswa Bagiire for harnessing the media effort towards the national educative responses to the pandemic, which efforts have been key in ensuring that the public gets to grip with the threat that the spread of Coronavirus poses.

We therefore would also like to thank all our media colleagues who, daily dedicate time, resources and valuable media space to keep the masses educated.

And, to all the individuals and organisations that have contributed materially and financially to both controlling the disease and easing the pain of the knock-on effects of the disease, Uganda is eternally grateful!

We salute all the people of Uganda- for heeding to the government’s advice to #StayHome and #StaySafe.

We ask you to continue heeding the guidelines of government as informed by the Ministry of Health, until the country overpowers the threat caused by the Coronavirus.

We at OMPA, pledge to continue dedicating time and resources to educate the Ugandan masses — over 50% of whom rely on the internet for timely and updated news, by creating timely, accurate and truthful news and functional information.

#Stay Home and #Stay Safe!

Happy Easter to you all

The Online Media Publishers Association- Uganda (OMPA-U) brings together owners and journalists working in Uganda for 24 of Uganda’s leading online media houses. 

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Abid Alam to be charged with attempted murder

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Abid Alam

 

Abid Alam, a city businessman of Pakistan origin who was arrested earlier in the day by State House Anti-Corruption Unit led by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema will be charged with attempted murder once the investigations are finished.

Col. Edith Nakalema has arrested Abid over alleged violence and torture of Mityana residents by his employees.

On Wednesday, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Nakalema directed Abid Alam to record a statement at Kasanda Police Station.

Late last week, a group of over 50 people suspected to be Abid Alam’s employees attacked homes and farm at Bukompe village cutting down all the plantations and demolishing houses.

Sources told Eagle Online that Abid will face charges of malicious damage to property, aggravated robbery and gang rape allegedly committed by Abid his workers.

Under Reference number Kassanda Police Station CRB 234/2020).  The alleged crimes were committed on Saturday night.

Sources allege that over 60 of his workers attacked the farm of Mr. Mugyenyi Arthur who is a resident of Bukoba village, Nalutuntu Parish, Nalutuntu Sub-County in Kassanda South Constituency. During the attack they cut the head of Mr. Kyabale Samuel the cattle keeper of Mr. Mugyenyi, destroyed two houses, cut three acres of banana plantation.

Last year, the land probe commission warned Mr. Abid not to interfere in the said land. He was dragged to the commission by the residents of the area. Abid was given police bond this evening but he will report back tomorrow.

 

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PM Modi says India will support Uganda in every way in efforts to control #COVID-19

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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Indian PM, Narendra and President Museveni.

 

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to help Uganda during the #COVID-19 period to curtail the further spread of the Coronavirus.

“Spoke on phone to President Yoweri Museveni about the challenges arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. India will support, in every way it can, Uganda’s efforts to control the spread of the virus” PM Modi wrote on his social media platforms.

In his response, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni acknowledged the long relationship the two countries enjoy saying both countries can build synergies to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Appreciate the call Your Excellency. I am confident our countries can cooperate and build synergies to defeat this pandemic. Looking forward to a stronger relationship between Uganda and India”. President Museveni wrote.

Uganda and India enjoy a long history of cordially relationship that had dated for over four centenaries. Uganda’s top entrepreneurs are of Indian origin though most of them Ugandans whose parents and grandparents were born here.

India is among the top five economies of the world and it has progressed due to innovation, research and manufacturing.

 

 

 

 

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#COVID-19: Rotary district 9211 contributes Shs1b

By
Ronard Shabomwe
-
Rotary District 9211

The Rotary District 9211 which covers Uganda and Tanzania has responded to the #COVID-19 crisis by partnering with the respective Ministries of Health and the National Task Force both in Uganda and Tanzania.

At a meeting with the Uganda Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng held yesterday, District Governor, D 9211, Francis Xavier Ssentamu said that Rotary will contribute Personal Protection Equipment, Test kits and Wash facilities , all valued at one billion Uganda Shillings.

Rotary District 9211 through its 168 clubs in Uganda and Tanzania has also contributed enormously to risk communication and community mobilization to create awareness of the government guidelines for the control of the #COVID-19 spread.

When the #COVID -19 crises broke out in the region, the District Governor Francis Xavier Ssentamu set up a #COVID-19 emergency response committee to mobilize over 5000 Rotarians and Rotary partners in the district into raising and contributing to the national efforts in both countries.

Ssentamu however, appealed to Rotarians to stay safe by abiding to their national guidelines while working remotely online to mobilize resources and respond to the needs of the communities around them.

A few groups of Rotarians that have been authorized by the respective National Task Force will distribute the donated items, including educating the communities on staying safe to avoid COVID-19.

Rotary District 9211 joins many other companies, individuals and institutions who have also donated monies, vehicles, jerrycans, food stuffs, salt, sanitizers, mattresses etc.

 

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Kikoni residents are in fear over #COVID-19 quarantine centres

By
Ronard Shabomwe
-
Douglas Villa Hostel (photo by Ronard Shabomwe)

There is looming fear among Kikoni residents, a city suburb which is a hub of Makerere University student’s hostels of contracting Coronavirus.

The fear is that the people who attend to those in the quarantine come outside and mingle with the residents which put them at risk because they do not know if they are safe since they attend to suspects.

Ministry of Health hired Douglas villa hostel, Nyumbani Hotel and Grand global Hotel as quarantine centers which are found in Kikoni area for #COVID-19 suspects and returnees from different countries.

Wilson Kalanda the chairperson LC1 Makerere ward cell B Kikoni says they are in too much fear over people who are in quarantine centres because the centres has little measures put in place to prevent Coronavirus spreading to the rest of the community members.

“We have fear of these centres which are in our zones, and residents are extremely worried because the people who are attending to these suspects come outside the place, buy things and associate with us.” Says Kalanda, LC1 Chairperson Makerere ward cell B Kikoni.

He further urges the ministry to disinfect the centers like they are doing to Entebbe International Airport which is undergoing a massive disinfection exercise aimed at ensuring that any surfaces that may have been contaminated with coronavirus (COVID-19) are cleaned. The 30-day exercise is undertaken by A&M Executive Cleaners.

Kalanda urged government to test all people near quarantine centres and if they become victims, it will help them to get on treatment when it is still early. However, there is no treatment for corona virus yet.

He says if the security around can monitor the movements of these people; it can reduce on the fears.

Darius Nabaasa a businessman near Douglas villa hostel says that the place is not safe, and since all these people were from abroad and the people who attend to them come out and mingle with other people outside.

A female business lady source who preferred anonymity says If Coronavirus is to catch them, it will because like they are in business, these people bring money and buy what they want.

She said that people should make sure that they also protect themselves; she says she holds money with carefully that clients bring because she can not refuse to receive money simply because it is from Coronavirus suspects.

Many people worldwide are still confused and do not know if #COVID-19 is an airborne disease, however, William Ristenpart, a Professor of chemical engineering at University of California, Davis says  that  People infected with #COVID-19 may spread the disease when they speak and breathe, not only when they let out a hearty cough.

He says that although these modes of transmission could help to explain how asymptomatic and mildly infected people fuel the virus’ spread, researchers don’t yet know whether tiny particles expelled in breath infect more people than large droplets spewed through coughs, experts told Live Science.

“There’s a possibility” that #COVID-19 primarily spreads via fluid particles less than 0.0002 inches (5 microns) in diameter, known as aerosols, which can be emitted when people speak, said William Ristenpart, a professor of chemical engineering at University of California, Davis.

According to Ministry of Health, Uganda as of now has 53 confirmed cases, with no confirmed deaths, 377 individuals discharged from institutional quarantine,  1,271 individuals tested, 2,661 travellers identified, 602 under institutional quarantine,  834 under follow up, and 141 under self-quarantine.

 

 

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Housing Finance bank contributes personal protective equipment towards #COVID-19 fight in Uganda

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng receives donations from Housing Finance Bank Managing DIrector, Michael K. Mugabi and Executive Director Peace Kabunga.

Housing Finance Bank has joined the fight against COVID-19 in Uganda, through contribution of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to the Ministry Of Health.

During the handover ceremony today Thursday March 09, 2020, the PPE constituted 30 medical mattresses with PVC covers, 50 litres of hand sanitizer and 30 boxes of non-sterile medium disposable gloves.

According to the Managing Director, Housing Finance Bank, Mr Michael. K. Mugabi, COVID-19 is a global pandemic that affects us all in one way or another hence the need to stand and fight together, in ensuring that we curb its spread and further eliminate the Corona Virus for good.

“As a fully- indigenous Bank, identifying with our communities and meeting them at their respective points of need is one attribute that we hold as a financial institution. We are cognisant of the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is not only a global concern but a national issue, critical to all of us. Therefore, in the spirit of ensuring good health and well-being as a key driver in sustainable growth and development, we have contributed Personal Protective Equipment, to help in the various response plans and execution of all recommendations by the government of Uganda through its Ministry Of Health.”

The Minister Of Health Dr. Jane .Ruth Achieng applauded Housing Finance Bank for contributing such important items to the Ministry.

“I thank Housing Finance Bank for choosing these specific items. Personal Protective Equipment are very important items to us because these are the very items used by our front facing staff. The mattresses are medical mattresses with PVC covers plus the hand sanitizer and gloves are much more needed by our staff at such a critical time. Thank you so much Housing Finance Bank, for standing with us, as our Bank and above all affiliating with us at such a time of need”, she said.

Mugabi further adds that, the Bank has endeavoured to implement all the recommended measures and guidelines across its operations for the mutual benefit of staff, customers and communities at large.

“We believe that through everyone’s concerted effort, we shall bring our best feet forward, fight and beat COVID-19 together”, he says.

COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation on March 11, 2020 and has continued to affect various countries on the global scene. Uganda has so far registered 53 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and no death to date.

Housing Finance Bank was founded in 1967 as a housing finance company. The company became a fully licenced commercial Bank in January 2008, after acquiring a commercial Banking licence from the Bank of Uganda. Housing Finance Bank is the leading mortgage lender in the country.

 

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COVID-19: Funeral service providers hit hard

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Funeral service officer attending to a casket.

Funeral service providers are facing it hard as most of the services have suffered setback due to President Yoweri Museveni directives on restrictions of crowds at burial.

Funeral service providers offer various services like arranging church services, provision of tents,chairs,mobile toilets and public system, transportation of remains in hearses, video coverage and still photography, coffin drapes, body bags and funeral equipment, grave construction and finishing, spiritual and professional counseling, catering services, organization of memorial services among others.

According to Regina Mukiibi Magongo, Managing Director and co-founder of Uganda Funeral Services, they have faced it hard. This because most of the services they offer are no longer being offered due to a few numbers of people attending the burial ceremony.

She says that they only remained with few services they are offering since other services they offer are to do with crowds of people and now that burials are attended by few members, all those services were cut off.

“In catering where we have been feeding over 3,000 mourners, now you can find 10 or 20 people, we have been providing chairs like a hundred sitter tent, mobile toilets and all that, now that numbers reduced that is now a loss on our side. “Says ED Mukiibi.

She says they are among those services regarded essential but they have faced it hard when it comes to transport their workers since a big number is not having cars, so transporting them has become a challenge and a big source of expenditure to them.

“We no longer rush for clients because of Coronavirus, now we only work on people who die from hospitals and they have a clear description of their death.” She adds.

Mike Ssekanja , Managing Director Rhino Funeral Services, says they had to minimize the number of workers because the President Museveni directed that workers should not be congested at work place.

Ssekanja says the business is down because most of the patients were discharged and sent back to villages before the ban on public transport.

“The business is down because people no longer do full services; they only do the transportation and caskets. Since they put a ban on these gatherings we rush things and they are always attended by very few people”. Ssekanja says

He explains and says that in a week they can only receive like one or two clients yet they used to be with over 20 a week.

An employee at Kampala Funeral Directors who preferred anonymity says the business is totally down and they almost spend the days siting. He did not reveal more about how the business is totally down saying the right person to give the information was not around.

President Yoweri Museveni has on Wednesday announced that public gatherings, including church mass and services have been suspended with immediate effect as the government tackles the outbreak of Coronavirus globally.

Addressing the nation, Mr. Museveni said that cabinet under his chairmanship had suspended all public gatherings, sporting events, open-air religious meetings and “all events that are of a huge public nature”.

President issued a directive on burials and says it could not be postponed, but it should be for a few people ─ the concerned homestead.

Therefore, funeral services providers say that this and more directives have really left the funeral services business between hard rocks.

 

 

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#COVID-19: Museveni warns landlords against evicting tenants as jogging is banned

By
Ronard Shabomwe
-
President Yoweri Museveni

 

President Yoweri Museveni has warned against President Yoweri Museveni landlords against hiking or evicting tenants during the #COVID-19 lockdown saying it is not allowed.

“To the Landlords trying to evict people because of rent, this is not allowed. We are all in a #COVID-19 crisis. The world is not ending today; you can always demand your money later when all this is over”

In his address, Museveni said he was impressed by the conduct of Ugandans during this period of #COVID-19 lockdown and stressed that if it continues, like this, Uganda was to defeat Coronavirus. He however, warned the public against jogging and turning houses into bars warning that the law will catch up with them.

“I saw a video of so many people on the Northern bypass walking and running around that, they are exercising. This should stop. If you want to exercise, you can do that indoors. I will show you how it is done tomorrow. I will do a video for you”.

He further apologised for the harassment of the medical personnel by security personnel especially LDUs.

“That LDU’s stopped medical doctors and harassed them before the stickers came. I am very sorry about that. I also have problems with my security people who like beating people. This must stop, I don’t want to see a security person beating people”.

The president also revealed that out of 214 samples tested, it is only one sample that tested positive meaning that Uganda registered one people #COVID-19 positive and bringing the total number to 53.

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Why the experience of Lt. Gen.Tumukunde is missed during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis  

By
Guest Writer
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Gen. Tumukunde addressing one of the youth groups in Kampala. He is a dedicated mobilizers.

 

 

During the Ebola attack in Uganda, Gen. Tumukunde was then the commander of the 4th division.  This lethal disease was first reported on October 8th, 2000 in Gulu district where the 4th division is situated. Characterized by fever and hemorrhagic manifestations, Ebola unleashed the first terror on the health workers and the general public of Rwoti-Obillo a village located fourteen kilometers north of Gulu town but later spread to other parts of the country.  The country was in shock as this was a strange but killer disease that had attacked us and other African states at that time.

As a mechanism to counter the disease, a number of coordination committees, which included an inter-Ministerial Task Force, District Task Force and the National Task Force, were formed. These Committees mainly performed follow up and supervisory role of the activities that were launched to contain the disease. But behind the curtains were real foot soldiers that performed hands on roles of containing the disease. These were mainly comprised of doctors/ health workers and 4th division UPDF soldiers commanded by the then Brigadier but later Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde.  The hands-on teams with the super guidance of their leaders did a distinguished job and confined the disease with in a period of one year.

A paper presented to the International Congress on Infectious Disease indicates that the percentage death toll of the detected cases in Gulu district was the lowest standing at 51.7 per cent compared to Mbarara and Masindi at 80 per cent and 63 per cent respectively. The report further indicates that Gulu registered 393 Ebola cases and 203 deaths, Mbarara registered 5 cases and 4 deaths while Masindi registered 27 cases and 17 deaths. The total Ebola epidemic detected cases were 425 and 224 deaths making the total percentage death toll stand at 52.7 per cent. This clearly shows that the Ebola epidemic was highly managed and contained in Gulu district courtesy of the command and leadership of Henry Tumukunde as compared to other areas that were hit by this deadly disease.

Considering the terrible security situation in Gulu district at that time when the LRA rebellion was at its peak, the disease had the capacity to penetrate and kill a big number of people in the district but the thorough and methodical efforts and dedication of the security and health team headed by Tumukunde was able to tame and contain the strange disease that had attacked most parts of northern Uganda.  I want to appreciate the efforts of these teams and in a special way applaud their commander because in most cases success entirely depends on the leadership offered.  But also, I want to also continue to mourn and celebrate all those doctors/health workers that lost their lives while at the frontlines of fighting Ebola both in Uganda and the rest of the world.  May their beautiful souls continue to rest in eternal peace.

As the world grapples with COVID-19 pandemic commonly known as Coronavirus, it has reminded me of the commanders that battled and defeated Ebola that was equally strange and lethal like the contemporary Coronavirus.  One of them is Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde who is currently incarcerated in Luzira Upper prison over charges of treason and illegal possession of firearms but after announcing that he will stand for the presidency in the 2021 general elections. I also want to thank off course the late Dr. Mathew Lukwiya, a dedicated Ugandan Physician who put everything behind to fight Ebola but ended up perishing.  Based on the account of how Ebola was handled and defeated in Gulu district under the command and control of Gen Tumukunde, I believe he holds wealthy expertise and experience in handling such kind of cases which fall in the same category like the present-day Coronavirus that has attacked the world and Uganda in particular.  It is this Tumukunde’s experience that the country would tap into during this period when the country is engaged in the fight against COVID-19/Coronavirus.

 

Oshea Paddy

osheap@gmail.com

The writer is a Ugandan Concerned Citizen and Researcher.

 

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Sudhir Ruparelia: East Africa’s richest tycoon advises on how business will thrive after #COVID-19

By
Guest Writer
-
Mr. Sudhir Ruparelia

We are entering into recession period globally and the exception is likely to be India and China with ~2% GDP growth in 2020 which is way below ~5 – 8% in the past several years.

For the benefit of all, I am sharing my perspective on such scenario on few aspects as below:

What will change during the slow down:
1. Spend on luxury will come down drastically
2. Long-term / Capital expenditure such as construction, technology will be almost cut to nil
3. Lifestyle expenditure such as salary, rent, infrastructure, entertainment will be minimised
4. Working capital will be under tremendous pressure. Businesses will go out of business especially those who are riding on borrowed working capital
5. New innovative business models will evolve

What will NOT change during the slow down:

1. People consumption on essentials will continue
2. Rise in Investment on ideas / technology solutions that will improve efficiency
3. Short-term trading businesses with healthy cash flow practices will thrive
4. Rise in investment on spiritual / self-learning practices
5. Value for money products / services will shine

What you should do as an individual:

1. Hold back any luxury / high risk investments where visibility of returns is difficult to predict
2. Minimise expenditure on the routine stuff – keep a watch on your lifestyle spend – ask the question, is it really necessary!
3. Develop yourself on improving competency and developing skills to become more sharper and efficient
4. Share the financial situation with your family members and educate them on the family financial position and the plans to improve
5. Invest – yes invest on the right things. History repeats. Take risks based on thorough research. This is not the time to follow tips.

What you should do as an Entrepreneur:

1. Take care of your employees – communicate more than ever. Be reasonable and transparent with them
2. Use the slow down to improve your processes / people
3. Invest in technology / systems that will accelerate your reach in adding value to your customers
4. Be frugal in working capital decisions and operating expenditure
5. Capital expenditure to be on hold unless there is clear visibility on the associated returns

Let us get smarter by helping ourselves and economy to bounce back stronger.
The planning for the coming foreseeable .

Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, is Chairman Ruparelia Group

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