College of Computing and Information students ready for the run
The Third Edition of the Makerere University Endowment Fund Run 2019 (MakRun 2019) is to be held on September 15, 2019 where thousands of people and corporate companies are expected to participate and raise funds for construction of students’ centre.
MakRun 2019 is part of Makerere University’s efforts to continuously engage with its stakeholders and appeal for the financial help aimed constricting the students’ centre, officials say.
The university needs Shs7.5 billion to construct the Centre through the university’s Endowment Fund.
The initial prioritized multipurpose students centre project will include a student job search facility state of the art auditorium/ performing arts theatre, commercial space for restaurants, banks, student support services, shopping areas, food courts and cafeterias, bookshops among others.
Meanwhile, the third edition will cover a 5km fun run and a 15km leg for the more spirited runners. Flag off will be preceded by a warm up and aerobics session at the Freedom Square starting at 6:00am on D-day.
The university’s acting manager Communication public relations, Dr Muhammad Musoke Kiggundu has urged all alumnae and well-wishers to come and participate in the run.
The principal of College of Computing and Information, Prof. Tony Oyana has outlined his college intentions to produce the best athletes by sponsoring 100 students and 20 staff members. Other departments are expected to do the same.
Last year the run raised over Shs130 million in cash and kind while in 2017 Shs190 million was raised. However over Shs400 million has been raised since the fundraising campaign started.
The tickets are on sale at Makerere University guest house, Makerere University Printery, Main library and Main building, at Shs15,000 for students, Shs25,00 for silver and Shs50,000 for gold.
Bulamu Healthcare recently completed its 15th medical supercamp in Kyegegwa district, where the organisation and its partners treated 15,625 patients in less than one week, helping to boost the health of the residents.
Established in 2015 in the U.S. and active in Uganda since 2016, Bulamu Healthcare is a non-governmental organisation that has been organising and running mobile healthcare camps in partnership with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, local districts, and health facilities.
Each Bulamu Healthcare medical supercamp is staffed exclusively by Ugandan doctors and nurses, who make up more than 150 of the 240 total Ugandan staff and volunteers who make such work possible. As a result of Bulamu’s support and partnership, since 2016 has helped more than 125,000 rural Ugandans to receive healthcare free of charge, with an average of more than 11,000 patients benefiting from each of the 4 camps that have taken place thus far in 2019.
Bulamu official attends to a patient
“We are very grateful for the great work and services that Bulamu has brought to us here in Kyegegwa district,” said Stella Kiiza, Kyegegwa district Woman Member of Parliament. “I want to make sure that we also see how we as government can synergize with the Bulamu team, so we can continue to better the healthcare system here in our home district and all of Uganda.”
Bulamu Healthcare’s medical organisation identifies partner districts based on their level of support for the mobile hospital camp model, then works with the host district to organize the staff and resources necessary to provide healthcare to the more than 10,000 patients who attend each medical supercamp. This approach in turn supports patients who suffer from a myriad of health issues, including cancer, goiters, hernia and cataracts.
“I am so grateful to the people of Bulamu for the work they are doing. Some of the services like ear, nose and throat specialists or SCAN we have never had before. My only wish is that it can be an annual event because a lot of the people of Kyegegwa have greatly benefited from it,” said Dr Martin Yefta, the In- Charge, Kyegegwa Medical Health Centre IV.
A hospital on wheels, the Bulamu Healthcare organisation has managed to reach parts of Uganda that were in dire need of medical attention due to various factors such as development and poverty that have hindered many of the residents from attaining the right medical services or drugs for their particular ailments. Resigned to a life of suffering; many had given up hope until they came across Bulamu Healthcare that offers free medical services to the locals and in so doing it not only restores the health of its patients but also saves and restores the lives of hundreds who couldn’t find work nor help due to various medical complications such as: Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida.
“I was born with cataracts & this deteriorated as I grew older but I did what I could to endure this hardship and study. This has allowed me to get a job although it is hard to carry out other activities that could allow me to live a normal life like other people with sight,” Richard Turyomurugyendo, 26 is a primary school teacher despite the odds. Through our the organization’s Angel programme he will be qualified to have surgery that would restore his eyesight free of charge.
In addition to the free healthcare services such as surgery, dentistry and optics (eye exams and free eye glasses) that would otherwise have been too expensive for some of the locals to afford, Bulamu Healthcare also endeavors to sensitize the communities where they operate supercamps through health education classes, in order to reduce the risks of residents contracting diseases. This is also very key in fighting health inequalities since “preventative measures are always better than curative,” Gerald Atwiine, founder of Bulamu. It is also more cost efficient for those living below the poverty margin.
Bulamu officials teaching women how to make re-usable sanitary pads
Bulamu’s Angel Program Director, William Masereka noted that a lot of the patients lived in pain due to their use of herbal medicines. A cultural epidemic, the preference of herbal medicine over qualified drugs is still strong amongst many societies and this has also led to sabotage of health promotion efforts by both the government and health workers.
“The swelling kept growing bigger and more painful despite the herbal drugs that we administered,“ narrates Olivia kabasinguzi, mother to John Isingoma , a patient admitted under Bulamu Healthcare’s Angel Program with Lymphoma.
Despite the various medical services offered during the Bulamu super camps, the angel programme was an initiative that was introduced to cater for complicated cases that would need outside intervention like corrective surgeries and some congenital diseases such as hydrocephalus. Annually, the Bulamu organization caters for over 500 surgeries through the Bulamu programme and partnerships with other medical institutions such as Cure hospital and Mulago Hospital.
Although the government has embarked on several Health promotion efforts in the past, it is clear that such non-governmental organizations play a key role in bridging the wide gap that exists in the health sector. By offering free medical services to those in the rural communities of Uganda, Bulamu not only ensures that the Health inequalities are reduced but also tackles the various factors that hinder healthy lifestyles such as the use of herbs and poverty.
HURRAY! Graduates of KIU after receiving their degrees
Kampala International University Western Campus (KIU-WC) is to hold three days research dissemination and innovation conference dubbed multi-sectoral collaboration towards the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases.
According to organisers, the conference will avail a multidisciplinary platform for knowledge dissemination on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to around 20,000 students in various universities within and outside Uganda.
The event is scheduled to take place from September 11-13, 2019, at new biomedical block, 3rd floor, KIU western campus in Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda.
It will also provide a platform for researchers to share the outputs of their research, stimulate young scientist to develop new interventions to manage non-communicable diseases and create awareness on non-communicable diseases that will in turn promote healthy lifestyles that are essential towards the fight against these diseases
It is also scheduled to Increase the investment in research and development through public funding and encouraging the investments of the business sector in research and innovation in non-communicable diseases and advocate for the inclusion of health promotion and public health approaches to the global burden of non-communicable diseases in health science school curricula.
Africa has previously been challenged by infectious diseases; however, the continent is now currently facing a new challenge of non-communicable diseases. In Uganda for example, according to the 2018 WHO report on non-communicable diseases, a death rate of 33 per cent was accounted for due to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Consequently, there is an urgent need for Africa to start addressing this challenge and develop interventions towards these diseases that are suitable for resource limited settings.
The key note speakers include Prof. Andre Renzaho of Western Sydney University, Australia, Dr. Gerald Mutungi; Commissioner Non-Communicable Diseases Uganda, and Prof. Fred Wabwire Mangen of the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University. Also, gracing the occasion are delegates from the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, Uganda, among other notable personalities to mention but a few.
Over time, students have been involved in scientific research and innovation on various local and international platforms. However, only a few students have been able to share their innovations on these platforms owing to lack of enough publicity and access to the media.
Two outstanding innovations have been shared extensively with the science community, the Petograph App; an application and software that can be used by health practitioners to improve diagnosis, management and follow up of pregnant mothers with pre-eclampsia and the HDA App; an offline application that helps patients to verify drugs, medical personnel and health centres.
It will be held under sub themes of Nutrition based Interventions, Community initiatives in prevention of non-communicable diseases, Workplace Initiatives in prevention of non-communicable diseases, Alternative Medicine for Non communicable Diseases, Access to Health Information and Health Care Delivery, Environmental Health in Mitigating Non-Communicable diseases, Lifestyle and Non-communicable disease and Drug and substance abuse and mental health.
The conference will be packed with Pre, Main, and Post Conference activities that will challenge the thinking of all participants as well as enable them explore the heights. Side attractions like KRIC Run, Hub of Science Tour, Game Drive, among others, have been enshrined in the programme to make the event rewarding and memorable.
Justice Duncan Gaswaga has been appointed new Principal Judge to replace Yorakamu Bamwine who is retiring, sources say.
When contacted for a comment, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire was non-committal to say anything on the latest development in the judiciary.
Justice Gaswaga has been serving as judge of High Court since 2014.
He also served as head of the criminal division of the Supreme Court in Seychelles and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Fifa have appointed five members on a task force to help reform the scandalous Confederation of African Football (CAF), having temporarily taken over its management last month.
CAF President Ahmad Ahmad and FIFA President Gianni Infantino jointly inaugurated the Reform taskforce at CAF’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt yesterday.
The mission of the Reform Taskforce is to strengthen and accelerate the ongoing reforms at CAF.
Members of the CAF/FIFA Reform Implementation Taskforce include: Abdoulaye Diop (Mali), Hossam El Shafei (Egypt), Janet Katisya (Kenya), Martin Ngoga (Rwanda) and Anin Yeboah (Ghana) who discussed the three main areas of cooperation identified under the joint CAF-FIFA roadmap.
Speaking at the meeting, CAF President Ahmad thanked the members of the taskforce for accepting to help CAF to accelerate its reforms programme in addition to their professional activities.
“There are obstacles that we faced that resulted in our request for assistance. That’s why we also need you, the independent experts. Together we will move forward.” President Ahmad said in a statement on caf website.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his full support to the work of the group: “If this CAF/FIFA cooperation succeeds African football will be even more envied around the world. You members of the task force are the foundation from which the future African football will be built. We count on your support, your passion & innovation.”
The joint CAF/FIFA Roadmap covers three main areas: financial management, good governance and internal procedures.
Key topics of discussion centered on auditing, underlining transparency in all of CAF’s operations, necessity for the highest standards of compliance, effective and professional organisation of competitions, growth and development of African football, as well as advancement and support for CAF’s 54 Member Associations.
The meeting also touched on football safety and security, African football governance and revenue generation for the continent’s competitions and events.
Meanwhile, the CAF-FIFA leadership and senior management will continue their activities today when they meet with the CEOs of some of Africa’s top football clubs to share ideas on improving the continental club competitions.
Chaos ensued at the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kololo, when plain clothed armed security operatives re-arrested four suspects implicated in the gruesome murder of former assistant inspector general of police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi moments after had released them on bail.
On March 19, 2019, High Court judge Lydia Mugambe released each of them on a non-cash bail of Sh150 million as their sureties were ordered to pay Shs250 million not cash.
The four are part of the eight suspects who had returned to court to see the documents signed off after being granted bail.
The rearrested suspects include Jibril Kalyango alias Abu Aisha, Yusuf Mugerwa alias Wilson, Joshua Magezi Kyambadde alias Abdu Rahman and Siraje Nyanzi alias Jimmy Ssentamu however Abdul-Rashid Mbaziira, Aramanzani Noordin Higenyi alias Taata Abdullazack, Bruhan Balyejusa alias Jimmy Masiga Ogutu, and Shafik Kasujja were ordered to be returned to the coolers on grounds that the prison has a production warrant from Nakawa magistrates court.
Their layers however suspected that the released suspects could be re-arrested as it has been happening to at various courts and they decided to transport them in one car Toyota Noah Reg no.UAY 077T to their destinations. Armed men however could not allow them to leave court premises and surrounded the car that was driven by one of their layers James Mubiru who in turn no spare.
He tried to explain that he is a layer but armed men paid a deaf ear, roughed him up before being bundled into the car Toyota Noah Reg no. UAF 257E that sped off to unknown destination.
The group is part of the 23 suspects who were arrested in relation to the March 17 assassination of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his driver Godfrey Wambeewa and bodyguard Kenneth Erau at Kulambiro, a Kampala suburb.
They were later committed to the High Court on October 23, 2017, to stand trial. Their co-accused have since been released on mandatory bail by Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court pending police investigations. Mandatory bail is granted to capital offenders that spend over six months on remand without committal.
The recently released suspects include Umar Maganda, Ahmed Ssenfuka, Sheikh Musa Ntende, Hassan Tumusiime, Ibrahim Kissa, Hamid Magambo, Abdul-Majid Ojerere, Sauda Ayub, Osman Muhammed Omar, Asuman Mugoya, Ibrahim Ssemwanga alias superman and Swaleh Ddamulira.
Former Masaka Municipality mayor Gerald Ssemwogerere has passed on.
According to family members, Ssemwegere died Tuesday evening after visiting a clinic in Masaka Town where he had gone to have his blood pressure checked.
“Doctors have told us that he suffered a heart attack which led to his death,” John Kawanga, a cousin to the deceased said.
Ssemwogerere served as Masaka mayor between 1992 and 1996 and is remembered for installing the first set of street lights on the streets of Masaka town.
Godfrey Kayemba Afayo, the incumbent Mayor Masaka Municipality, has eulogized the deceased as a hardworking man who tirelessly developed Masaka after it had suffered destruction during the 1979 Tanzanian invasion.
According to Kayemba, although Ssemwogerere wasn’t elected by the public, he was instrumental in improving service delivery and development in the war torn town.
The deceased was widely considered as perhaps the richest man in Masaka sub region, owning a number of assets including shopping malls, rental houses, chunks of prime land and petrol stations.
A new partnership between Murdoch University in Western Australia and the South African-based Kingdom Business Network (KBN) took a first step towards formation after a visit to Perth for Africa Week by a delegation of five of its members.
The KBN is a programme created and funded by the South-African diversified investment company, the Beryl Group, to inspire entrepreneurs to create and acquire sustainable wealth, enabling them resources and training to build and develop their communities and positively impact their generation.
Murdoch hosted KBN Chief Executive Officer Joarina Matthys and four of its entrepreneurs to participate in a panel at the 9th Annual Africa Australia Research Forum and meet with Murdoch Alumni, members of the Perth African diaspora and entrepreneurial community.
The KBN was founded 10 years ago by Neverl and Beryl Kambasha and has a goal to empower 1,000 entrepreneurs across Africa by 2022.
“We are passionate about developing quality entrepreneurs who will have a positive impact on their communities,” Ms Matthys said.
“After 10 years of operation in South Africa we have made the decision to expand our reach, to other parts of Africa and to seek partnerships within Australia, including with Murdoch.”
Murdoch University Africa Research Group Chair David Doepel said Murdoch was keen to understand what structures facilitated creative and innovative thinking, and to harness the formidable African brain power globally.
“This is absolutely critical to Africa’s participation in the creation of the 4th Industrial revolution,” Mr Doepel said.
“Our digital interconnectedness holds great promise, but it only works if we have the human networks formed to leverage the digital ones.
“We have been exploring how we can be more embedded with each other to ensure the success of this burgeoning phenomena on the continent.”
Mr Doepel said there were 314 tech hubs in Africa in 2016, which had grown to more than 618 in 2018.
“More than 50 per cent of those tech hubs have incubators with in-kind support for idea and early stage start-ups, developing innovations in agtech, healthtech and fintech focused on African solutions for African opportunities.
“Coming together to ensure the success of these entrepreneurs, and finding ways to straddle continents with ideas that lead to businesses that solve problems, exploit opportunities, create jobs and deliver inclusive growth, is the work we must support.”
Ms Matthys said the KBN could also provide a trusted partner for companies interested in investing in African companies or your partners in Africa.
“A key role we play is developing and maintaining strategic partnerships to create a web of networks for our entrepreneurs as well as for people looking for opportunities in South Africa and Africa generally.
“We understand how government and local systems work; if you don’t know who to trust we are the place to come to.”
Police in Brazil have charged a woman who accused the international footballer, Neymar, of raping her in a Paris hotel in May with perverting the course of justice.
Najila Trindade and her former husband, Estivens Alves, have been accused of lying to police and attempting to blackmail the player.
The Paris St-Germain player has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Ms Trindade’s lawyer said the indictment had taken him by surprise.
Cosme Araújo rejected the police accusations and said his client had never colluded with Mr Alves to extort money from the Brazilian football star.
‘Consensual sex’
The case dominated newspaper headlines in Brazil and abroad for several weeks.
It first came to light in June, when the Paris St-Germain star released a seven minute video on Instagram revealing that he had been accused of rape.
He also published Whatsapp messages and images that he claimed to be of the woman.
In the video he says he had to make them public to “prove that nothing really happened”.
He said they met online. He paid for her trip to France and they had consensual sex before Ms Trindade returned to Brazil and went to a police station to accuse him of attacking her.
Ms Trindade then went public, giving a television interview and releasing footage and a video clip purportedly showing an altercation between the two.
Police later filed a defamation suit against Ms Trindade, who allegedly insinuated the force was corrupt, according to news agency AFP.
Neymar denied the allegations from the beginning and said he was being extorted.
Police closed the case at the end of July. The São Paulo attorney general’s office said the case was suspended due to a lack of evidence.
Seven people were on Wednesday morning confirmed dead while 11 others sustained injuries in a road accident involving a bus and a truck at Namayonjo village, Nakasongola District.
The accident according to the Traffic Directorate Spokesperson Mr Charles Ssebambulidde involved a bus Reg.No.UAQ 643W belonging to Roblyn Coaches that reportedly rammed into a packed truck Reg. No. UAX 001Y at Namayonjo village in Nakasongola District with the preliminary findings pointing to reckless driving.
Mr Christopher Ssendijja, the Officer in Charge Nakasongola Police Station said 5 people died on the spot while two of the victims died as they were being rushed to hospital.
“We rushed at the accident scene at 1:00am and tried our best to ensure that we save lives from the accident wreckage on the Kampala-Gulu Highway. It is unfortunate that 2 of the injured victims of the accident were pronounced dead on their way to hospital,” Mr Ssendijja explained.
“We have always cautioned drivers to ensure that they get police help and ensure that the road is secured when their respective vehicles develop mechanical problems. In this particular accident, there were no road signs to warn the other road users about the parked truck that had developed a mechanical problem,” he said.
