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Half the populations seek treatment from a gov’t health facility – Survey

By
Our Reporter
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One of the patients being attended to at the Bulamu Health Camp in Kumi District

Public services are a critical point of interaction between government and citizens. One of the primary needs citizens have from their government is the equitable provision of water, education and healthcare.

These services are central to citizens’ lives and are also the most common point at which citizens encounter their government and make judgments about its performance.

The majority of Ugandans name health as one of the three most pressing challenges for the country. Six in ten citizens (59 per cent) cite poor health services as one of the top three problems facing Uganda today, more than for any other issue. About 65 per cent of the citizens think the government is managing health services badly.

According to the survey, half of Ugandans (51 per cent) report making use of a government health facility the last time they were sick or injured. While there, the majority do not encounter long waiting times (experienced by 30 percent) or lack of medicine or supplies (experienced by 29 per cent).

Other problems at health facilities including lack of attention or respect from staff (18 per cent), expensive services (18 per cent), or patients sleeping on the floor (16 per cent) are reported by less than one out of five citizens. And many citizens (46 per cent) report being asked or expected to pay bribes for health services.

Despite this, few citizens take action to address health services: less than 4 out of 10 raise the issue in community meetings (26 per cent), 36 per cent talk to authorities, and only 5 per cent call in to radio programs.

This data were collected from 2,000 respondents in the baseline survey of the Sauti za Wananchi panel, conducted in August and September 2017.

However, government has been relatively slow to address public concerns at all stages of service delivery and this has been due to incompetent officials, corruption and being reluctant to follow up on the issues.

The Ministry of Health announced plans to introduce a National Health Insurance Scheme where all Ugandan residents would be required to a have a health insurance policy. The scheme was expected to start in the 2012 financial year but it has not yet been effective.

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Gov’t bans Nyege Nyege festival

By
Our Reporter
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Nyege Nyege festival

Government has banned the Nyege Nyege festival that was slated for September 6. The event is held every September in Jinja and the 4th year.

Ethic and Integrity Minister, Fr. Simon Lokodo told Eagle Online in a telephone interview that government through Ministry of Internal Affair, Chief of Defence Forces, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, Uganda Police Force had come to a conclusion that the festival possess a national security to government and would therefore, not take place.

“I have just held a meeting with colleagues from National Security Council and we are of a view that Nyege Nyege event brings negative publicity as it comes with drug abuse, LGBT, drinking of unwarranted substances and recruiting our young children into these activities since the event is used as a catchment area”Fr. Lokodo told Eagle Online.

Fr. Lokodo had earlier written to the President and Prime Minister informing him of his ministry’s decision to ban the event.

“I have received credible information from religious leaders, opinion leaders and local authorities that the purpose of the festival, in the past two years, has been compromised to accommodate the celebration and recruitment of young people into homosexuality, and LGBT movement,” Lokodo writes in a letter addressed to the President, Prime Minister, Minister of Internal Affairs and Inspector General of Police.

“This letter therefore serves to inform as Minister of Internal Affairs, that the underlying motive beneath this heavily advertised event may compromise the national integrity of our nation and put our citizens at risk of deviant sexual immorality. I urge you to instruct the IGP to stop the event.”

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Work with UNAA to ensure food security-Kadaga tells parliament

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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Speaker Rebecca Kadaga

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, says that legislators will be encouraged to work with the Uganda North America Association (UNAA) in ensuring food security in Uganda.

Kadaga who is attending the 30th UNAA Convention in Seattle, USA said there is need to have facilities for storage of surplus food during bumper harvests to eliminate wastage and low prices to the farmers.

“A new partnership is going to develop between parliament and UNAA on the manufacturing of silos to store food to cater for price fluctuations,” Kadaga said adding that, “Together with companies in United States, the diaspora and banks, we should improve the livelihood of the people”.

While attending the Trade and Investment Forum, the Speaker sought the support of the United States government so that Uganda can move from exporting raw materials to producing finished products as a way forward for the economic transformation of the country.
She also said that instead of the US dumping used clothes in Uganda, it should instead add value to Ugandan cotton.

The US Department of State Officer in Charge of East African Affairs Derek Wright said that the United States would wish have more investments in Uganda but decried the high levels of corruption. Uganda’s Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Charles Elem-Ogwal said that the government has enacted laws which criminalise any form of corruption, bribery, embezzlement or fraudulent activities.

Uganda’s Ambassador to the US, Amb. Ssebujja Katende, said that the convention should be seen as an opportunity for Ugandans to forge partnerships with the Ugandan diaspora in North America.
The Ambassador said the convention could facilitate the diaspora to come together and contribute to the development of Uganda through social economic programmes.

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Pearl of Africa Hotel to sack over 500 employees

By
Our Reporter
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Pearl of Africa hotel Kampala.

Pearl of Africa Hotel is set to sack all its employees during its transition process as the hotel prepares for a new investor, US hotel chain Wyndham in October this year.

The hotel’s human resource manager, Mr Lawrence Kulanga, informed employees on the development in a letter dated September 1, 2018.

“We have identified an operator of international repute and the hotel is in process of transitioning to the management of the operator. The transition is expected to last approximately two months.” part of the letter reads.
The employees’ working terms will be moved from permanent to casual labour during the transitioning process. This means they will be usually hired by the hour or day or for the performance of specific tasks.

“During the transition period, you will be hired as a casual worker under evaluation and you will be paid as necessary.” the letter further reads.

The hotel management also noted that individual employees who accept to become casual workers could be eligible to be re-interviewed by the new operator for the possible job offers.
The staff will be subjected to interviews and those that don’t meet the criteria will lose their jobs.

With the new operator coming in, US based Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Pearl of Africa Hotel will trade as Wyndham Hotel Kampala.

Pearl of Africa Hotel is one of the highest points in Kampala city and has been under development since 2006, was completed in June 2017, and was opened on October 1, 2017. It began operations as Aya Hotel and briefly adopted the Hilton Hotel brand before re-branding to Pearl of Africa Hotel.

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Police expected to receive a conclusive medical report on MP Zaake

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Health Minister, Dr.Ruth Aceng making a point during a past. presentation. She is reported to be against the idea by government to have companies process Marijuana here.

Minister of Health, Ruth Aceng says police is today expected to receive a conclusive report from Uganda Medical Board about analyses that were conducted on the ailing Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Francis Zaake.

MP Zaake who is currently receiving medical attention in India, was two days ago charged with treason and freed to leave the country. The bedridden legislator was last week blocked from flying abroad over Arua mayhem and was deferred to Kiruddu hospital.

Speaking at government Media Centre, Dr. Aceng said the examination MP Zaake and MP Robert Kyagulanyi was conducted at the request of police over complaints that the legislators were tortured during and after their arrest.

The two MPs are among the 34 suspects who were arrested in Arua fracas over allegations of attacking president’s motorcade as he proceeded from holding their final rallies a head of the concluded municipality by-election won by Kassiano Wadri.

She contended that medical board didn’t delay MP Zaake’s travel abroad instead; he declined to be examined by a team of government doctors that was constituted to access his health condition before police could let him go.

Dr. Aceng disregarded MP’s medical report saying it was conducted by unqualified medical personnel, “there was no way police and medical board could agree about the findings of the report conducted by medical intern, and a family medical specialist,” she added.

She revealed that the examinations had to be conducted by senior government medical specialist or consultants in government facilities, comprehensively access and establish the need for referral.
According to referral guidelines Aceng said all patients’ needs to apply for referral letters despite travelling at their own or government expense.

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UK moves to track illicit finances in East and Southern Africa

By
Our Reporter
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Penny Mordaunt

UK’s International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt says his government moves to bring criminals to justice and recover millions of pounds of illegal assets in developing countries of East and Southern Africa.

According to African Union) and United Nations high level panel on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) from Africa, in the last 50 years, the continent is estimated to have lost in excess of $1 trillion in IFFs.

Mordaunt remarked that, illicit finance sees ‘dirty money’ diverted away from people in poor countries to individuals involved in crime, terrorism and fraud.
“This not only harms economies and legitimate financial sectors, but also erodes the confidence of potential investors,” he added.

“Financial crime hurts the world’s poorest the most, taking money away from schools, hospitals and other vital services in developing countries. Today’s UK aid package will stop dirty money in its tracks and send a message to crooks that we are clamping down on spaces for them to hide their illegally gained wealth,”

He said small decreases in illegal financial flows will give developing countries millions of pounds more to invest in their economies, helping them to stand on their own two feet and create a more prosperous future.

In the new strategy, Mordaunt says UK will create new centres of British expertise in major financials hubs to tackle financial crime more effectively, strengthen efforts in southern and eastern Africa to recover illegal money flows from crime, fraud and corruption through the courts.

Starting with Kenya, he said they will support countries authorities to bring people committing financial crimes to justice by helping to identify proceeds of crime and seizing criminal property.

“All stolen funds found and returned to Kenya will be used exclusively for development projects, in sectors including education and health. This includes over £3.5 million in proceeds of crime seized by courts in Jersey,”

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Uganda participates in a continental fall army worm control workshop

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Officials from Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries have participated in a continental fall army worm control workshop that was held in Lusaka, Zambia paving ways to oust and control catastrophic pests destroying plants.

The fall army worm in Uganda was first observed in June 2016 on maize plants and later on other cereal crops and grasses however, through the department of crop protection, the Ministry of Agriculture responded by procuring emergency insecticides.

After various presentations executed by different participants, they agreed to consider a national strategy for control of the pest with the target of reducing the prevalence of the pest from the current national average of 80 per cent to below 5 per cent by end of 2020.

According to Benius Tukahirwa from the department of crop protection in the directorate of crop resources, they resolved to kick start a process that will deliver a new approach to communications and extension services that can better deal with the fall armyworm and similar pests.
Under communication strategy they, vowed to sensitize and mobilize against the pest, saying it affects farmers yields and earnings.

The fight against the fall army worm has been largely supported by government of Uganda, Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO of the United Nations CABI, local media and the extension system since the outbreak in the first season of 2017.

More recently the FAO contributed a consignment of pheromone traps and more equipment for monitoring and controlling the fall armyworm.

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Girl child education is critical, lest we forget

By
Guest Writer
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Bridge Academies Country Director Morrison Rwakakamba

By Morrison Rwakakamba

We can no longer blind ourselves from the fact that Uganda’s future will largely be shaped by our girl children who will become tomorrow’s women. As the former UN Secretary General, who sadly died last month, Kofi Annan said: “Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” When women succeed, nations are more safe, secure and prosperous.

Yet, sadly the latest UN report reveals that the number of girls out of school has actually increased by over 6 per cent in just one year; with the number of out of school girls at primary level growing from 32 million in 2015 to 34 million in 2016. It’s really worrying. That’s why Bridge is launching its #GirlSuperpower campaign – calling on Ugandan policymakers to prioritise gender equality in education and asking the public to share the stories of our girls who are aspiring to big things; against the odds.

When a girl is educated, her eyes are opened to her full potential and the possibilities on offer to her. She believes that she can achieve just as much, if not more than the boys in her community, and rightly so. Indeed, the investment in girl child education will pay off not only in terms of growth and prosperity for the girls and their communities but it will also ultimately improve Uganda’s GDP. Educated girls are in better position to make informed decisions even amidst cultural pressures and socioeconomic backgrounds. They are able to take a bold stand to move from the kitchen to the classroom, say no to child marriage and early childbirth and focus on a brighter future. We are making progress, but we can do much more.

Both the Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education programs have certainly increased enrollment of the girl child into school. Indeed, since its inception in 1996, UPE increased enrollment from an estimated 3.1 million to 8.4 million in 2013 according to statistics from the Ministry of Education (MOE&S). But, being in class and learning in class are not the same thing. Most schools in our country offer poor quality learning so even if a girl makes it to the classroom, the chance of learning is slim.

Indeed the World Bank has reported that there are 700, 000 out of school children in Uganda and there are a very high number of dropouts in primary school. We, at Bridge, know that this is a shame because when girls are given the chance to succeed they excel. In 2017, 95 per cent of our girls achieved division 1 or 2 in the PLE and our best performer was a girl. All they need is a good school, a great teacher and a chance to learn. It does not matter – despite what many say – that they live in extreme poverty or that they are girls. They believe that they can achieve anything if they study hard. All they need is a good school, a great teacher and a chance to learn.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has estimated that 68 per cent of children in Uganda who enroll in primary school are likely to drop out before finishing the prescribed seven years. The report also laments that the dropout rate of girls is significantly higher compared to boys. “Early marriages most girls drop out of school because of pressure from parents to get married at times children drop out of school because they feel grown up and are ready for marriage.”, according to the out of school children study in Uganda report 2014. An estimated 30 per cent of girls leave school when they start their periods, often because of health barriers such as a lack of sanitary pads.

These are challenges that we all know about and yet little meaningful attention is given to address them. It is time for all of us as country to redirect our energies in addressing these issues to keep the girl child in school and to make sure that they are learning. We believe educated girls can defy expectations, challenge stereotypes and escape poverty if girls are encouraged, supported and inspired they can realise their superpower and reach for the skies. This is not only the responsibility of government, we as a people can do something to empower the girl child and motivate them to keep their dreams alive.

It should be up to all of us in the community to encourage families to keep their girls in school. Challenge those who are almost giving up to nurture the dreams of the first female flight captain from your village, a lawyer, a surgeon, a member of parliament or even a president. Every girl can become a force for change. To unlock her potential, she must have the opportunity to stay in school and build the skills and necessary confidence needed to meet life’s challenges head on without any fear.

Girls need to be able to embrace their superpower. Let us not give up now on advocating for girl child education because in due time, we shall smile at the harvest.

Morrison Rwakakamba
Country Director,
Bridge Schools, Uganda

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Chinese President Xi Jinping pledges $60b aid to Africa countries

By
Agencies
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered $60 billion aid to Africa at improving countries access to foreign markets, resources, and boosting Beijing’s influence abroad.

Speaking in the first meeting of China-Africa summit, President Xi Jinping said China’s investments on African continent has no political strings attached, adding that $60 billion billion is the new development financing despite criticism over its debt-heavy projects abroad.

The money that is yet to be spent over the next three years comes on top of $60 billion Beijing offered in 2015 among other loams offered to countries in Asia and Africa to facilitate road construction works, railways, ports and other major infrastructure projects.

“There was a need to look at the commercial viability of projects, make sure preparations are made to lower investment risks and make cooperation more sustainable,” He told African leaders.

He said China’s cooperation with Africa is clearly targeted at the major bottlenecks to development noting that Resources for their cooperation are not to be spent on any vanity projects, but in places where they count t most.

“Belt and Road is not a scheme to form an exclusive club or bloc against others, it is about greater openness, sharing and mutual benefit,”

He said Africa’s least developed, heavily indebted and poor countries will be exempt from debt they have incurred in the form of interest-free Chinese loans due to mature by the end of 2018.

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Police charges MP Zaake, frees him on bond for treatment

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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The bedridden Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake has been granted police bond shortly after being charged with treason and escaping from the custody.

Zaake was last week denied exit at Entebbe International Airport for medical treatment abroad due to lack of clearance from government medical board, a body that is responsible for assessing health conditions of patients who are scheduled to receive treatment at the expense of tax payers’ money and CID the head by Grace AKulo.

The legislator was nabbed at the Airport and taken to Kiruddu Hospital. Police however, released a statement indication that the MP is an escapee and will be given treated in Ugandan medical facilities before charging him.

Conversely, on his sick bed, Zaake has been charged with treason and Escape from the custody.
The MP who is currently under the protection of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence operatives, was later set free to enable him acquire thorough medication. The bond was signed by his layer Nicholas Opio after the Zaake declined to append his signature.

Earlier President of Uganda Medical Association Dr. Ekwaro Obuku informed the press that the medical personnel are already at the hospital to access the health condition of MP Zaake for clearance to leave for further medication.

“I want to make it clear that the issue of Hon. Zaake is not a medical matter anymore, it has become a security and political matter,” he said.
Zaake who was injured in the Arua mayhem as they held their conclusive rallies ahead of the municipality by-election that was won by the then incarcerated candidate Kassiano Wadri. Zaake is alleged to have health complications in his neck and the back.

The legislator is among the group of the 34 suspects who were detained in Gulu police cells. He was reportedly dumped at Rubaga hospital by unknown security men following the deterioration of his health condition. However, President Museveni said he had escaped. His counterparts are facing charges of treason and malicious damage of property.

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