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NRM celebrates early lead in Butebo District

By
Trevor S Baleke
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Butebo district has been plunged into celebrations as the NRM candidate Samuel Keddi takes the lead in the contest for the new district LC V chairman seat.

Provisional results from 20 out of the 83 polling stations give Keddi lead against his only rival, James Okurut.

The two candidates contested in the NRM primaries which Keddi won. They are the only ones in the race following the failure by the opposition to have a candidate.

Keddi’s supporters have already taken to the streets singing and dancing. Some have marched to his home as other are camped at the tally centre at the district headquarters.

Provisional results

NRM spokesman, Rogers Mulindwa who is on the team of party officials camped in Butebo has told us that counting started at exactly 4:00pm from most of the Polling Stations and results have started coming in at the NRM party tally centre commanded by Senior Administrator Lawrence Mayambala as follows:

1. Okiring Mango: NRM 110 IND 60
2. Africansa Com: NRM 477 IND 10
3. Nalyete: NRM 161 IND 68
4. Kadokolene: NRM 204 IND 105
5. Kabusule: NRM 127 IND 88
6. Kaitisya TC: NRM 387 IND 22
7. Buchema TC: NRM 199 INS 31
8. Nauma M/tree: NRM 100 IND 72
9. Nalidi P/S: NRM 674 IND 17
10. Wamika’s place: NRM 205 IND 95
11. Kamenyamugo: NRM 86 IND 157
12. Kaisu M/Tree:NRM 235 IND 30
13. Kitawona Tree: NRM 156 IND 112
14. Odipanya A-M: NRM 74 IND 226
15. Odipanya N-Z: NRM 82 IND 217
16. Amisi’s M/Tree: NRM 123 IND 19
17. Yona’s Grd: NRM 238 IND 66
18. Kaberekeke:NRM 182 IND 32
19. Chirisco Ch: NRM 196 IND 64
20. Butebo Disp: NRM 396 IND 31
21. Tingori CU: NRM 853 IND 00

More details to follow……

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Arua by-election set for August 15-EC

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Col. Ibrahim Abiriga

Kampala: The chairperson for electoral commission (EC) Justice Simon Byabakama has set 15th August as the polling date for by-election of Arua Municipality legislator.

Arua municipality parliamentary seat fell vacant after the gun down of National resistance movement (NRM) MP Ibrahim Abiriga, executed by unknown hooded men travelling on motorcycles.

Speaking at EC headhunters, Justice Byabakama said the election process will start with updating of voters registered scheduled from July 5 – 9, 2018. He said the constituency has 45184 registered voters at 65 established polling stations.

He said the process of updating voters register will enable legible voters to in the various parishes and wards to constituency to register and participate in polls, “any person who will have not have registered within the stipulated time will not participate in the elections,” he added.

Basing on the roadmap he said between July 18 and 27 there will be display of voters register and issuance of voter’s location slips.

He implored all who wish to observe the election process to submit in their application to be accredited by the electoral body and advised all stake holder to observed electoral laws.

According to statistics, in the 36 by-elections of both legislators and District Chairpersons, NRM has won 27, and FDC two (Jinja East and Rukungiri), DP 1 (Kyotera) and the remaining post were taken up by independent candidates.

This by-election is expected to attract president Museveni and opposition bigwigs craving to win parliamentary seat.

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Busoga MPs urge coffee agency to give Shs10b to boost coffee activities in region

By
George Mangula
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Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, Rebecca Kadaga.

Kampala: Members of Busoga Parliamentary Caucus have urged the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) to give Shs10 billion to help boost the coffee sector activities in the region considered one of the poorest in the country.

The MPs also called for the expeditious passing of the pending Coffee Bill would go a long way in setting standards for players in the sector especially concerning quality assurance.
“The Bill will streamline the procedures of distribution of coffee seedlings and other farm inputs to the farmers,” said Paul Akamba (Indep. Busiki County).

The MPs made the call while meeting with officials from UCDA, in a meeting chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga on 26 June 2018. The meeting also discussed a coffee roadmap for the Busoga sub-region.

The Speaker Kadaga asked the UCDA officials to provide a projection on the production of coffee in Busoga sub-region.“How many bags of coffee do you expect from Busoga in the next two years? We need to designate money to that cause,” Kadaga said.

The Managing Director of UCDA Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye said that despite continued engagements, the Ministry of Finance had been reluctant to relerase a certificate of financial implication to expedite the Coffee Bill.

He, however, said that the coffee production in Busoga had improved since the 2013/2014 financial year where it stood at 2.3 million seedlings distributed, to presently 42.6 million seedlings distributed.
“We have mobilized farmers in the sub-region and supported nursery bed operators but we need more support from the MPs to tighten the loose ends,” Iyamulemye said.

MPs also raised concern on the concentration of the population on sugarcane growing, unproductive extension workers and late distribution of coffee seedlings as some of the limitations to the growth of the sector in Busoga.
“UCDA should always plan early and see to it that seedlings are distributed to farmers before the rainy seasons begin,” Henry Kibalya (NRM, Bugabula South) said.

Iyamulemye pledged to look into the figures and later present a detailed report to the caucus on Busoga’s expected coffee roadmap for the next three years.

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Uganda to Mark National Day of Physical Activity— Health Minister

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Hon. Sarah Achieng Opendi the State Minister of Health-General Duties.

Kampala: Minister for health Jane Ruth Acheng says Uganda is set to mark National Day of Physical Activity that is aimed awareness about the importance of physical activity to beat non communicable diseases (NCDs) and live healthy.

Uganda NCD risk factor survey (2014) showed Hugh Physical inactivity was noted in the urban population where eight per cent of adults were considered inactive compared to 3.5 per cent among rural population.

In a media briefing at ministry of health headquarters Acheng said, national Day of Physical Activity will be inaugurated with a number of activities which include eight to ten kilometer walk that will be led by president Museveni, Aerobics, a run around the Kololo Airstrip and a number of games such as Football, Volleyball and Netball.

Under theme ‘Be Physically Active, Be healthy’ Acheng said National Day of Physical Activity will be flagged off by president Museveni on 8 July 2018. There will be screening for NCDs and every one interested in participation will be guided on which form of Physical Activity to engage into.

“Physical Activity is any form of bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Being physically inactive is a major risk factor for developing Non Communicable Diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes,”

Acheng said, Increased Physical Activity should be combined with eating healthy- eat more fruits and vegetables, Reduce intake of salt and sugars, Stop smoking and consumption of tobacco, Limit consumption of alcohol.

She appeal to all individuals to engage in physical activity by dedicating at least 30 minutes to one hour every day to burn excess calories.

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Catherine Bamugemereire’s land commission faces court action

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
-
Justice Catherine Bamugemereire

A family of four has sued the land commission of inquiry over alleged abuse of the sub judice rule, following the commission’s involvement in the land matter that is before the High Court.

Richard Kiwanuka, Timothy Batalaze, Joshua Kyazze and Mansur Kigozi on Monday petitioned the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala, seeking an order stopping the land commission or its agents from interfering in matters regarding the land on block 100, plot 195, Kyandondo.

The family sued the land commission secretary, Dr Douglas Singiza and the Attorney General through Kiwanuka and Company Advocates.

The family members accuse Singiza of conflict of interest in the land matter. According to court documents, the four got the land form their late father and want court to ignore the land probe commission concerning the said land.

The commission had earlier on ordered that the status quo on the land remains pending its decision on the matter following a complaint by Harriet Namayanja, their partner aunt.

The family’s lawyer Richard Kiwanuka says Batalaze, Kyazze and Kigozi sued Namayanja in Nabweru Magistrate’s Court for encroachment on their land and the case was ruled in favour of the siblings but latter on their aunt Namayanja appealed in the High Court.

Kiwanuka contends that it is a violation of the sub judice rule for the land commission to interfere in matters before court especially that it is Namayanja who appealed for the review of the court.

The Deputy Registrar of the Civil Division of the High Court, Sara Langa, has given the Attorney General and Singiza 15 days to file their defence.

Meanwhile the land commission has blocked the Ministry of Finance from paying Shs100 billion as compensation for rock claimants in the Isimba dam hydropower project. “The commission has learnt that Shs100 billion has been earmarked for payment to the Isimba dam rock claimants in the financial year 2018/19. The commission’s preliminary findings are that the claims have no basis. The permanent secretary is directed to cease any payments,” said Lady Justice Bamugemereire, the Chairperson of the land probe commission on June 27 at the Archives and Records Centre in Nakasero, Kampala.

The commission members were appointed on December 8, 2016 and sworn in on February 19 2017, with the mandate to inquire into the effectiveness of law, policies and processes of land acquisition, land administration, land management and land registration in Uganda.

President Museveni in May granted an 18-month extension to the commission to enable it complete its task. That was the second extension of the tenure of the commission after the initial six-months-tenure expired on November 9, 2017. On November 10, 2017, President Museveni granted a six-month extension to the commission to execute its mandate which was ending May 9, 2018.

In February this year Bamugemereire handed to President Museveni an interim report from the commission. The interim report constitutes an update to President Museveni on the progress of the inquiry after seven months into the inquiry.

Museveni established the commission after rampant land evictions and complaints that he had been receiving from the public.
The commission in its first four months of public hearings, received 4,900 complaints and listened to 287 of these and reviewed 600. Several people, including government officials, local leaders, ministers, and investors have been grilled by the commission over various cases including land grabbing, murder and forceful evictions among others.

Recently, the Inspector General of Government (IGG) and the Permanent Secretary of the Finance Ministry, promised to investigate the commission over accountability after it emerged that the Shs13 billion it had been allocated had been used up before finishing the assignment.

The spending of the above billions has caused public arguments with some people saying that since the commission of land inquiry has exposed some big government officials, more money be given to them. Others, mainly the Opposition, have come up to say this is a lot of money spent on a commission of less than 10 members. Yet in the supplementary of 2017/18, the commission asked for an extra Shs7.8 billion it deemed to be enough to complete its work.

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Health ministry signs MoU with US agency to support radiotherapy workshops

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Ministry of Health has signed a memorandum of understanding with US Trade and Development Agency to support radiotherapy training workshops for cancer treatment professionals at the Uganda Cancer Institute

Ministry of Health has signed a memorandum of understanding with US Trade and Development Agency to support radiotherapy training workshops for cancer treatment professionals at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI).

The training is in partnership with Varian, a California-based cancer care company that provides training, software and high-tech equipment including linear accelerators to plan and deliver cancer treatments.

Permanent secretary for ministry of health Dr. Diana Atwine said the training will expand the capacity of UCI personnel to perform advanced radiotherapy treatment utilizing Varian’s technologies. Implementation of the modern radiotherapy technologies will increase access to potentially life-saving techniques for cancer treatment in Uganda.

“USTDA is pleased to support high quality cancer treatment in Uganda,” said USTDA’s Director, Congressional and Public Affairs, Thomas R. Hardy. “Through Varian’s expertise and cutting-edge equipment, medical professionals in Uganda will have the ability to better treat cancer.”

“We are excited about this partnership,” said Permanent Secretary Dr. Diane Atwine. “With training and capacity building, the future of oncology treatment in Uganda is very bright.”

“We are honored to support the Government of Uganda in its goal to expand access to advanced radiotherapy for cancer patients across the country,” said Dow Wilson, president and chief executive officer of Varian.

“Together with our partners at leading oncology institutes in the U.S. and Africa, we look forward to developing a robust training and education program for Ugandan clinicians that will support the long-term sustainability and human capacity development in the country.”

In addition to improving the quality of cancer treatment in Uganda, this grant creates market access for U.S. companies and may lead to new export opportunities.

Varian’s training will last for a five-month period, offering both classroom and lab-based training in radiotherapy best practices developed by South African, U.S. companies and academic institutions.

Note: In the picture, minister for health Jane Ruth Acheng, Museveni, PS for ministry of health Diana Atwine, Director, Congressional and Public Affairs, Thomas R. Hardy, US Ambassador Deborah R. Malac and Dow Wilson, president and chief executive officer of Varian.

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NRM’s Keddi casts vote, assures supporters of victory

By
Trevor S Baleke
-
The National Resistance Movement party flag bearer in the Butebo initial district LCV chairman elections, Samuel Keddi has casting his vote

The National Resistance Movement party flag bearer in the Butebo initial district LCV chairman elections, Samuel Keddi has cast his vote and said he is sure, victory belongs to him.

Mr Keddi, accompanied by some NRM official cast his vote at xactly 10:20am after moving about 1km from his home in Tingori village, Kitoikawononi Parish in Kanginima Sub County to Tingori Church of Uganda polling station where he is a voter.

Before casting his vote, Keddi patiently waited from the queue for about 15 minutes in respect of the fellow voters he found on a snake line where he was the 147th.

Keddi earlier said, with the support of the party, he was sure of a win.

“I thank my national party chairman, HE president Museveni for coming to campaign for me. His message was so catchy and timely.

I also thank the party secretary general, Rt Hon Justine Lumumba and other secretariat staff who camped here. I can say we are only waiting for declaration on Thursday,” Keddi said yesterday.

Last weekend Lumumba was in Butebo where she tipped the NRM cadres and members on the danger of supporting opponents of their official flag bearers.

In response, the listening crowd assure her of giving Keddi sold support.

On Monday president Museveni was in Butebo and taught the voters the advantages of voting the NRM flag bearer. Museveni urged voters to turn up in big numbers and vote for themselves a good leader.

On this sunny Thursday, long queues are at all the polling stations in the newly created district.

NRM spokesman, Rogers Mulindwa has in a social media message said that the electoral exercise is moving on smoothly with no scenes of violence so far reported across the district.

According to electoral commission guidelines, voting ends at 4:00pm after which tallying will be done and a winner declared.

Curved from the traditional Pallisa district, Butebo has a total of 49869 voters in 83 polling stations. The opposition failed to field candidate leaving it only two the winner of the NRM primaries, Keddi and his first runner-up.

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WHO study shows drug could save thousands of women’s lives

By
George Mangula
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According to WHO, pregnant women could be saved by the new drug

A new formulation of a drug to prevent excessive bleeding following childbirth could save thousands of women’s lives in low- and lower-middle-income countries, according to a study led by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with MSD for Mothers and Ferring Pharmaceuticals.

Currently WHO recommends oxytocin as the first-choice drug for preventing excessive bleeding after childbirth. Oxytocin, however, must be stored and transported at 2–8 degrees Celsius, which is hard to do, in many countries, depriving many women of access to this lifesaving drug. When they can obtain it, the drug may be less effective because of heat exposure.

The study, published on June 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine, has shown an alternative drug – heat-stable carbetocin – to be as safe and effective as oxytocin in preventing postpartum haemorrhage. This new formulation of carbetocin does not require refrigeration and retains its efficacy for at least 3 years stored at 30 degrees celsius and 75 percent relative humidity.

“This is a truly encouraging new development that can revolutionize our ability to keep mothers and babies alive,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO.

Approximately 70 000 women die every year because of post-partum haemorrhage – increasing the risk that their babies also die within one month.

The clinical trial, the largest of its kind, studied close to 30 000 women who gave birth vaginally in 10 countries: Argentina, Egypt, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda and the United Kingdom.

Each woman was randomly given a single injection of either heat-stable carbetocin or oxytocin immediately following the birth of her baby. The study found that both drugs were equally effective at preventing excessive bleeding after birth.

Since both drugs in the study were kept in at the temperatures required to ensure maximum efficacy of oxytocin, the trial may underestimate the benefit expected with heat-stable carbetocin use in real-life settings where oxytocin may have degraded due to exposure to higher temperatures.

“The development of a drug to prevent postpartum haemorrhage that continues to remain effective in hot and humid conditions is very good news for the millions of women who give birth in parts of the world without access to reliable refrigeration,” says Dr Metin Gülmezoglu, from the Department of Reproductive Health and Research at WHO.

The next step is regulatory review and approval by countries. WHO will ask its Guideline Development Group to consider whether heat-stable carbetocin should be a recommended drug for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage.

The study, also referred to as the CHAMPION (Carbetocin HaeMorrhage Prevention) trial, was funded by MSD for Mothers. Heat-stable carbetocin was provided by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, the product innovator and oxytocin was provided by Novartis for the study. The study was conducted under a collaborative arrangement between WHO, MSD for Mothers and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Following the positive results from the trial, the parties will now work to advance affordable access to this lifesaving drug in countries that have a high burden of maternal deaths.

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We were tortured before being charged- Mbarara inmates

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Leader of Opposition, Center, in a photo moment with inmates of Mbarara remand prison.

Mbarara prison inmates have called for observation of human rights laws saying they are tortured on top of spending more than 48 hours in cells before being charged in courts law.

Speaking to a delegation of opposition legislators led by Leader of opposition in Parliament Winfred Kiiza, Katabazi Kayambire the inmates’ leader at Kakika Prison said most of the prisoners are tortured and crippled during their arrest by security forces.

He said most times, when prisoners die the blame goes to prison wardens, yet the prisoners are inflicted on grievance harm during arrests.

“Inmates also claim that they were framed, tortured while giving statements and forced to admit commission of some crimes, Although some prisoners are guilty of crimes but many innocent people are in prison because of corruption in the Police and the judiciary,” he said.

He said prisoners were not registered during the countrywide registration and would find it hard to get along without national identity cards when they leave prison.

Kiiza appealed to the judiciary to hasten the cases of inmates who have been on remand for long periods, in some cases for over five years, “We are aware that the Judiciary has always had a problem of Judges. Parliament recently passed a law to increase the number judges,” she added.

Kiiza promised to fast track the law on the provision of free Legal Services by Ugandans, saying that the necessary funds are available, but the item only requires prioritization by government.

The Principal Judge, Yorokamu Bamwine, said prisoners remained on remand for longer periods than expected because the Judiciary was understaffed and lacked the necessary funding.

“The Judiciary is generally understaffed. In Mbarara, we have just two judges for the whole region,” he said adding that “In Mbarara Main Prison we have over 1,000 inmates yet the two judges are also in charge of three other districts,” Bamwine said.

Bamwine appealed to Parliament to increase the budget for the Judiciary and improve its staffing to help reduce on the case backlog in the courts.

The MPs who are the oversight tour focusing on prisons, judiciary and police in western Uganda include Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi (DP, Butambala), Hon. Anna Adeke Ebaju (Ind., Youth, National), Hon Robert Centenary (FDC, Kasese Munic.), Hon. Francis Gonahasa (FDC, Kabweri), Hon. Betty Muzanira (FDC, Rukungiri district), Hon. Medard Ssegona (DP, Busiro East) and Hon. Johnathan Odur (UPC, Erute South).

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Opposition MPs Defy LOP directive to shun security meeting with Museveni

By
Trevor S Baleke
-
Hon. Winfred Kiiza

Opposition legislators were on Wednesday divided on whether to attend a private security meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.

While addressing MPs on the state of security in the country during a parliamentary sitting on June 20, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga requested for an interactive meeting for all MPs with the President outside Parliament on matters of security considering that parliament Rules of Procedure do not allow the House to debate the president’s statement in his presence.

In response, Museveni welcomed the Speaker’s request saying, “I have got a good meeting hall in Entebbe state lodge so you are all welcome and in case you are allergic to State House then we can meet here [OPM] and interact. I am available, I have no problem.”

As a result, Clerk to Parliament confirmed Museveni’s meeting with the MPs at the office of the Prime Minister Conference Hall which was still ongoing by press time.

Prior to the meeting, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Winfred Kiiza reportedly told opposition MPs to boycott the meeting citing several factors among them include the current detention of Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze.

However, Whereas in her presence the MPs agreed not to attend the meeting, a section of them later defied the directive and attended the meeting saying the interaction with the President on security is a matter of national importance.

“We don’t have just to defy and oppose everything. The stability and security of this country is of importance to all of us irrespective of our political differences,” one opposition MP has told this writer by telephone.

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