SPIRITED EFFORTS AGAINST PATIENT RIGHTS BILL: State-Minister-for-Health-Sarah-Opendi.
Attempts by Paul Akamba, the Busiki County MP, to introduce a private member’s Bill entitled Patients’ Rights and Responsibility Bill 2017 has been met with stiff resistance from the Ministry of Health, after the State Minister of General Duties Sarah Opendi warned that passing the Bill will create problems for Uganda’s health sector.
While seeking leave of Parliament to table a private member’s bill, Akamba said that it will be critical at ensuring that guidelines in the Patient’s Charter are legally-binding.
Akamba also added that the Bill will go a long way in improving health financing, as well as protect patients’ rights, including seeking and receiving health care advisories.
“Health workers are trained on how to deal with patients and yet patients are not taught their rights anywhere, so it’s the health workers supposed to conduct themselves in an ethical way. For instance, if a health worker asks you why you got pregnant, that is not ethical and it’s not expected of them. It’s important for them to act with tolerance and to listen to the patients,” Akamba said.
Andrew Kaluya, the Kigulu South MP, seconded the motion, noting that the Bill will help save households from catastrophic expenditures and curb the patients’ rights violations.
“This practice of detaining patients for non-payment of Bills is an infringement of human rights. It is so common that many citizens wrongly believe that hospitals have the right to do so. The practice increases medical impoverishment,” Kuluya said.
However, Opendi opposed the move by Parliament to grant Akamba leave, warning it would have serious implications on health care service delivery.
“He (Akamba) has various serious implications if we moved with this Bill. I haven’t had a chance to look at what the Bill entails. In this country, Primary Health care is free, however tertiary care isn’t free,”
Opendi said.
She added: “The Bill will have serious financial implications, which Ministry of Finance will speak to. When you move with this Bill, then we will need to have another Bill entitled the health workers’ Bill. It is going to create some bit of problem in the sector. We have clients charter is quite sufficient, we aren’t comfortable with this motion.”
She also informed Parliament that Government is in final stages of tabling the National Health Insurance Bill that will take care of all Akamba’s concerns.
However, when David Bahati, State Minister for Planning, was non- committal about the impact the Bill will have on the Consolidated Fund.
“The only way we can raise the issue is going to increase the charge on the consolidated fund is when we have the Bill. At this time, if a member can work closely with Ministry of Health, so that issues are incorporated before the Bill is tabled, because we haven’t seen any issues in charge of the consolidated fund,” Bahati said.
After Opendi failed to convince the August House, Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah informed the House that Parliament had no right to stop debate on the motion since it didn’t contravene any sections of the Constitution and has no impact on the Consolidated Fund.
But without even bothering to debate the motion, the MPs voted unanimously to grant Akamba leave to table the Bill.
Renovation works at the Entebbe International Airport
China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) that is undertaking Shs713 billion renovations at Entebbe International Airport is in trouble for failure to respect rights of people with disabilities at the site.
This followed a complaint raised by Rose Mutonyi, Bubulo West MP, over what she alleged was a humiliating treatment of one user of the national airport.
Mutonyi narrated of an incidence that took place on Tuesday, January 9, 2018, when one white passenger was forced to shout on top of his voice, demanding for a carrier to carry his luggage because of the disruptions in the renovations.
“Are we going to have that type of treatment for the old and disabled? It is happening to our people every day. Something needs to be done otherwise, nothing is going to talk for them,” Mutonyi said.
Her counterpart, Mbale Municipality MP Wamai Wamanga, warned that failure by government to address the concerns will render its efforts to attract tourists to Uganda.
“We are trying to convince people to come here, but if that person goes back and narrates of his ordeal, then such a thing can do minus,” Mr. Wamanga said.
Ruth Nankabirwa, the Government Chief Whip defended the Executive, arguing that sometimes such conveniences are inevitable when any site is undergoing any form of renovations.
“I want to assure the country that this will stop because the project has a timeframe, but this doesn’t mean we will not check. Will ensure Minister is on ground because Entebbe is our eye and ensure our people aren’t inconvenienced,” Nankabirwa said.
However, William Nzoghu, the Shadow Works Minister, wondered if there aren’t any other measures that can be undertaken to help people in the meantime.
“We have been to other airports and you still have a service that is descent, why isn’t it applicable to Ugandan situation?” Nzoghu wondered.
Hellen Asamo, the Persons With Disabilities Representative Eastern Region, joined the debate saying that services for the people with disability are offered selectively.
“There is critical need for people in Uganda to wake up. I think it is an issue of negligence not renovation,” Asamo argued, prompting Nankabirwa to respond by saying the inconveniences are temporary.
However, Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah said there was no need for Parliament to go forth and back with the matter because when contractors are handed sites, they have to ensure alternatives are created.
“It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure the convenient ways are in existence. It is a matter that doesn’t need to be debated. Why are they making people suffer like that?” Oulanyah asked.
It should be recalled that renovations on Entebbe Airport started in May 2017 and the project is estimated to cost over US$ 200 million, approximately Shs713b.
The scope of works will involve construction of a new cargo terminal and strengthening the runway.
The final Uganda Cranes squad for this year’s CHAN Finals has been named by Head coach Sebastien Desabre.
After two build up matches, a draw with Guinea (1-1) and a 1-0 loss to Congo, the Frenchman was in position to check on the players who were in camp and come up with the final 23-man list.
Tom Masiko and Mustapha Kizza are the two players dropped and will return home from camp where they have been with the team in Rabat since last Thursday.
The team will remain in Rabat before moving to Marrakech where group B matches will be played.
Cranes are in the Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Namibia and Zambia. They open their campaign against Zambia’s Chipolopolo on January 14.
The competition will be hosted in Morocco from January 12 to February 4.
Final Squad:
Goalkeepers: Isma Watenga, Benjamin Ochan and Saidi Keni.
Defenders: Nico Wadada, Joseph Nsubuga, Timothy Awany, Mustapha Mujuzi, Bernard Muwanga, Isaac Muleme and Aggrey Madoi.
Midfielders: Milton Karisa, Paul Mucureezi, Allan Kyambadde, Seif Batte, Rahmat Senfuka, Taddeo Lwanga, Abubaker Kasule, Moses Waisswa, Saddam Juma and Muzamil Mutyaba.
Strikers: Shaban Muhammad, Derrick Nsibambi and Nelson Senkatuka.
Its a Jamaica, Miami and Uganda connection which has all the ingredients that one needs to make a hit record like ‘Your Love’ club remix.
Honorebel and Charly Black from Jamaica, Pitbull from Miami via Cuba, Bebe Cool and Herbert Skillz from Uganda, pretty much makes this record a Global and International club banger.
Easily the most unclassifiable artiste, Honorebel returns with his latest hit ‘Your Love’ club remix featuring Charly Black, Pitbull and Bebe Cool and produced by Herbert Skillz.
The new single and remix is a great depiction of his journey as an international, crossover musician.
This latest release of Honorebel’s “Your Love” club remix is filled with culture and experience ranging widely from different influences. Throughout his career, Honorebel has never been categorized into one genre. He effortlessly fuses Reggae, Pop, EDM, Dancehall, Reggae-ton, Moombahton and other influential sounds to create his universal appeal and one of the most unique sounds in modern music.
In 2010, Honorebel’s ‘Now You See It’ featuring Pitbull peaked #22 on Billboard Hot 100 and peaked #36 on Billboard Hot 200 Dance Charts, #1 in 48 different countries and thus far he has over 100 million you-tubes views to this date.
In 2017 Honorebel Peaked #15 on the Latin Billboard charts with the reggae-ton hit “Mari” remix with Farina and El Micha which has over 9 million youtube views. About his new single “Your Love” and the club remix, its Producer by Dj Codeman and Herbert Skillz, two super producer who are signed by Honorebel’s Phantom Music Group Record Label.
Asked to comment on the hit single remix, Honorebel had this to say: “I feel like music is a feelings and a vibes, so I go where ever that vibes and feelings takes me. I think Charly Black gave it that authentic, organic dancehall feelings, and both of our futuristic lyrical flavor and flow gave the song a nice blend, Pitbull gave it the International brand and Bebe Cool stamp it with that real African Dancehall sound which took the remix to another level.”
CLEARED OF MURDER CHARGES: Former CPS DPC Aaron Baguma
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has today withdrawn all murder charges brought against the former Central Police Station (CPS) District Police Commander (DPC) Aaron Baguma, charged in relation to the murder of businesswoman Donah Katushabe.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Baguma has been facing the murder charges with among others, Muhammad Sebuwufu, a used car dealer, who was allegedly owed Shs9 million by Ms. Katushabe.
And today, while appearing before High court judge Justice Flavia Anglin Ssenoga, Principal State Attorney Alex OJok presented the DPP’s withdraw of charges letter signed by Mike Chibita W’aDuallo on December 21, 2017, in effect discontinuing the murder charges against SP Baguma.
In 2016 Katushabe’s relatives wrote to DPP requesting that charges against SP Baguma be dropped, owing to the support he had rendered the family of the deceased, which, among others, includes facilitating the relatives to meet the Inspector General of Police (IGP) General Kale Kayihura.
‘Your Lordship, we request that SP Aaron Baguma be dropped from among the accused persons and this of the because following reason: From the day we got to know about the death of our sister, it was Aron Baguma who as DPC of CPS who helped us uncovering the rot that some other officers in police had done in ensuring that the murderers of our sister walk away Scot free’ Alex Masereka Epafura, a brother to the deceased, wrote.
Masereka Epafura was further quoted as writing: ‘It was Baguma who helped us in accessing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura, who in turn helped us find a team of new investigators when the former team had been grossly compromised’.
The court has, however, adjourned Baguma’s matter to February 5, 2018.
A photo montage of Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu and the Parliament
Mid last year, Raphael Magyezi, the Member of Parliament representing Igara West, mooted an idea to have the presidential age limit cap of 75 years expunged from the Constitution.
Magyezi tabled his motion, a ‘private members bill’, and in a record time, it was ‘debated’, forwarded to the legal committee of Parliament, passed and assented to.
And, much as many did not deem it a priority, with many others saying it was floated to benefit only one individual, Magyezi’s bill that seemed like an offshoot from the thinking of Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga and State Minister for Privatisation and Koboko Woman MP Evelyn Anite, is now law!
Needless to say however, almost every year there is a complaint about parliamentary committees’ failure to handle their designated work on time.
Indeed, at Parliament’s end of year Party in 2014, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga expressed displeasure at the slow approach with which most House committees handled business.
As the legislators sipped on glasses of wine and celebrated with glee, the Speaker warned she will go hard on sluggish committees and as if to buttress her assertions, she announced a travel ban out of the city for the MPs until work was seen to be done.
She also said that henceforth, she was going to be strictly ruthless on the 45-day rule within which work had to be done by committees—the legislators in attendance sipped and nodded with promising reaction.
In executing its representation role, Parliament receives petitions from the public. The petitions, which simply put are complaints on public policy and governance issues, are expected to be investigated and recommendations be made by Parliament.
Click on the link below for list of the unresolved petitions.
However, a study by Eagle Online shows that out of close to 100 petitions brought to Parliament between 2011 and 2016, over sixty remain unresolved. Most of the petitions have now been over taken by events or the petitioners simply lost hope and gave up.
Anti-Corruption Coalition of Uganda (ACCU) boss Cissy Kagaba
“That is a general problem because MPs have failed to debate reports from government agencies leading to backlog of reports,” said Ms Cissy Kagaba, a political commentator and Executive Director of Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda. She added: “They have failed part of their oversight mandate, therefore the Speaker must take action.”
Among committees with a high level of backlog is the committee on gender (seven petitions), the committee on physical infrastructure (8 pending petitions), the committee on trade and industry (7) the House Committee on Education (7) and the committee on finance.
Rationalizing the committees’ failure to do the their work in perspective, Political Scientist Dr Frederick Kisekka-Ntale, says the reason for this unfinished business is that in most cases many people are elected to Parliament due to political factors.
According to Dr. Kisekka-Ntale, whereas MPS are expected to do legislative representation and constituency work, they, in most cases concentrate more on ‘constituency legislation’ as opposed to legislative representation.
“This because the people who voted them never did so basing on the ability of them being able to be good legislators but good politicians (omuntu wa bantu, omwana waffe). Therefore, this makes MPS concentrate on attending burials, weddings, funeral rites rather than performing their legislative role in Parliament, leaving a backlog,” Dr. Kisekka-Ntale emphasises.
Further still, the political science researcher and don notes that the caliber of the people sent to Parliament is not up to the task.
“Many of them do not understand what takes place in Parliament. They just find themselves in Parliament because of certain factors; for example a situation where the incumbent is weak or not liked by the electorate and hence the need to replace him with anybody.
“There is also a case of seasonal political events like age limit bill, marriage and divorce bill, domestic violence bill which reduces their capacity to perform,” Dr. Kisekka-Ntale said adding that the way forward is for Parliament to focus on its legislative role and concentrate less on ‘constituency representation’.
Asked whether having a backlog means Parliament has not done its work, the former Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) scholar said: “No, because Parliament is autonomous and performance can be measured by whatever little they have been able to accomplish.”
Some of the pending petitions include a petition by now Minister Chris Baryomunsi tabled in 2012 but brought to Parliament by timber dealers, regarding the embargo imposed by the Minister of Water and Environment on the sawing of trees for timber.
Another is a 2012 petition tabled by now Opposition Chief Whip, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda – brought by councillors of Kiira Town Council – on matters pertaining to the mismanagement of Council funds.
In 2013, MP Joseph Ssewungu tabled a petition brought by pupils, parents and the school management committee of Nakasero Primary School, on the grabbing of land at Plot 34A Kyadondo Road and Plot 5C Mackinnon Road measuring 0.657 hectares, by Prestigious Apartments Limited in collusion with Uganda Land Commission.
Yet still, in 2014 the Community of Lira District petitioned the Parliament of Uganda on the low Status of Life Saving Emergency Services for Pregnant Women and Newborns in the Health Centers IIIs and IVs of Lira. This was referred to the Committee on Health ‘for scrutiny’.
Similarly, a 2012 petition against illegal/unjust removal from service and breach of contract by the Uganda Public Employees Union is captured as ‘report ready but the issue is in court; so matter halted in Committee’.
Also, the status of a 2012 petition by children living with HIV/AIDS against the challenges faced accessing HIV/AIDS health care is captured as ‘still under consideration’.
Further, a petition by ‘Strategic Leadership Forum’ on the closure of Primary Teachers Training Colleges tabled by now primary education state minister Rosemary Sseninde in 2011 collected dust and was overtaken by events.
Political activist and Human Rights lawyer Nicholas Opio
“Legislators are consumed by other issues other than those affecting their electorates, Ugandans must realize that MPs are not working for them nor present their views in Parliament,” internationally acclaimed Human Rights defender and local political pundit, Nicholas Opio says. “They should seek for courts intervention even though they are costly”
However, senior legislator and celebrated committee on Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) chair, Abdu Katuntu, says the delay should be partly blamed on ‘rural excitement’ by voters who, at the beginning of Parliament, raise petty issues with their MPs.
“They bring to Parliament issues that can be handled by courts. At the end of the day, Parliament is overwhelmed by petitions leading to a backlog. Secondly it depends on the leadership of the committees where the reports are directed. Some committee leaders prioritize certain petitions reports at the expense others hence leaving some ignored, Katuntu said.
“Sometimes it as a result of events Parliament and the country generally like the recently passed presidential age limit bill turning the attention of Parliament from some issues and concentrating on others. It also makes the petitioners to lose interest in their petitioners,” he said, adding that the backlog notwithstanding, people still have faith in the institution.
“By the time the citizens petition Parliament, they have hope in the citizens to solve their problems, wrangles, and others. It is a great disappointment on our side as leaders when we do not deliver. On whether Parliament has not done its job; no, we can do better,” Katuntu said.
His Ajuri County colleague Hamson Obua, says petitioners should be proactive in nature and make follow ups through their lead petitioners.
“Parliament has rules and procedures to follow; it is the duty of the Speaker to ensure that these are respected and followed. When a petition is sent a committee, a report is expected within 45 days and failure to do so is inefficiency and ineffectiveness. On whether this means Parliament has betrayed the electorate, yes, but this calls for improvement in efficiency and effectiveness,” Obua said.
Obua’s assertion is buttressed by Mbale Woman MP Connie Nakayenze, who says sometimes committees finish the investigations but fail to get their reports on the order paper for presentation.
“This does not mean that the committee has not done its work but the Clerk to Parliament or the Leader of Government Business may have some priority business that they may want handled thus creating backlog.
“As a way forward, the petitioners should follow up their petitions with the Office of the Speaker and committee leadership. Our people need to understand that this does not mean that Parliament has failed in its duty but it is as a result of the busy schedule of Parliament,” she said.
Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chris Obore, could not be got for a comment and is yet to reply to text messages from our reporters.
Legislative researcher Hippo Twebaze blamed the backlog of petitions and bills in Parliament on Parliamentarians, saying they concentrate more on political matters and other matters that are considered to be of national importance.
“This makes MPS to put most of their energy on such matters that the political regime has interest in. The implication of this an indication of poor performance on the side of the Parliamentarians. If someone is elected to represent its electorate and the term ends without completion its business, its total incompetence,” Twebaze said.
Twebaze added: “The way forward is for Parliament to follow its rules of procedure and ensure that whatever is before Parliament way must find its way on the order paper. There must be a mechanism of balancing political issues and issues affecting the citizens directly.”
MultiChoice officials announcing the DStv and GOtv packages
MultiChoice Uganda, through DStv and GOtv channels, has announced that it will be broadcasting the 2018 Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) for Ugandan subscribers to support the Uganda Cranes.
The CHAN 2018 football tournament is the true test of Africa’s strongest league, pitting 16 of Africa’s best teams comprised of only home-based players in the domestic league, to compete in the tourney.
The tournament starts on Saturday January 12, and will be available to both DStv and GOtv subscribers on SuperSport Channels Select 2, Select 10, SS4, SS6, SS8, SS9 and SS10.
MultiChoice Public Relations Officer Tina Wamala, while addressing the media at MultiChoice head office in Kololo, said that Uganda’s participation in CHAN 2018 makes the tournament special.
“There are many local talents that Uganda is going to showcase at this tournament, therefore subscribers should expect outstanding and marvelous football,” she said.
Albert Nga, GOtv Marketing Manager said: “GOtv prides itself in being the home to premium entertainment. African and most especially Ugandan football on the International stage is one of the sports avenues we seek to promote. CHAN is one of the platforms to look out for outstanding Ugandan talent.”
Nga said DStv and GOtv subscribers will now enjoy the best of African football nurtured in the various domestic leagues on the continent as they tussle it out for football supremacy on SuperSport channels.
DStv Sales Manager Herbert Walugembe said: “We realized how important this tournament is to Ugandans most especially the domestic league fans. They want to be able to see how their players play against Africa’s best at on the international stage. We seek to promote the love for local sport and talent.”
Mr. Walugembe added: “We encourage football enthusiasts and local league supporters to renew their subscription and be able to catch the action. The CHAN tournament is the platform for our boys to make a mark for greatness. So why not allow their supporters at home witness how these talents perform as they show their patriotic duty by cheering them on.”
There was a verbal exchange on the floor of Parliament between Sarah Opendi, the State Minister of Health-General Duties and MPs over the ‘outbreak’ of the Congo Crimean fever in Nakaseke district.
It all started when MP Luttamaguzi Ssemakula (Nakaseke South) took to the floor demanding for a statement from government about the reported outbreak of the dreaded disease.
In his remarks, Luttamaguzi said that eight people have lost their lives to the disease, while 22 residents remain in isolation.
But when Opendi came to respond to the matter, she lashed out at Luttamaguzi for ‘hijacking the role of the Ministry’.
According to the Minister, it is only experts from the Ministry of Health who are mandated declare any outbreak, ‘not individuals without any health knowledge’.
However, several legislators took fault with Opendi’s response with many booing, as some stood up calling the Minister to ‘order’.
Jacob Oulanyah, Deputy Speaker saved the day and calmed the MPs, telling Minister Opendi that the matter at hand was the eight deaths and other imminent deaths, ‘not who is responsible for announcing the outbreak’.
“You aren’t in order to say that nobody else is supposed to talk about these matters,” Oulanyah said.
But Opendi was not done and fired back: “The Ministry does declare, we haven’t registered any death. We had this outbreak in August. We had cases but old cases are negative.”
The Minister’s response however did no go unchallenged, with Patrick Nsamba asking her to explain why 22 people are condoned off and why the eight died.
“The Congo Fever does normally occur in the cattle corridor and there were suspicious cases collected. So far all samples collected, all have turned out negative,” the Minister answered.
However, that response elicited more protests, forcing Minister Opendi to promise to return with a more concrete explanation.
Wilson Kyambadde, trade minister Amelia Kyambadde’s husband, has been released from Luzira prison after spending six months in civil prison.
On July 10 last year Mr. Kyambadde was committed by High Court executions division to the correctional facility after he failed to pay a Shs1 billion debt to city businessman Amdan Khan.
Businessman Khan accused Kyambadde of defrauding him in 2012, telling court that the latter approached him with a forged letter from State House, claiming that President Yoweri Museveni had given him a house, and that he (Kyambadde) was vending it.
Khan offered to buy the house and gave US$300,000 to Kyambadde as down payment but the house never existed and this forced the businessman to seek redress from court, resulting in Mr. Kyambadde’s arrest and subsequent incarceration.
And contacted today, Uganda Prisons spokesperson Frank Baine confirmed the release but said he wouldn’t divulge details because he was requested by Mr. Kyambadde to treat the matter as private.
“What is special about Kyambadde? Ask the wife whether he has reached home. He asked me for privacy but for now ask his family.” Mr. Baine told EagleOnline.
Meanwhile, after Mr. Kyambadde serving the six-month civil prison, he could face criminal charges if he fails to pay up, and the judgment debtor presses on with litigation.
MADE 'SHITHOLE' COMMENT? US President Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump has been ‘awarded’ the ‘Overall Achievement in Undermining Global Press Freedom’ award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
This follows the CPJ naming its ‘Global Press Oppressors’, described by the journalists’ lobby group as the world leaders who use rhetoric, legal action, and censorship to try to silence their critics.
The list also features leaders from China, Egypt, Myanmar, Poland, Russia, Turkey, all of who have gone out of their way to attack the press and undermine the norms that support freedom of the media at a time when a record number of journalists are being jailed for their work.
“It’s staggering to see the extent to which some world leaders are so fearful of their critics and the truth,” said CPJ Advocacy Director Courtney Radsch, from Washington, DC, adding: “At a time when the number of journalists in prison globally is at a record high the failure of President Donald Trump and other leaders to stand up for press freedom risks weakening democracy and human rights.”
The Global Press Oppressors list includes four categories as well as an award for the one of President Donald Trump, the Overall Achievement in Undermining Global Press Freedom.
Most Thin-skinned
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey
Runner-Up: President Donald Trump, United States Most Outrageous Use of Terror Laws Against the Press
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey
Runner-Up: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt Tightest Grip on Media*
President Xi Jinping, China
Runner-Up: President Vladimir Putin, Russia
*This category excludes countries with no independent media, such as North Korea and Eritrea.
Biggest Backslider in Press Freedom
State Counselor and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar
Runner-Up: President Andrzej Duda, Poland
Overall Achievement in Undermining Global Press Freedom
