Kampala-Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has signed a charter on menstrual hygiene at Parliament today May 28,to mark the menstrual hygiene day.
The charter intends to persuade government to come up with policies that can help school girls who undergo menstruation periods manage the challenges that come with it.
The charter was signed by a consortium of Non-Government Organizations providing menstrual hygiene support services. The organizations include Eco pads, AfriPads, Fields of Life and the menstrual hygiene management.
According to the national coordinator of AfriPads in Uganda,Helen Walker, menstrual hygiene is a very sensitive issue that requires a lot of attention to help girls focus and stay in school.
“What we are doing is to raise awareness that the girls do not have access to these sanitary materials because they are expensive and sometimes inaccessible,” Walker said.
Walker says that a number of girls in rural areas of developing countries like Uganda do not have access to proper sanitary pads and as a result they end up using rags and pieces of clothes that do not help much. She says the menstruation hygiene day is in place to raise awareness about the need to break the silence on menstruation.
The menstrual hygiene day celebrations started with a march from Nakawa to Parliament where they signed the charter, and after went to the National Theatre where pupils and students from different schools presented in songs and drama.
In August last year, the State Minister of Primary Health, Sarah Opendi, launched a reader titled “understanding and managing menstruation”, to teach primary school girls how to manage their menstrual periods, in a bid to reduce the number of school drop outs.
Menstrual hygiene is not only crucial for women or girls’ well-being and dignity, it is also a fundamental part of basic hygiene that every woman or girl has a right to.
According to a study on menstrual management in Uganda, by Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) and International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC), 62 percent of the pupils in the schools sampled absent themselves from school during their menstruation periods. 42 percent do not come to school and 76 percent are not satisfied with the menstrual facilities provided at school.
The study was carried out in seven districts which include Arua, Adjumani, Bundibugyo, Kasese, Kyenjojo, Lira and Soroti.
When we called up Aggie Konde, she said she was not up for any interview with anyone. “Not even NTV,” she added for emphasis. We called a bluff that we have previously interviewed a cadaver and we were in possession of the soundclip. She laughed. Aggie Konde, the NTV Uganda Managing Director, had bought it. Yes, she is that susceptible to deception.
Next was Anita Kyarimpa, aka Fabiola. Our intention was to sit the two together and hear their side of the story in a face-off interview. The dazzling hot former Miss Uganda runner-up and former NTV Be My Date presenter said she had no comment. “Know what, you are going to be interviewed by the only journalist who has ever interviewed a foetus,” we hit at her. The giggles suggested she had bit the bullet.
We decided to leave Solomon Muhiirwa, the NTV head of HR, out of this. The man had already sounded denser than these two ladies so we did not want to make the room too languid by adding his presence.
In an email announcing Fabiola’s sacking to staff, Muhiirwa said the reason emanates from her nude pictures that have been doing the rounds on social media circuit (sic) and that those in the habit of engaging or those contemplating doing the same should think thrice of its repercussions (another sic). “This tarnishes our brand image and values; a foundation on which we are built and respected,” the HR, who, for lack of a better adjective we shall call a newt, said.
Yes, we just called Solomon Muhiirwa a newt. Look, who sacks a Fabiola, a damsel every other man wants to ‘suck’, a damsel someone described as an “organized piece of artwork”? We swear this is the new breed of African jealousy! Anyway, here is what transpired in the cross-fire interview moderated by The Frying Pun.
“Aggie, let’s get straight to the point. You sacked this girl [points at Fabiola] ostensibly because of her leaked nude pictures, right?” Pun asked.
“That’s right,” she said.
“But you hired her ostensibly because she strutted what her momma gave her semi-nude on the catwalk. How can you now climb the moral high ground of the brand image?” Pun probed. “To make it worse, Aggie, you gave her a gutter show called Be My Date. Even Bukedde TV had not sunk that low. What’s the hypocrisy for?”
“At NTV Uganda, we have a code of conduct that every staff is inducted in when joining. We are very proud of this code of conduct for it’s our brand. Anita did not live up to it and that is on record,” Konde said.
“No, no, no! We have already indicated the whole brand image thing is total hypocrisy. Did you miss the news of Nation Media staff in Nairobi having sex in the parking lot in their cars? Were they fired?” Frying Pun was not relenting.
“I think I misunderstood the whole intention of this interview. Are you seeking to denigrate my decision, Mister? NTV Uganda might be part of Nation Media Group but we make our own decisions,” Konde fired back.
Bukedde’s Mweruka
“So it was your decision? What exactly is this brand image you are talking about? Has Bukedde’s brand tumbled because of Robinah Mweruka’s thorough piston-like gyration in the sextape?” Pun shot in.
“For your information, such gutter stuff is part of Bukedde’s brand, that is why they just cheered Mweruka on and probably gave her a pay raise,” Konde said.
“Word is that you are starting a luganda segment of your operations, meaning Bukedde will be your direct competitor. How will you even compete when you are sacking Fabiola over pictures allegedly leaked after her phone was stolen?” Pun asked.
“’Allegedly’ is not appropriate word here,” Fabiola said. “I lost my phone and went through a lot of pain trying to fight off people who wanted money.”
“So NTV must have been aware that you lost your phone and that blackmailers were making a kill from it, but instead of offering some form of support, they decided to sack. Aggie, you don’t put a gun to your daughter’s head over that, you help her through it,” The Pun addressed the NTV MD.
“I believe they miscalculated,” Fabiola offered, leaving the Frying Pun confused. But not for long.
“Yes, I must admit there was an element of miscalculation,” Konde started. “You see, every week after the show, social media is filled with vile comments about it. We figured if we fired her because of the nudes, then people will mock her instead, but Ugandans are strange. I can’t imagine everyone is up in arms and calling for her reinstatement.”
“You used a cocktail of Pepsi and Mountain Dew logic to make a decision,” Fabiola now hit out. “A lush-looking potted plant in an office doesn’t mean it is watered regularly; it can actually be plastic.”
“Huh? Plastic? Taking of that, some people are calling you ‘Fake-ola’ now. Apparently, your butts leave men drooling in HD decibels, but in your Eve’s suit, the butts were missing in action. Fabiola, are they fake?”
“So you called me here to discuss my butt?” she asked.
“Actually, such and other things also contributed. Our assessment was that many people watched not the show but Fabiola and that is wrong. People would come for the show but just so they get the chance to meet Fabiola. Now, add to media reports about her rent issues and that thing in the apartment… tell me, Frying Pun, which manager wouldn’t have parted ways with Anita?” Konde asked.
“Kabushenga… Robert Kabushenga of Vision Group. Actually, only NTV led by Aggie Konde would do that. Will you tomorrow sack Zuena if Bebe Cool is seen dry-humping some horny fan on stage in Mbale town?”
Bebe Cool on stage
“I think you are exaggerating things now. We only warned our staff against stooping so low as do take nude pictures,” Konde said, almost pleading.
“What is low about nude pictures? We are born nude by nude mothers. Apart from Brenda Nambi of former Obsessions, there is no other person we know of who has released own nudes. If you, a woman, is victimizing another woman, you can only imagine where society is headed considering we are already in an abyss where society, especially men, hold women at ransom because they know exposing their nudity will lead to automatic sacking. Mark you, some of those pictures are taken without women knowing, some are videos etc. Sacking is not sending a deterrent message but setting a wrong precedent to blackmailers…”
“Mister Pun, my time is up. I am leaving,” Konde said.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin (R) and Sepp Blatter(courtesy photo)
Russia’s Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of meddling outside its jurisdiction by arresting officials from Fifa.
“This is yet another blatant attempt [by the United States] to extend its jurisdiction to other states,” the Russian president said on Thursday.
Putin added that the arrests were a “clear attempt” to prevent the re-election of Fifa head Sepp Blatter and that the Swiss had Russia’s backing.
“It looks very strange, the arrests are carried out on the request of the USA side,” he said.
“They are accused of corruption – who is? International officials. I suppose that someone broke some rules, I don’t know. But definitely, it’s got nothing to do with the USA. Those officials are not US citizens. If something happened it was not in the US and it’s nothing to do with them
“It’s another clear attempt by the USA to spread its jurisdiction to other states. And I have no doubt – it’s a clear attempt not to allow Mr Blatter to be re-elected as president of Fifa, which is a great violation of the operating principles of international organisations.
The US prosecutor, as our media report, has already said that those Fifa officials have committed a crime. As if the prosecutor didn’t know about the principle of the presumption of innocence.”
Citing former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, both of whom have evaded prosecution in the United States by hiding abroad, Putin questioned Washington’s right to request the Fifa officials’ extradition.
“Unfortunately, our American partners use such methods to achieve their selfish aims and illegally persecute people. I do not rule out that in the case of Fifa, it’s exactly the same,” Putin said.
Russia will host the 2018 World Cup(courtesy photo)
Russia won the rights to stage the 2018 World Cup under Blatter’s auspices. That 2010 decision, along with the award to Qatar of the 2022 tournament, is the subject of a Swiss criminal investigation running parallel to the US action.
The arrest of six top Federation of International Football Association officials at Zurich hotel is a welcome gesture to all football and corrupt free minds that aspire to push for the development of football.
Though, arrests have been made late but at least it is a clear message to those out there who continue to abuse their offices by profiteering from them as individuals instead of the intended purpose for all.
Football is a game which is God given talent like other talents and as such, let us leave the talent to flourish. Resorting to favours and bribes in order for countries and individuals who don’t merit at the expense of those that have the talent is the least to say. Why would country X be favoured at the expense of Y to host or participate in the game? It is absurd that the world has reached that level.
The arrest of the six who include FIFA Vice-President Jeffrey Webb, on suspicion of corruption in dawn raids at a Zurich hotel ahead oftomorrow’s presidential election could pave way for fresh blood at the helm of football. And this can only happen if long serving FIFA President Sepp Blatter steps down and a fresh inquiry is held in countries that subscribe to FIFA.
The arrests are of a separate criminal investigation into how the 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) World Cups were allocated. However, Blatter has already ruled out a revote, insisting Russia and Qatar will remain the respective hosts.
The members of the world governing body were held by Swiss police at the US Department of Justice’s request. They are suspected of having received bribes totaling millions of US dollars, the Swiss authorities said.
FUFA president Moses Magogo in Zurich for FIFA elections
FUFA president Moses Magogo in Zurich for FIFA elections (courtesy photo)
In the awake of football’s (if not sports’) biggest corruption scandal ever, Local soccer governing body, FUFA will cast vote in favour of Joseph Sepp Blatter.
Swiss police made dawn raids in Zurich where officials were staying beforeFriday’s presidential election on Friday.
“Yesterday’s developments haven’t changed our (Executive) thinking because Blatter wasn’t implicated. He is clean” Ahmed Hussein stated, FUFA spokesman wrote in the federations’ official statement.
Swiss police, working with the Federal Office of Justice, have detained and will attempt to extradite a number of Fifa delegates, plus other executives, over fraud allegations
An international law enforcement collaboration resulted in the detaining of numerous officials and sports marketing executives, who were at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich ahead of the 65th Fifa Congress.
“FUFA therefore wishes to assure the public that the FUFA Delegation led by the FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo, including the 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha and Chief Executive Officer Edgar Watson are not anywhere connected to the FIFA matters being reported that span from the early 90’s and that the delegation is ready to be part of the proceedings at the FIFA Congress that will culminate into the Presidential elections tomorrow and continue on Saturday 30th May 2015.” A statement reads in part
The United States Department of Justice have confirmed the nine officials to be arrested are Jeffrey Webb, Eugenio Figueredo, Jack Warner (who resigned from Fifa under a wave of corruption claims in 2011 and is believed to have been arrested elsewhere), Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, Jose Maria Marin and Nicolas Leoz.
A separate criminal investigation into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated has also begun.
The indictment says South Africa paid $10 million in bribes for votes from Jack Warner and two other committee members in its bid to become the host country.
Our ideology is a system of ideas that forms the basis of our economic and political theory and policy.
First and foremost, we embrace progressive views. We support progressive social causes, a stronger taxation system and social programs based on the community responsibility. We embrace social liberalism through seeking a balance between individual liberty, social justice and the common good. We believe in government getting involved in addressing issues such as poverty and access to education and health care. We believe in government funding social programs intended to help the poor, the disadvantaged and the low-income earners.
We believe in a market economy in which decisions regarding investment, production, and distribution are based on supply and demand, and prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. We deliberately support business regulation and a progressive approach to taxation to increase market fairness and prevent unfair labor practices. We believe in supporting small businesses and startups to enable them grow so that in future they can provide employment to Ugandans in addition to contributing to the national income through taxation.
Thus our ideology enables us to effectively address issues concerning all Ugandans including the low-income workers, laborers, disadvantaged groups and the young job creators and business owners.
Plastic at a garbage Collection centre in the city
Garbage Collection in the city
Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) has revealed to traders that the Kaveera ban is still on and that NEMA will implement it.
Speaking to traders today in Kampala, KACITA Secretary General Mr. Sentamu Ephraim Kaddu said that after having consultations on 8 April with the government, NEMA and other stake holders, it was agreed that the ban on polythene products with less than 30 microns remain in force.
Mr Sentamu told the traders and manufacturers that they can only deal in products with microns 30 and above. “As KACITA we don’t allow any trader to sell those products that have below 30 microns,” he said. ”NEMA should not go on harassing traders that sell Buveeras with 30 microns and above.”
Dr. Tom Okurut told the traders that NEMA would go ahead to do its job of implementing the ban. He further advised the manufacturers to come up with better polythene products that are environmental friendly. “We will find alternatives, many companies have invested in tree planting,” he said, adding: “You should invest in other packaging products.”
This development leaves traders who had acquired new polythene stocks in dilemma. NEMA in conjunction with police will confiscate there products if they are below the required micron percentage.
Okurut Tom, Executive Director NEMA
Mixed feelings at NEMA-KACITA meeting.
Traders under their umbrella body Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) have failed to reach a consensus with National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) officials. The traders blame NEMA officials for impounding their polythene products without considering their micron percentage.
Speaking at a press conference held today at Diamond Hotel, Kampala, the traders owning ‘buveera’
wholesale shops complained that NEMA officials confiscate their merchandise without considering the micron percentage in them.
The traders allege that all plastic bags are impounded thus making them incur losses. “We are really in a tight state now, I imported polythene products that are above 30 microns but NEMA impounded all of them,” said Mr. Kyeyune Sadik, a trader in Kikuubo.
Traders asked NEMA that if the “Kaveera ban’ is to succeed, sensitization was needed and all stake holders needed to be educated about it. “All of us want to learn about the Kaveera ban but we haven’t been sensitized properly,” said Ms. Muwanga Rehema.
Mr. Sabra Naim, a member of Uganda Plastics Manufacturers and Recyclers Association (UPMRA) blamed NEMA for what he termed as ‘spending money in the wrong direction.’ He advised NEMA to hold dialogue with the traders instead of confiscating their merchandise.
Nakivubo drainage channel
“I have a license and I was allowed to manufacture, you (NEMA) are fighting the traders yet we (manufacturers) are allowed to produce,” asserted Mr. Sabra. He advised NEMA and the government to consider recycling since most African states do it, saying, “the only way forward is recycling to mitigate climate change.”
Dr. Tom Okurut, the Executive Director NEMA called upon all traders not to put the blame on NEMA because it was only implementing what was passed by parliament. “Those arguments should be taken to parliament,” he said.
The Uganda parliament passed the Kaveera ban law in 2009 and after six years when it was passed, the polythene bags are still on the market. Earlier this year NEMA decided to implement the ban amid protests for traders and manufacturers.
Security in and around Makerere Business School (MUBS) campus has been strengthened as graduation day approaches. This move comes after terrorists issued a threat warning to attack universities.
Speaking to Journalists at the university campus, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Mr. Onyango Patrick said that a professional police will be deployed to keep calm and make sure that the campus is secure. ”Our Counter Terrorism Unit officers will be the lead agency, they will monitor the access control points,” he said.
Mr. Onyago said that they have come up with restrictions this time round and that no fire arms will be allowed into campus premises, he advised the officers to leave their guns at their respective offices.
Private photographers, large back packs, canned food and drinks are some of the prohibited things listed.
According to guidelines, the main gate will be used by VIPs, University officials and members of academic procession. Parents and graduands will use the same gate opposite capital Shoppers.
Mr. Odoki Simon Peter, the MUBS Public Relations Ofiicer, said that all preparations were done and all steps were taken to ensure a successful ceremony. “Over 1000 students from all academic fields will graduate with Post Graduate Diplomas and Certificates,” he said.
The Public relations officer revealed that security in and outside campus will be tightened because of the terrorists’ threats to attack universities nationwide and that the move was to take precaution.
The event will be presided over by Makerere University (Mak) Chancellor Prof Mondo Kagonyera. Unlike the past graduation ceremonies where successful business people have been invited to inspire the new graduands, Mr. Odoki says this year’s chief celebrant will be the presidential advisor and Commander of Operation wealth creation, Gen. Salim Saleh.
Mr. Odoki says they decided invite Gen. Saleh because of this year’s theme. The theme is “Youth tapping into other structures of job creation.” “General Saleh is the best choice we made to talk about that,” said Mr. Odoki.
Over 1000 MUBS students will graduate with Post Graduate Diplomas and Certificates at the university’s 10 Graduation ceremony.
A hospital has been ordered to fund the upbringing of a child who was conceived after a long-term contraceptive implant on her mother failed.
The High Court directed Aga Khan University Hospital family planning clinic to pay the woman (name withheld) KSh4.3 million to cater for the unplanned child.
Justice Hatari Waweru also ordered the hospital to pay the woman a further KSh500,000 for pain and loss of her comfort.
“This sum (KSh4.3 million), if wisely invested, should bring in an annual income that will go a long way in maintaining and educating the child without the necessity of delving into the principal sum,” Waweru ruled.
The court heard that the now mother of three visited the clinic for a long-term birth control as she did not want to have more children.
The woman said the reason she did not want a third child was because she and her husband were already struggling to bring up their two children.
She told the court that on July 4, 2011, the hospital advised her that implanon was the most appropriate contraceptive method for her.
Implanon is a flexible plastic rod about the size of a matchstick that contains a progestin hormone called etonogestre. It is inserted just under the skin of the inner side of the upper arm.
The court also heard after going through the medical procedure, she was assured that it would be safe to have sex with her husband without using any protection.
She was assured that the implant would secure her from pregnancy for at least three years.
But she soon had the shock of her life when she realised that her periods had failed. She did a home pregnancy test and confirmed that that she, indeed, was pregnant.
She rushed to the same hospital, which also confirmed she was pregnant. Other tests confirmed that the contraceptive had beenimplanted in her arm.
Entebbe Club’s Kitata Willy won the 2014 Uganda Golf Open
Entebbe Club’s Kitata Willy won the 2014 Uganda Golf Open (courtesy photo)
The 73rd edition of the Tusker Malt Uganda Golf Open will have five tournaments in one hosted at the Uganda Golf Club, Kitante.
Uganda’s most prestigious tournament will be played over 16 days from July 15-August 1 with the Uganda Ladies Open, Uganda Open, Seniors’, Professionals, Pro-Am and a Junior tournament.
“The dates for the professional open coincide with the slack period of the Sunshine Tour (in Mombasa) members,” Kiryowa Kiwanuka, the Uganda Golf Union president said.
“The Union wish and is pushing to have all the regions’ best golfer participate in the Uganda Open to give it competitiveness” he added.
Action will start with the Uganda Ladies Open from July 15-18 a subsidiary event for the ladies will also be held on July 17 with those making the cut after the first day playing in the second round alongside the players in the main draw on July 18.
The seniors Open will follow thereafter on July 19-20 before the main amateur open that will be played over 72 holes from July 21 with a practice round, followed by competition over four days.
The professionals will yet again tussle it out for a share of 100 million at stake however that amount of money could increase ahead of the tournament with just only a month to go.
“The Union has sent out invites to professionals from North Africa and Middle East” Herbert Rwamibazi, the tournament director said.
The Pro-Am will be held from July 28 while the Professionals will tee off from July 29- August 1 with projected cut to be determined after two rounds of action.
Grace Nsehemeire Gwaku, the Uganda Breweries Marketing Director hands dummy check for the sponsorship 2015 tusker malta Uganda open(courtesy photo)
“Uganda Breweries will continue to pledges pattern with the Golf Union to promote and facilitate the sport,” Grace Nsehemeire Gwaku, the Uganda Breweries Marketing Director emphasized during the Launch.
For the first time the Uganda Golf Union has incorporated every golfer in one tournament right from the gross players to the senior golfers, the ladies and the junior players at a later stage.
Entebbe Club’s Kitata Willy clinched last year’s Open title; Flavia Namakula won the Ladies’ unanimously decorated as Uganda’s golf queen, wining her third Uganda Ladies Open title.
