New Presidents need orientation seminars

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May 6, 2015

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Former Uganda Vice President and Member of the AU Panel of the Wise Ms Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, calls for deliberate seminars to be organised for new presidents and their cabinets. This, she argues will help in bringing them up to speed with everyone else on critical local, regional and international priority issues.
She was Tuesday addressing over 60 participants at a one-day seminar on“Strengthening Mediation” organized by ACCORD. The seminar took place at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Wandira further urged the participants to embrace peace building mechanisms as a cheaper option compared to conflict prevention. She underscored the role of non-state actors especially universities, which are responsible for doing the necessary research on structural issues that, either promote peace or fuel conflict. She added that religious institutions should be a permanent feature for ensuring continuity in working with communities for peace building.
AMISOM representative Lydia Wanyoto-Mutende called on all concerned leaders, to clearly define the relationship between protocols and actual situations on the ground in conflict-prone countries. She figuratively drew attention to a woman waking up to bomb blasts and gunshots, and having to carry her baby on her back while running to safety; and ordinary citizens crossing borders to escape conflicts, sometimes without even having a passport or visa, to say the least.
The seminar, was also addressed by other high profile discussants including; Assistant UN Secretary General Taye-Brook Zerihoun, Chair of the Peace and Security Council (month of May), Amb. Amina Diallo, Member AU Panel of the Wise, H.E Edem Kodjo, AU Special Representative Mali/Sahel, H.E Pierre Buyoya, Amb. Bwakira from CMI, and ACCORD Founder Vasu Gounden, among others. Their discussions largely focused on the post-1990 conflict trends and accompanying complex practices and challenges; the nature of existing collaboration between the AU and Regional Economic Communities; the role played by international bilateral and multilateral cooperation and partnerships including those of partners in general and United Nations in particular; and the role of non-state actors in the mediation process.
On the way forward, participants proposed the strengthening of the capacity of hitherto marginalized groups such as women and the youth for mediation; the importance of implementation of agreements that result from mediation efforts, not to mention that this will require additional human and financial resources, among others.

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Immunization: Closing the gap on pneumonia in Kenya

By

Samuel

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May 6, 2015

Soon after the birth of her second child, a daughter she named Neema, Tabu Kalama found herself homeless and with no regular income. Ms Kalama had no option but to sleep with her newborn daughter and her 18-month old son in the meagre shelter of palm trees near the beach in Kilifi, in eastern Kenya.
It was June, among the coolest and wettest months there. “I was so worried that the baby would fall sick, and there was nothing that I could do,” Kalama says.

Neema developed a temperature high enough to be fatal for a 3-month-old baby. Ms Kalama had heard about pneumonia and worried that Neema might have this illness.

Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death in children worldwide. This disease killed an estimated 935 000 children under the age of 5 in 2013.

Ms Kalama brought Neema to the hospital. After more than a week, including periods when Neema lost consciousness, her baby overcame the illness and was discharged.

Three months later, friends and well-wishers joined together to build the Kalama family a small hut in Kilifi. Today, Ms Kalama ekes out a living by watching over a neighbour’s herd of goats and from additional odd jobs.

Kenya among first to use pneumonia vaccine, PCV-10

When Neema, now 14 years old, fell sick, Kenyan children were not immunized against bacteria that cause pneumonia. In January 2011, following recommendations by the WHO and with the Organization’s technical assistance – plus financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance – Kenya’s health ministry introduced PCV-10. This “ten-valent” vaccine targets ten bacteria that cause invasive pneumococcal disease, a form of the illness that is frequently fatal.

Kenya was among the first countries in the African Region to introduce PCV, and the first low-income country to use the ten-valent vaccine. Today, newborns nationwide receive the vaccine in 3 doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks. Neema’s youngest siblings have all received PCV-10.

Kenya’s push to immunize babies against pneumonia is helping the country advance on the 2025 targets of the Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD), released by WHO and UNICEF in 2013. The two agencies have recognized that it is not effective to try to prevent and control pneumonia and diarrhoea separately. Pneumococcal vaccine – a key element of the new integrated strategy- had been introduced in 102 countries by the end of 2013, and global coverage was estimated at 25%.

Since PCV-10 was introduced in Kenya, scientists at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) have been studying the impact of the vaccine on child health. Their research, which is supported by the Wellcome Trust and Gavi, found that introduction of PCV-10 in Kenya resulted in an estimated 42.7% reduction in pneumococcal disease episodes and a 6.1% reduction in childhood deaths. 1

Challenges of stopping preventable disease

Unlike Neema and her siblings, many Kenyan children do not live in towns close to clinics or health centres. This means health workers must travel to distant rural areas for immunization drives.

“The key thing is to sensitize the community about the importance of these immunizations,” says Judy Kinya, a clinical officer at the Vipingo Health Centre, an hour’s drive along the coast road south of Kilifi.

Painted in foot-high letters on the wall outside is the centre’s vision: “A nation free from preventable diseases and ill health”. In the shade of the half-walled waiting area, mothers gather with their babies and young children for general health check-ups and new rounds of immunizations.

“These are the ones here who heard the message, and it is true that there are many of them,” says Ms Kinya. “But there are many more out there in the more remote areas, and really to succeed fully with immunization coverage, we need to be able to reach every last one of them.”

“We know that reaching children in remote rural areas and urban slums is the biggest challenge we face as we move forward on closing the immunization gap and giving all children the opportunity to be fully immunized,” says Dr Custodia Mandlhate, WHO Representative for Kenya. “Working closely with WHO, Kenya’s health authorities are striving to meet this challenge.”

Back in Kilifi, Neema has run home from school as the Easter holidays begin. “She and her brother are enrolled in the local primary school, where they trade places at the top of the class,” Ms Kalama says with pride. After the most recent exams, Neema was once again in first place as the school’s top student.

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Museveni, US Security Advisor discuss South Sudan, Somalia

By

Samuel

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May 6, 2015

Ugandadelegation — President Museveni and the United States National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice

President Museveni and the United States National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice have exchanged views on regional developments and discussed the devastating humanitarian as well as regional economic costs of continued conflict in South Sudan.
The two leaders in a bilateral meeting they held Tuesday at the President’s residence at Waldorf Astoria hotel agreed on the need for the international community and South Sudan’s regional partners to work quickly to achieve peace in the face of the intransigence of the country’s leaders.
They expressed concern over the increasing level of conflict in Sudan, specifically the continued conflict in Darfur and the vicious bombing of civilians in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States.

The two leaders reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing regional efforts to defeat the Lord’s Resistance Army and continuing cooperation to support the vital work of the African Union Mission in Somalia. They also discussed the important cooperation between the USA and Uganda to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism in the region.
The meeting was attended by Uganda’s Head of Mission and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Richard Nduhura and Military Attaché Brig. Silver Kayemba.
President Museveni had earlier received Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete with whom they discussed issues of regional cooperation. He also met and held a discussion with Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs Georges Chokoti with whom they discussed matters concerning the Great Lakes region. Angola is the current chair of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region-ICGLR.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Okello Oryem and Uganda’s Deputy Head of Mission to the United Nations Ambassador Kintu Nyago.
The President also received the Bechtel Corporation Senior Strategic Advisor for Africa Mr. Tom Cargill who was accompanied by Bochtel Global Head of Sustainability Mr Tim Robert Nguye.
Mr. Cargill told President Museveni that his Corporation is interested in investing in East African regional infrastructural development and capacity building for infrastructural sustainability. The President and his guests discussed possibilities of investing in infrastructural development in Uganda, particularly in the construction of railways and hydro electric power stations and in forming partnership with local engineers to sustain their investments.
The President later conducted interviews with the Associated Press and Al Jazeera television networks based in New York.

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NRM too weak to win an election – DP

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Our Reporter

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May 5, 2015

The Democratic Party (DP) describes the ruling National Resistance Movement as “too” weak to win an election in Uganda.

Democratic Party (DP) spokesperson Michael Kakande told the weekly party press conference, “The president (Museveni) has gone to areas where he has much support and he is now dividing them up into smaller constituencies.” He said this is a plot to manipulate Ugandans.

Last week, media reports suggested that the NRM was dividing up constituencies and 36 of them are in the offing to increase on its member base.

On the constitutional amendments being discussed, Kakande said, “The president is so worried about the coming elections that he wants the constitution amended.

Another concern that Kakande rubbished the use of National IDs information to determine who votes. He says many people registered for IDs and almost every eligible Ugandan did.

“So if they are planning to allow people use National IDs to vote which opens the pass to vote rigging. What will the other people who are not interested in voting do? Of course their names are going to be used by machineries to vote”, he argued.

He also said the only way the opposition can bring down the NRM party is by unifying all political parties.

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UN’s Ban Ki Moon appeals to Museveni over Burundi, South Sudan peace efforts

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Our Reporter

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May 5, 2015

President Museveni Shaking hands with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon during the side-lines of the High Level Thematic Debate at United Nations General Headquarters in New York on Monday May 4, 2015. PPU Photo

President Yoweri Museveni with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (right) and the President of the United Nations General Assembly Sam Kutesa on the side-lines of the High Level Thematic Debate at United Nations General Headquarters in New York on Monday May 4, 2015. PPU Photo

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to help avert the deteriorating situation in Burundi and restore peace in the central African country. He also urged the Ugandan leader to try and bring the two warring factions in the South Sudan conflict to negotiate conclusive peace agreements for the country.

Ban Ki Moon and President Museveni met on the sidelines of the UN High Level Thematic Debate on UN cooperation with Regional and Sub-Regional Organisations in the maintenance of global peace and security for development. The two leaders also discussed regional issues covering Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo -DRC.

The Secretary General thanked President Museveni for delivering the key note address and commended him and other regional leaders for their efforts that brought peace to Burundi. He also thanked President Museveni for his efforts in stabilizing Somalia under AMISOM.

In response President Museveni told the Secretary General that the Al Shabaab in Somalia has largely been defeated in towns but still roam the rural areas and called for more deployments in order to contain them.

The meeting was also attended by the UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr Okello Oryem and Uganda’s Ambassador to the to the United Nations Dr. Richard Nduhura.

Later, President Museveni held a bilateral meeting with the Tanzanian leader Jakaya Kikwete in New York and the two discussed matters of mutual interest.

The President Museveni also held discussions with the Swedish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Mr. Annika Soder, focusing mainly on who the situation in Somalia.

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FDC not ready to work with Gen Sejusa

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Our Reporter

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May 4, 2015

John Kikonyogo says working with Sejjusa would be against the party’s principals — John Kikonyogo

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has distanced it’s self from working with General David Sejusa so long as he is still in the army. This was revealed today at the party’s head offices in Najanankumbi.

Speaking at the press release, the FDC National spokesperson, John Kikonyogo said that working with Sejjusa would be against the party’s principals that strongly barr army officers from participating in politics.

Kikonyogo said that the party is against the army participating in politics and FDC agreeing to talk to General Sejjusa would be in contradiction to the party’s core principals. “We want Nyakairima out of cabinet and allowing Gen.Sejjusa wouldn’t look good, it would be eating our own words,” said Kikonyogo.

The party spokesperson revealed that no one was barred from talking to Gen. Sejjusa on personal terms. He disclosed that for the FDC to meet the General for talks, he must first retire from the army. ”We don’t have any problem with it, let him get out of the army so that he participates in politics freely,” urged Kikonyogo. “No one has been stopped from talking to Gen. Sejjusa on personal terms but as a party we cannot.”

It was disclosed by the party spokesperson that the FDC party had instructed the Leader of Opposition in Parliament , Hon. Wafula Oguttu to follow up on the retirement requests by army officers. “We have to take those army officers who want to retire to be allowed. Why should someone be kept in the army against his will?” asked Kikonyogo.

About the current opposition5 pressure groups, Kikonyogo said that the FDC party was in support of their activities since they are pushing for various reforms in the country. “We are in terms with them (pressure groups) because they are putting pressure on government, we have no problem with that.”

Kikonyogo also revealed that the FDC party was not happy with the Electoral Commision for the way they have handled the voter registration exercise . The spokesperson said that time for verifying the contents of the register was not enough and that the EC should have extended the time.” They should have retained the 2006 register. They are using a register which was not rightly compiled,” Kikonyogo said. “By extracting data from the identity card register, they are forcing people who didn’t want to vote to be included. The 2006 register should not be discarded.’

These remarks were made after political analysts claimed that FDC was afraid of working with the General. General David Sejjusa has been visiting different political parties to discuss ways on how to form a single political force that would oust the NRM government out of power.

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Royal princess named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

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Our Reporter

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May 4, 2015

The princess follows a long line of royals named Charlotte

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Kensington Palace has said.

The fourth in line to the throne will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

She was born on Saturday in the Lindo Wing of London’s St Mary’s Hospital weighing 8lbs 3oz (3.7kg).

The Queen and other senior royals were told of the baby’s name before the announcement was made public.

The BBC’s royal correspondent Peter Hunt said that a Kensington Palace official, when asked about the couple’s choice of name, said: “We’ll let the names speak for themselves.”

Charlotte, the feminine form of Charles, has a long royal pedigree and became popular in the 18th Century when it was the name of George III’s queen.

The King bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a family home close to St James’s Palace – it became known as the Queen’s House and is now Buckingham Palace.

Charles is the name of two former kings and of the Prince of Wales, the princess’s grandfather.

Charlotte also has more recent connections for the royal couple.

On the duchess’s side, it is the middle name of her sister Pippa Middleton and on the duke’s it is the name of his cousin Charlotte Spencer, Earl Spencer’s youngest daughter.

The earl tweeted: “Perfect names. My 2-year old Charlotte Diana will be thrilled at cousinly name-sharing.”

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, Charlotte is the 21st most popular girl’s name in England and Wales with 2,242 babies being given it in 2013.

Elizabeth is 39th in the list but Diana is not in the top 100.

The duke and duchess and their daughter have been at home in Kensington Palace since leaving hospital on Saturday evening.

It is understood they will remain there for the time being before travelling to their country home, Anmer Hall, on the Queen’s Sandringham estate, in Norfolk.

Royal historian Hugo Vickers said the choice of Charlotte as a name seemed to be based on taste rather than history.

“I don’t think she is burdened by any history associated with it and to be honest I think they just chose the name because they liked it, which is what they do and what we respect about them.

“We historians can always find someone called Charlotte but I think basically they just liked the name.”

Historian Dr Judith Rowbotham, of the University of Plymouth, said: “None of the Charlottes in the history of the British royal family have been lacking in character and personality, so one hopes that this one lives up to that name.”

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By Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent

Hard facts and royal pregnancies, labours and births are not natural bedfellows.

They represent a moment where the very personal, a couple celebrating the arrival of a daughter, collide with the very public – the father is a future king.

So, we don’t know why William and Kate chose Charlotte as the first name of the fourth in line to the throne.

It conveniently has links to the Middletons, the present Windsors and past royals.

Elizabeth and Diana are more obvious choices.

Prince William has spoken of how, as he becomes older, his grandmother has become an even more important part of his life.

And it was inevitable that he would honour his mother and inevitable that he wouldn’t “burden” his daughter with Diana as a first name.

As William said when he gave his fiancee his mother’s engagement ring, it’s a way of keeping her “close to it all”.

EC further extends voter registration

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Our Reporter

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May 4, 2015

Some of the residents who attended the voter registration exercise

The Electoral Commission this evening succumbs to public pressure and extends the voter registration exercise to May 11. This is the second time the election body extends the exercise which ended today.

Many registration centres around the country today were jammed with prospective voters as they lined up to beat the deadline of May 4.

The EC warned that the extension will affect the election process and cause delays. The election body will not give any further extension for the exercise.

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Museveni wants local solutions for Africa’s problems

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Our Reporter

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May 4, 2015

President Museveni says the international community and the UN should respect regional processes to enable Africans solve their own problems.

Speaking at The High Level Thematic Debate On “Strengthening Cooperation Between The United Nations And Regional And Sub-Regional Orgnisations,” Museveni said, “The international community, including the UN, can only support and should, therefore, respect regional processes.”

You are all aware of the long period it takes the UN to deploy in a crisis situation. The process from initial consultations, to a “zero” draft resolution, through several rounds of negotiations on actual drafts to a final resolution authorizing any form of action, can take agonizingly long to come through.

That is if one or more of the Permanent Members with veto power does not use it to block the process. Some crises situations are such that an immediate and robust response is required.”

He argued that this can best be done by countries in the region.

He cited a situation that occurred in December 2013 in South Sudan saying “the UN Security Council is still debating the issue up to now!!!!”

He added that if we in the region had not acted quickly, the region could possibly have had another genocide.

“The neighbouring countries could have stopped the genocide of Rwanda in 1994. We could not do it because the UN was obstructing us.” SEE ADDRESS IN FULL

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Ugandan for UK’s House of Commons

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Our Reporter

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May 4, 2015

A Ugandan born, Mr Yahaya Kiyingi is closing in, in the race to become a representative of Camberwell and Peckham in the House of Commons in United Kingdom.

Kiyingi, 23, is a force to reckon with as a parliamentary candidate for Camberwell and Peckham, one of the most diverse constituencies represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. He faces stiff competition from Harriet Harman of the Labour Party who has represented the constituency for 30 years.

Yahaya was born in Uganda and his family moved over to Britain when he was 5 years old. He has developed numerous projects in his community which include being vice-chairman of a local charity, running and editing his own local magazine and radio show, working with the local council on special committees, organising various community events and serving on the local party executive. He has a love for literature, and runs a local book club with the aim to bring people in his communities together. Yahaya is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives.

He was brought up in inner city London, attended local schools and went to university to read Law at the University of Southampton. He works in marketing.

He joined the Lib Dems when he was 16, quickly winning a reputation for articulating the plight of young people. “Only the Liberal Democrats offer real opportunities for a fair and just future for all people of from all backgrounds, but especially the young,” he says. Yahaya loves the “diversity, friendly people and sense of real community in Camberwell & Peckham”.

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New Presidents need orientation seminars

Immunization: Closing the gap on pneumonia in Kenya

Museveni, US Security Advisor discuss South Sudan, Somalia

NRM too weak to win an election – DP

UN’s Ban Ki Moon appeals to Museveni over Burundi, South Sudan peace efforts

FDC not ready to work with Gen Sejusa

Royal princess named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

EC further extends voter registration

Museveni wants local solutions for Africa’s problems

Ugandan for UK’s House of Commons

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