The Ministry of health has dispelled claims of a shortage of condoms in Uganda. Last week, there were reports that the country is facing a shortage of condoms. The shortage was linked to the hiking prices of fuel and the raging war between Russia and Ukraine which affected the production and supply chains all over the world.

According to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), condoms are the only contraceptive offering dual protection against unintended pregnancy and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections), including HIV. Currently, there are 1.5 million people living with HIV/Aids in Uganda. At least 1.3 million know their HIV status while 1.2 million are on treatment.

Ministry of Health statistics indicate that the use of condoms in Women aged 15-49 years is 38.3%, 62.4% for Men aged 15-49 years, Sex workers 69%, for People living with HIV couple 35%, Fisher folks 54% and security personnel 63%.

Boniface Epoku, the program officer in charge of condom programming at the Aids Control Program at the ministry of health said they have never had a shortage but challenge to deliver condoms to the end users in the community.

“We have an excess of condoms in the country. This year we imported close to 250 million condoms and we expect 34 million condoms in January 2023. Out of the imported condoms, we have distributed more than 125 million to the community,” he said.

“We have three categories of clients; those who can afford commercial condoms which go for up more than Shs 10,000, socially marketed condoms which cost between Shs 1000 to Shs 2000 or more and free-to-user condom which is supported by the donor partners. All condoms are of the same equality including the free-to-user condom. So we are calling parents to come and pick condoms and distribute them to the communities they operate in,” he said.

The free-to-user condom contributes 80%, commercial condoms five percent and socially marketed contribute 15% of the total condoms in the community.

Currently, there are several brands of condoms on the Ugandan market. The one-touch romantic condoms, Dktie Kiss condoms, Durex, Lifeguard condoms, Trust condoms and sundry. A survey conducted by this reporter at various pharmacies indicated that condoms cost between Shs 1500 to Shs 20000.

In a bid to increase the rapid distribution of condoms, the ministry has activated the last-mile delivery of condoms. The ministry works with Joint Medical Stores to deliver condoms to hot spot areas where there are high incidences of HIV transmission rate.

“We are also conducting deliveries through National Medical Stores (NMS). Those condoms are delivered straight to the public health facilities in the country. We are establishing a total market approach task team to bring all private sector players on board to regulate the prices of condoms in the country,” Epoku said.

A pharmacist this reporter interacted with at Ecopharm Ntinda said there is no shortage of condoms at their branches because they have plenty of condoms at their stores.

Another source at MARRIESTOPES the distributor of Lifeguard condoms said they have a lot of condoms and their distribution channel is still open to import condoms into the country.

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As part of its long-standing tradition, Coca-Cola has today launched its Iconic Christmas caravan campaign known to spread cheer during the festive season. The Christmas caravans were officially flagged off this evening from Akamwesi shopping mall, Kyebando and are expected to run till Christmas day.

The caravans will now travel to different towns across the country where they will surprise residents with an assortment of items including assorted gifts, soft drinks, and food items to help them prepare for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Coca-Cola is continuing the promise of Real Magic®, its new global brand platform and philosophy that invites everyone, everywhere to celebrate the magic of humanity. Central to the philosophy is the belief that we find magic when we come together and share experiences. The real magic of Christmas invites us to experience a higher sense of appreciation for loved ones, a sense of community, and our need to be present with each other this Christmas, above all else.

“December is the season when loved ones, families, friends, and neighbors come together to share laughter, stories and bond over meals and drinks. We want to be part of your celebration! We hope the caravan experience will enrich the festivities and sprinkle some magic to it,” remarked Arthur Akankwasa, Franchise Manager Uganda Coca-Cola East and Central Franchise

“We are proud to associate with the Christmas spirit, it’s something we treasure and spread in all communities we operate. Coca-Cola continues to not only refresh people with delicious drinks, but to also refresh communities, he added.

 In wider plans to mark the festive season, the brand’s iconic Caravans will transverse different communities. For almost three decades, since they first lit up the small screen in a TV ad in the mid-1990s, Coca-Cola has built its Caravans truck asset as a powerful and tangible icon of Christmas across the globe. The brand will be curating a truly magical, festive experience centered around sharing meals with an ice-cold Coca-Cola drink. to bring communities around Uganda together for festive cheer.

Isaac Sekasi, Commercial Director, Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda reminded Ugandans of the magic of family, and shared experiences.

“Every day is a celebration, but this festive season we want to spread extra cheer. Coming for a two-year lockdown where people experience different hardships, this is a reminder to celebrate the magic around us; family loved ones and happy moments. We invite you to refocus on the magic within us, it takes a different lens to see magic. Use a red lens!”

“It celebrates families and friends, past and present, as well as those shared recipes, memories, and traditions that bind generations together over the Christmas meal. At Coca-Cola, we want to create meaningful connections with audiences this holiday season. Wishing you all a safe and happy festive season as we continue refreshing Africa every day while making our continent a better place,” he said.

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The U.S. group, Albertine Graben Energy Consortium Partners (AGEC) resolved that the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the estimated US $4.5 billion (Shs 16.5 trillion) East African Energy Security Transition Investment project will be taken in 2023.

The East Africa Energy Security and Transition Project is an estimated US$ 4.5 billion energy project that will add value to natural resources supplied by Uganda’s domestic oil resources in order to establish a regional energy facility producing finished fuels and associated storage, product transportation pipeline and market distribution infrastructure.

The project is being developed and financed as a joint venture (JV) between the Government of Uganda with its East Africa partners and AGEC with its private sector partners. The project brings together US private sector companies, African vision, leadership and capacity with global experts and investment partners for the implementation of strategic economic investment for the benefit of Uganda and the East Africa region.

FID is the confirmation by all investors in the deal of their commitment under a shareholders’ agreement to invest equity. It is based on concluding the ongoing talks to, amongst other things, ensure committed feedstock from the Government of Uganda’s Upstream Joint Venture Partners (Total Energies, CNOOC, UNOC) and Implementation Agreements with the Government, as well as key ongoing work required for establishing operations of a commercially viable energy company receiving financing via capital markets.

The project supports import substitution policy by establishing a production facility to support the domestic regional fuel market. It also assists the introduction and adoption of LPGs at the household level, given nearly 90% of households rely on charcoal, supporting the Government of Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contributions committed within the Paris Agreement.

The project will also supply fuel to support regional industries including transportation, aviation, agriculture, and manufacturing. It will be a critical contribution towards for energy security, the alleviation of poverty, and the creation of approximately 40,000 direct and indirect jobs during its lifetime.

Commenting on the deal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Finance Corporation, Mr. Samaila Zubairu stated: “AFC as one of the early-stage investors and is committed to investing and supporting the mobilization of capital from partners for this economically transformative project in Uganda and the East Africa region. This project supports sustainable industrialization, provides employment to one of the youngest populations on the planet and helps achieve a more equitable energy transition in Africa.”

Highlighting its leadership role in the region, Eastern and Southern Africa Trade and Development Bank (TDB Group) President & MD stated: “TDB, we have a duty to support downstream regional energy security projects such as this which will reduce carbon emissions through smart US technologies and less carbon-intensive logistics as well as reduce the current harmful reliance on charcoal and chopped wood for household cooking. It will also enable the east Africa region to pool investments, industrialize and enhance trade while conserving scarce foreign exchange which can be diverted to investment in health and agricultural sectors”

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni added: “The announcement today brings Uganda and the region one step closer to a long-held dream: to add value to our resources, and achieve energy security and economic prosperity for all its citizens.”

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The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) is gearing up to register and license 10,000 agents who will help grow uptake of the agriculture insurance among farmers.

The IRA Chief Executive Officer, Ibrahim Lubega Kaddunabbi revealed the plan during a breakfast meeting with stakeholders in the insurance sector yesterday.

He said that the move will boost the capacity of government programs in agriculture to benefit farmers by having insurers shoulder challenges.

“As we all know agriculture is the backbone of our economy and as we know, the government has launched the parish development model with a big component of agriculture,” he said.

In support of the agriculture insurance consortium, we want to license a cluster of agents who are only going to sell agriculture insurance to the population,” he said.

The licensed agents will specialize in selling agriculture insurance products.

In attendance were the 13 insurance companies which formed a coalition with the government to form the Agro Consortium Uganda Limited.

The body’s target is to reduce the burden of financial loss as a result of destruction and damage of crops and livestock due to natural disasters.

To achieve this, the body supports training, sensitization and creating awareness in the population about agriculture insurance.

Kaddunabbi urged insurance companies to emphasize micro insurance as a faster way of growing the insurance enrolment.

In the past three quarters of 2022, they registered an 18.6 percent growth out-performing their set targets.

“We managed to underwrite businesses worth shs1.8 trillion. It is an improvement from what it was in the three quarters of 2021,” Kaddunabbi said.

We have seen above 18.6% growth over this period and that is more than the 15% we had anticipated our growth would be,” he added.

He attributed the success to confidence the public has in the service due to the efforts by the IRA and insurance companies, and also what has been done to improve claim settlement.

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