Uganda today December 5, 2022 has joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Volunteers Day (IVD) under the theme “Solidarity through Volunteering”.

The United Nations (UN) set aside this day in 1985 to recognize and promote tireless work not just of UN Volunteers but all volunteers around the globe.

Over a billion people volunteer their time, skills, and experience to help improve their communities. From providing practical support to vulnerable children and adults to advising on sophisticated technical and legal issues, volunteers are present at all levels of society. Each one brings a specific set of skills to their tasks.

The celebration of the day provides an opportunity for volunteers and organizations to celebrate their efforts, share their values and promote their work among countries, non-governmental organizations, UN Agencies, and governmental authorities as well as the private sector.

The Minister of state for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Persis Namuganza, said that Uganda is celebrating, honoring and galvanizing the efforts of commitment and resilience that the volunteers exhibit to promote development work, including that of organizations like Habitat for Humanity in Uganda and Uganda as a country.

“We know that for 40 years now in Uganda, Habitat for Humanity in Uganda has been partnering with government, districts and families to improve the living conditions of Ugandans through helping them access a decent shelter,” Namuganza said.

The pandemic and recent conflicts have reversed years of progress made in the fight against housing poverty, resulting in the emergence of newly poor people who would have exited poverty in the absence of the pandemic but remain poor, and those who would have fallen into poverty on account of the pandemic, rising inequalities especially in the housing sector implore that there is need to work effectively to find common solutions especially for the vulnerable in society.

“As government, the provision of decent shelter, clean water and sanitation facilities are part of the greatest commitment we have and this situation is improving year after year; a big thank you. To the work of partners like Habitat for Humanity Uganda,” she added.

She added that Uganda does not have national celebrations because of the health situation in the country.

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is committed to ensure that Ugandans not only have decent homes and the related facilities but also have a decent home without security of their land.

The minister noted that although great work is being done, they also appreciate that there are challenges encountered in supporting every family to access a decent home as the Ugandan population continues to grow because of better health and security among other factors.

“Ladies and gentlemen, concerted effort is therefore required by all of us to join hands and make decent homes a reality for the vulnerable families within our communities. This is the effort I like to commend the volunteers for and continue to challenge us to embrace volunteering to impact our communities,” the minister said.

The minister also challenged the higher institutions of learning, the staff within the corporate world and other friends; the journalists to find a few hours of their time to volunteer so as to bring impact on vulnerable families in the communities.

“The Government would like to use this occasion to urge all Ugandans to embrace voluntarism in order to help fellow Ugandans to have a decent roof over their heads. Doing this will create for us the Uganda we deserve,” she urged.

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Gen Kainerugaba Muhoozi has said he has no problem with veteran opposition figure Rtd. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye and that he is open to holding a discussion on many issues with him.

Muhoozi was replying to Besigye who agreed with him that NRM is “probably the most reactionary organisation in the country!”. Besigye added that “What he’s [Muhoozi] yet to find out, is that NRM is an outfit for organised crime and that it is M7, his father.”

“Finally my elder Kizza Besigye and I agree on something. As I said before, I have no problem with Kizza Besigye. He is my elder and I look forward to discussing with him on many issues,” Gen Muhoozi said.

“Maybe, he can teach Otafiire some lessons?” he added.

It all started with Muhoozi saying the NRM did not represent the people of Uganda and that he does not believe in the ruling party led by his father. “In Marxist terms it is probably the most reactionary organisation in the country,” he stated on Friday.

This comes after Gen. Kahinda Otafiire and other several leaders endorsed President Yoweri Museveni for the 2026 presidential elections.

Muhoozi warned that sections of NRM which are ‘signing declarations’ should prepare for tough times ahead. He believes there is a movement within NRM to disintegrate his presidential ambitions.

“Those people signing declarations against us in the NRM. We will teach you what Uganda means. This country belongs to Almighty God and the people of Uganda. Let us see who is stronger you or us?” Muhoozi said.

Muhoozi, who was relieved of duties as Commander of Land Forces in October following controversial tweets about Kenya, but then promoted to the rank of General, earlier today said he would soon make an “important announcement in the next few weeks” in his personal capacity and as a leader of this generation.

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Bank of Uganda (BoU) has built and equipped a new maternity block at Rubaya Health Center IV in Kabale District named after deceased former Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, who presided over the function on Friday, said Prof Tumusiime-Mutebile embodied the spirit of giving.

“You may wonder why the central Bank of Uganda invests in maternal, newborn and child healthcare. You may wonder why the BoU had revamped and revitalised numerous health centres across the country. You may wonder what this all has to do with the late governor,” he said.

“The answer is simple and self-evident. It is because the BoU family believes deeply in the African concept of Obuntu or Ubuntu. And the Late Prof. Tumusiime-Mutebile embodied, exemplified, and lavished that sense of Ubuntu on everyone who interacted fruitfully with him, especially the less fortunate among us,” he explained.

“It is, therefore, befitting that the new maternity block is named in his memory. Our late governor was a devoted humanitarian, and this maternity block symbolizes his enduring legacy of service to humanity,” he said.

The Deputy Governor together with area leaders also planted a memorial tree and said the bank shall promote the planting of various other trees for flowers, shade, fruit, and hedge at the Rubaya health facility.

He also challenged the Kabale district leadership to extend financial literacy and sensitize all the people about producing a surplus beyond their household needs, which they can sell in the physical and electronic markets.

From the proceeds of the BoU@50 Charity Walk, the Bank has to date funded renovations at nine Health Centres namely, Budondo Health Centre IV, Kyanamukaka Health Centre IV, Rutete Health Centre III, Bwizibwera Health Centre IV, Ayivuni Health Centre III.

“Next, in the third phase, we will revamp and retool Kigorobya Health Centre IV in Hoima District, Rwoburunga Health Centre III in Mitooma District, and Magoro Health Centre III in Katakwi District,” the Deputy Governor said.

Dr. Ego said BoU will keep promoting maternal, newborn, and child health care under corporate social responsibility to sustain its contribution to the population’s productivity for increased competitiveness and better quality of life for all.

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The European Union under the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa has awarded three organisations grants totaling Shs 4.6 billion to skill refugees and host communities in West Nile and Kiryadongo. Recipients include; Edukans Education Services, Windle International and Welthungerhilfe.

The funds provided through the Support to Skilling Uganda (SSU) project implemented by Enabel and the Ministry of Education will facilitate the training of 1210 refugees and their Ugandan hosts in Yumbe, Arua, Madi Okollo, Terego, Adjumani and Kiryadongo.

Enabel Country Representative Tom Vanneste says the project started in 2017 and has to date trained more than 5000 refugees and host community youth, women and girls.  “Tracer studies indicate that nearly 7 out of 10 trained people either get employed or start their own enterprises within six months after graduation,” Vanneste says. He attributed the high employability rate to deliberate efforts taken to align training with labour market needs.

“The EU is proud to be one of the key partners of Uganda in supporting the national refugee response. Through this project, we will support increased access to quality skills development through vocational training and the provision of entrepreneurial skills. This action contributes to the development of sustainable livelihoods through the creation of income-generating activities for both refugee and host communities,” said Nadia Cannata, Head of the Section for Sustainable Development, Delegation of the European Union to Uganda.

The Support to Skilling Uganda project aims to increase access to quality skills development through vocational & entrepreneurship skills training, provision of startup kits and post-training business development support.

The grants award ceremony at National Teachers’ College Muni in Arua City also featured a photo exhibition to commemorate the work of the EU and the Government of Uganda in support of the national refugee response. The exhibition presented photography of EU interventions in refugee hosting districts, which highlight the EU’s contribution towards building resilience and transforming lives. The photo exhibition was free and open to the public all day on 1 December.

Refugee-response initiatives funded by the European Union address a wide spectrum of issues. These include humanitarian aid and civil protection; water, hygiene and sanitation; cash and vouchers transfer; strengthening the capacity of local governments to contribute to improved service delivery; supporting income-generating activities for refugees and host communities; increased environmental and natural resources protection by restoring and conserving degraded natural resources; and accelerating access to justice and protection for vulnerable groups.

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