Police in Mpigi have registered a disturbing incident of teen suicide of a one Kasule Arafat, an 11-year-old Primary four pupil of Kabira UMEA Primary School, who committed suicide by hanging.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said that at about 8am, the victim reported to school, but did not attend classes. He disappeared from the school and a search was conducted, only to find him dead, and the body hanging on a mango tree, at St. Luke Catholic Church, Kyanja, which is located about 250 metres from the school. The body was taken to Gombe Hospital for Post -mortem.

“It is so devastating to the friends, the school and the community for such a young child, to die because of overwhelming hopelessness or frustration. All parents, siblings, classmates, and neighbours were left wondering what could have driven him and how they could have prevented it from happening,” Enanga said.

Most teenagers commit suicide due to the pressure to perform academically, act responsibly and or the pressure to fit in socially among fellow teenagers. Young people with mental health problems – such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or insomnia – are at a higher risk for suicide thoughts.

“We therefore, urge parents, guardians and local leaders, to watch out for things that increase the risk of suicide among teens. These include; a psychological disorders especially depression, bipolar disorder and alcohol, drug abuse, feelings of distress, irritability or agitation, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, that often come with depression, previous suicide attempts, family history of depression or suicide, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, lack of a support network, poor relationships with parents or peers, and feelings of social isolation, struggling with their gender or unsupportive family,” Enanga said.

Enanga reminded parents to know the warning signs, so that teens who might be suicidal, can get the help they need. “Some adults fell that kids who threaten to hurt themselves are just doing it for attention. This can increase the chance of them hurting/harming themselves.”

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Fifteen contenders for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) representative slots, including former MPs Jacquiline Amongin and Veronica Kadogo, have sought nomination in the crowded race to the regional Parliament.

With nominations ending Tuesday, 20 September 2022, the number is expected to intensely increase, especially because major political parties represented in the House are yet to register their candidates.

So far, the Justice Forum (JEEMA) solely represented in the House by MP Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA, Bugiri Municipality) has presented the only political party sponsored candidate in the pack of 15, after signing in its Secretary General, Mr Mohamed Kateregga.

The other candidates include Salaama Nakitende, Gilbert Agaba, Ambrose Murangira, Allan Muyima, and journalist Julius Bukyana, Ronex Tendo Kisembo, Lauben Bwengye, Patience Naamara Tumwesigye, Stella Kiryowa, Dr Daniel Kapyata, and Daniel Muwonge.

Thereafter, a committee in line with Rule 12 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament will vet the contestants for their suitability and qualification, and the Speaker will on Wednesday, 21 September 2022 announce to the House the names of successful candidates, which names will also be gazetted and published in print media in line with Appendix B of the Rules of Procedure.

Campaigns are slated for Thursday, 29 September 2022, which will be followed by voting on the same day.  

Last week, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party chairperson, President Yoweri Museveni, said the party will be sticking with its current six representatives.

Aspirants are paying a non-refundable nomination fee of Shs3 million.

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At least 12 African countries have committed to Education Plus, a bold initiative to prevent HIV infections through free universal, quality secondary education for all girls and boys in Africa, reinforced through comprehensive empowerment programs.

The 12 African Education Plus champion countries are Benin, Cameroon, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Lesotho, Malawi, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia.

Speaking on the Leaders Day of the Summit on behalf of the Education Plus movement, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima said, “School saves lives. We are coming together to champion the right for a girl to be in a classroom and in a safe classroom. Keeping girls in school helps ensure their rights and prevents HIV. We know that if a girl completes secondary education, the risk of infection reduces by 50 percent. That’s why we’ve teamed up with UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, and UN Women, with governments and with civil society, to champion the education and empowerment of adolescent girls in Africa to stop new HIV infections.”

Through Education Plus, champion countries across Africa are bringing sectors together to fight inequalities by ensuring access to and completion of secondary school, protecting girls and young women from HIV infection, sexual violence, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages, and creating opportunities for access to education, health, and jobs.

Sierra Leone, an Education Plus champion, has been reforming its education system since 2018, enrolling an additional one million learners in four years. Speaking at the Summit President Julius Madda Bio said, “We have adopted a radical inclusion policy and have achieved gender parity in school enrollment. Girls can now be educated from primary through to university free of tuition fees, and pregnant girls can once again go to school. Education is not a luxury, it is a right. We must rally the international community behind the global initiatives being launched.”

International partners shared their backing for the initiative. Franz Fayot, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Luxembourg said, “The risks of acquiring HIV and the challenges in accessing services in sub-Saharan Africa are very real and are compounded by stigma and discrimination, as well as legal and financial barriers. Financing to support education systems to deliver gender-transformative education is urgent. It will save lives and have a hugely positive impact on economies.”

Joyce Ouma, a young leader from the Education Plus hub, shared why young women’s movements are backing the initiative: “Some of us are still denied sexual and reproductive health information and services and sexuality education because of our age and this has a devasting impact on our lives. As young women living with HIV, we face discrimination, stigma, and violence perpetrated within school environments and cannot easily seek essential medical care. Transforming education means we face these gloomy statistics head-on. I urge leaders to listen and act on our collective concerns for better systems.”

UNAIDS latest report, In Danger, released in July this year showed that in sub-Saharan Africa 4 900 young women and girls (15-24 years old) acquired HIV every week in 2021. Once a person contracts HIV they require life-long treatment. In 2021 in sub-Saharan Africa, 22 000 adolescent girls and young women died of AIDS-related illnesses.

Fostering investments in access to health, education, and jobs gives results. Girls and their communities and countries reap multiple social and economic benefits from their completion of secondary school. An extra year of secondary school can increase women’s wages by 15-25 percent. Educating adolescent girls and young women in Africa could add US$ 316 billion or 10 percent to GDP in the period 2025 if each country makes advances in gender parity in schooling.

The United Nations Secretary-General recognized girls’ education and empowerment as crucial for development, “Girls’ education is among the most important steps to deliver peace, security, and sustainable development everywhere,” said Antonio Guterres.

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Boda-boda riders are set to benefit from a new campaign where they will win over Shs 200 million worth of prizes including 12 brand new motorbikes, fuel, airtime, t-shirts, and reflector jackets.

This campaign dubbed ‘Saawa ya ku yiliba’, will run for a period of 12 weeks at Shell fuel stations and targeted retail outlets across the country. To participate, riders will need to purchase Shell Advance at any participating retail outlet to receive an entry coupon. All entry coupons will be logged into a portal where winners will be drawn weekly. Lucky winners will be notified by SMS on the same mobile numbers indicated on their respective draw entry coupons. Riders that participate weekly have a chance to win lots more.

 “It gives us great pleasure to bring this exciting campaign to our esteemed boda-boda riders, especially with the current economic pressures. Through this campaign, riders that purchase Shell Advance will be entered into a draw for a chance to win exciting prizes every week. We value the boda-boda rider and have taken steps to improve the rider experience at our sites over the years, said Alex Tusingwire, Head of Business Lubricantsat Vivo Energy Uganda.

Adding, “Our rider offer currently includes formulated motorbike engine oil called Shell Advance for boda-bodas. We also offer our boda-boda riders dedicated motorbike fuelling points called Shell Boda Spots at our Shell service stations and motorbike service points called Shell Motorcare Express specifically operated by professional motorbike mechanics. We continue to look for opportunities to add value to these amazing customers.”

“For the next 12 weeks, we will give away one motorbike every week to a lucky winner. In this way, we are contributing to improved livelihoods and sustained household incomes for the boda-boda rider. The motorbikes can be used as a means of private or public transport, thereby stimulating job creation and increased income generation for the community,” said Tusingwire.

 “I encourage boda-boda riders across the country to participate weekly. Anyone could be the lucky brand-new motorbike winner. Riders need to participate every week to increase their chance of winning each week. I also caution all participants to be keen on con men, as all rewards will be issued at select Shell fuel stations only. To our boda-boda customers, get your motorbikes ready, pick up a pack of Shell Advance, and may the best rider win,” said Herbert Egesa, Lubricants Brand Manager, Vivo Energy Uganda.

Shell Advance is specially formulated to deliver better engine cleaning and protection so that riders can enjoy retained horsepower and more fuel savings. Shell Advance has a range of products to suit different bike engine types including Shell Advance AX3 (Advance Red) and Shell Advance AX5 (Advance Yellow) which are suitable for the 4-stroke engine while Shell Advance 2T is for 2-stroke engine oils.

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