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Uganda receives first A330neo Airbus

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Uganda's A330neo Airbus aircraft

Uganda Airlines, the country’s flag-carrier has received the first A330neo Airbus aircraft. The aircraft is the latest version of the most popular wide body airliner which was established in 2019.

On Monday, the Minister of Works and Transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala led a delegation of government officials to receive the first A330neo Airbus aircraft in Toulouse, France, where he exchanged pleasantries with Mikail Houari, the president of Airbus Africa and the Middle East.

In line with the Company’s strategy to keep offering its customers unbeatable economics, increased operational efficiency and superior passenger comfort, the A330-800 is the latest addition to Airbus’ commercial aircraft product line. Thanks to its tailored, mid-sized capacity and its excellent range versatility, the A330neo is considered the ideal aircraft to operate as part of the post-Covid-19 recovery.

Featuring Airbus’ Airspace cabin, passengers can enjoy a unique experience and explore its full comfort with 20 full-flat, business-class beds, 28 premium-economy seats and 210 economy-class seats, totalling 258 seats.

The A330neo will enable the new airline to launch its long-range operations with non-stop intercontinental flights to the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

The A330neo is a true new-generation aircraft, building on the features of the popular A330 and using technology developed for the A350. Powered by the latest Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and featuring a new wing with increased span and A350-inspired Sharklets, the A330neo provides an unprecedented level of efficiency.

The aircraft burns 25% less fuel per seat than previous generation competitors. The A330neo cabin offers a unique passenger experience with more personal space and the latest generation in-flight entertainment system and connectivity.

This year, the government received four Bombardier CRJ900 regional Aircrafts that were ordered by Uganda National Airlines Company in July 2018.

The commercialization of the airline will start on 28 august to various destinations in Kenya, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo), Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Zanzibar.

Established in May 1976, Uganda Airlines, started operations in 1977 and was liquidated in May 2001 after efforts to privatize the company failed due to massive debts it had incurred.

Its revival now means Uganda Airlines will have to compete with Africa’s best such as South Africa Airways, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, RwandAir and others on the continent, not forgetting International ones such as Emirates Airways, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airways among others that land at Entebbe International Airport.

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Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba officially takes over command of SFC

By
Our Reporter
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Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba officially takes over command of SFC

Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has taken over as the Commandant of the elite Special Forces Command with a message to his soldiers to jealously uphold the ideals of the Special Forces Command (SFC).

Gen Kainerugaba who also retains his role as the Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations was redeployed in the recent changes announced by President Yoweri Museveni who is also the Commander-in-Chief (CiC) of the Ugandan armed forces.

In his acceptance speech, Gen Kainerugaba thanked the president for entrusting him with another opportunity to lead the SFC which he said he has been close to for about 35 years.

The new SFC commander also thanked the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen David Muhoozi for making time to preside over the Hand Over-Take Over (HOTO) ceremony that happened at the newly commissioned SFC Headquarters in Entebbe. Gen Kainerugaba congratulated the outgoing SFC commander Maj Gen James Birungi for a job well done.

He noted that Maj Gen Birungi executed his tasks with distinction, urging him to keep it up in all his future assignments.

Gen Kainerugaba told the senior UPDF officers present that the SFC has grown and continues to achieve great things with distinction.

“I want to tell you all officers today that we are going to continue achieving great things. We are not going to let down our great predecessors and the great name of SFC,” Gen Kainerugaba said emphatically.

Gen Kainerugaba used the function to assure the CDF that during this “electioneering season, the SFC will play its full role in providing security for our people. We have done it in the past and we are going to do it again.”

Commenting about the Covid-19 situation in the country, Gen Kainerugaba said that “it is not the first time we are dealing with diseases, it won’t stop us from doing our work. The security forces working together will perform their historical responsibility and ensure our citizens vote peacefully and go about their day to day lives without any disturbances.”

Speaking at the HOTO, the Chief of Defense Forces congratulated Gen Kainerugaba for catching the eye of the president who reappointed him.

Gen David Muhoozi commended the new SFC commander for establishing a strong foundation for the elite force, saying that Gen Kainerugaba midwifed the SFC, left it to do other things and the formation continued to grow.

“The test of his investment in this is that he left and it stood on its own. That is the test of the durability of an idea. He started it, he grew it and then other people took it up and here we are—it’s one of the exemplar of how well public institutions should be managed,” the CDF noted.

During his initial seven-year tour of duty as the SFC commander, Gen Kainerugaba was hailed for championing a number of training initiatives aimed at equipping soldiers with skills as well as establishing infrastructural projects for the welfare of his soldiers among others.

One of the projects started by Gen Kainerugaba is the new headquarters of the Special Forces Command.

During its commissioning recently, the president commended the SFC leadership for frugal spending. The new magnificent building is named “General Yoweri Museveni House.”

Lt Gen Kainerugaba replaces Maj Gen James Birungi who has been SFC commander since June 2019 when he was appointed to replace Maj Gen Don Nabasa. Maj Gen Nabasa had, in 2017, taken over from Lt Gen Kainerugaba.

As the CiC, the President has the power to appoint or designate any military officer to any command positions any time without giving reasons for the choices.

In other changes, President Museveni appointed Maj Gen Paul Lokech as the new deputy Inspector General of Police, replacing Maj Gen Muzeyi Sabiiti.

Maj Gen Sabiiti was recalled to the army general headquarters, pending deployment.

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Birungi who has been the SFC Commander is heading to Juba to replace Maj Gen Lokech where a UPDF team is, on behalf of the guarantors of the South Sudan peace signed in February, working with Sudan forces to monitor the parties’ compliance with the pact.

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Kyambogo University’s newly constructed gate changes the face of the University

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Vice Chancellor Elli Katunguka receiving a key from the Contructors infront of the Newly contructed Gate.Photo by Ronard Shabomwe.

The newly built main gate of Kyambogo University has uplifted the image of the Banda based public University.

The Kyambogo main gate also known as west end gate is one of the many development infrastructures that have been under construction since the year began.

According to Vice Chancellor Professor Elli Katunguka, the gate has changed the face of the University and this is no longer the shabby Kyambogo people used to know.

“We wanted to have a main entrance that portrays the value, beauty and stature of Kyambogo University and I believe that this main gate portrays a good image of the university,” says the Vice Chancellor.

Several times, Kyambogo university gates have been posted on social media platforms in comparison with the high school gates in a mocking way, indicating that some high school gates are better than gates of Kyambogo University which is a second largest public university in Uganda.

Patrick Kalule the University engineer says this state of the art entrance gate at west end campus, under the contractor Carl Investments Ltd, costed shillings 410 million. Kalule adds that it is constructed with many provisions like control system and it is also facilitated with ICT and communication systems and other provisions will be added in with time and depending on the need.

Charles Okello the University Secretary explains that this gate is one of the many development infrastructures that the university is working on. Other developments include, renovating the Special Needs faculty, improving the drainage system of East end football pitch at 470 million Shillings, and rehabilitation and upgrading of Fisher road to standard bitumen paved surface, which is approximately 1.08km stretching from the West end Entry gate to East End gate.

Okello adds that they are also planning to construct more gates for the University which includes Kabaka gate and Banda gate. In order for the university to limit people who use the university roads to beat traffic jam, they will put a charge in future to help generate money to maintain the beauty of the gate and roads in the university.

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Shout-out to Nurses and Midwives

By
Guest Writer
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Judith Hope Kiconco

I was at a supermarket recently for last-minute Christmas shopping and as it is around this time of the year, the queues to the cashier were long. As I waited in line, I started scanning my surroundings when my eyes were met by a signage on the wall ahead with categories of people excepted from lining up in case of long queues. The list included pensioners, police officers, pregnant women, Doctors, and Nurses.

Being a nurse, I was amazed to see that my profession made the list. I was also quite eager to know more about how the list was made and why they had selected those professions. When I inquired about it, I was pointed to the customer help desk where I introduced myself also highlighting that I’m a nurse and had taken interest in their signage on people exempted from lining up in the supermarket.

‘’Nurses are busy people, they are always rushing to save lives and we thought this special attention would help save them some time that would otherwise be spent in the long lines,” the lady behind the desk intimated.

I felt so proud to be a nurse at that moment, something I have not felt in a long time. To know that there were people out there in the community who truly recognize and appreciate nurses for who they are and what they bring to the table was refreshing.

It is not often that nurses get the recognition and credit for the contribution they make to the health care system despite constituting the largest number of workers.  That is why that gesture by Shoprite supermarket, though seemingly simple, made me happy.

According to the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council (UNMC), Uganda has a total of 70,167 nurses and midwives. In a report by the Ministry of Health (MOH) many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda inclusive, have nurses and midwives making up to 80% of the total health workforce.

The work conditions may not be very favorable for most nurses and midwives, the paycheck may not be very good but an exceptional recognition and appreciation to that nurse means much to them than you can imagine. Whichever way you choose to appreciate your favorite nurse or midwife, it could be a hug, a smile, kind words, a cup of tea, a ride to or from duty, or a Christmas gift. The small gesture you extend in whichever format could be all the nurse needs to pull through their next shift at work.

Let us help the nurses feel proud of their profession and work, let us brighten their faces with smiles despite the prevailing challenges.

Interestingly, the World Health Organisation (WHO), has designated 2021 as the international year of health and care workers (YHCW) in recognition of the dedication and sacrifice of millions of healthcare workers at the forefront of the covid-19 pandemic. I hope that through wins, the recognition that nurses and midwives received this year continues to motivate and empower us as we serve fellow citizens.

As we wind down the year, I urge all of you to reach out to nurses and midwives and continue to make them feel special. This year has been a hectic year for each one of us in all sorts of ways, but I trust and believe that there is still a lot of goodwill in us.

According to the WHO, the world needs more than 9 million nurses and midwives if it is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. More young people will be motivated, inspired, and driven to join nursing and midwifery if the profession is given due respect and recognition.

 

Happy Holidays!

Judith Hope Kiconco

Nurse & Public Health specialist

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Kyambogo University joins the e-learning tide

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Kyambogo University main building.

Continuing students of Kyambogo University will resume for semester two 2019/2020 academic years with open distance and electronic learning to complete the remaining part of the studies.

National Council for Higher Education-NCHE granted permission to roll out emergency open distance e-learning-ODel for most of the academic programs for a period of twelve months. This mode of delivery the use of information communication and technologies- ICTs which the university has already invested in, inform of physical infrastructure and training the lecturers on how to use various learning platforms.

Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Elli Katunguka Rwakishaya says that they have agreed that continuing students begin on 18th to 30th January 2021 for a period of two weeks on open distance and electronic learning and then students will after report for face to face lectures on 1st to 14th February 2021.

He says students will be required to come with their own laptops for purposes of easy access of learning materials and revision. Vice Chancellor adds that for students who might not be able to manage data, the university has many internet hot spots, they are allowed to come to campus and utilize them.

E-Learning, or electronic learning, is the delivery of learning and training through digital resources. Although eLearning is based on formalized learning, it is provided through electronic devices such as computers, tablets and even cellular phones that are connected to the internet.

Students are programmed to sit for  their final examinations from 15th to 28th February 2021, and this will mark the end of semester two 2019/2020 for continuing  students. Semester one of the 2020/2021 academic year will begin on 1st march and ends on 4th July 2021.

Concerning the issue of graduation, Kyambogo University has not decided about when to hold the graduation for 2020 because final year students have not carried out their internship and college or school practice. Vice chancellor Katunguka says, the school practice or internship will be carried out when the schools are open and they have not known when this shall happen.

According to Professor Katunguka, the internship still has challenges of placement and issues of supervision that requires staff to traverse the country to monitor what the students are doing. He says with time and guidance of the government, solutions to this will be found.

Kyambogo University temporarily opened for finalists on 17th October to complete their studies for a period of six weeks and examinations were completed on 29th Nov. 2020. All students were asked to return to their respective homes immediately after examination. Students pursuing programmes that require internship began their internship activities 14th Dec 2020 and they are expected to complete on 30th January 2021.

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Maj. Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi hands over office to new Deputy IGP Maj. Gen Paul Lokech

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Maj. Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi hands over office to new Deputy IGP Maj. Gen Paul Lokech

Maj. Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi has handed over office to the newly appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Maj. Gen Paul Lokech. The handover function took place at Naguru Police headquarters, in Kampala.

He was welcomed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola who later took him around the Police headquarters. Maj. Gen Lokech vowed to work with his boss towards maintaining their role of keeping law and order.

Maj. Gen Lokech was last week appointed DIGP in the army changes where President Museveni named his son Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba the commandant of the Special Forces Command (SFC) replacing Maj. Gen. James Brungi who was sent on special assignment in South Sudan.

Major General Steven Sabiiti Muzeyi, has been the DIGP of the Uganda Police Force, the second-highest rank in that branch of Uganda’s government, since March 4th, 2018.

Who is Maj. Gen Paul Lokech?

Paul Lokech is a senior military officer who was between November 2017 and December 2019, he served on special assignment “to monitor on behalf of the guarantors of the South Sudan peace process, the assembling, screening, demobilization and integration of the armed forces of South Sudan”.

Before that, he served as Chief of Staff of the UPDF Air Force, for a period of five months, from 11 July 2019, until 11 December 2019.

Prior to that, from December 2018 until July 2019, he was Commandant of Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre (URDCC), in Jinja, in the Eastern Region of Uganda. He was appointed to that position in December 2018.

His military career includes service in various leadership capacities, including two tours as the Commander of the Uganda contingent to Somalia, as part of the AMISOM peace-keeping force. The first tour was between 2011 and 2012. His second Somalia rotation was from 2017 until 2018.

During his first tour, Lokech commanded Battle Groups Eight and Nine, responsible for ejecting Al-Shabaab militants from Mogadishu in 2011.

Before his second tour in Somalia, he was the Commanding Officer of the Second UPDF Division, based at Makenke Barracks, in Mbarara, in the Western Region of Uganda. He has previously served as the Military Attaché at Uganda’s Embassy to Russia, based in Moscow.

He has also served as part of Uganda’s peace-keeping forces in South Sudan. He was part of Operation Safe Haven (OSH), a UPDF operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo intended to neutralize the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

In February 2019, Museveni promoted over 2,000 men and women to various ranks in the UPDF. As part of that exercise, Paul Lokech was promoted from Brigadier to Major General. His name was inadvertently left off the original list, and the Uganda military apologized for that omission.

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Prime Minister launches Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Nakasero Hospital

By
Geoffery Serugo
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rt. hon. ruhakana rugunda launching the Cath Lab

The Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has launched the state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) at Nakasero Hospital. The Laboratory is peddled at advancing healthcare in Uganda through leveraging technology.

The lab was designed and built by the Pacific Diagnostics, the Official Distributor for Siemens Healthineers in Uganda. Commonly referred to as a Cath Lab, is an examination room in a hospital or clinic with diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualize the arteries of the heart and the chambers of the heart and treat any stenosis or abnormality found.

“Thank you Nakasero Hospital for yet another huge milestone.  I want to thank the team at Uganda Heart Institute that has been working closely with Nakasero Hospital to deliver this project. I want this relationship to continue to grow as it delivers the benefits to the intended subjects, the people of Uganda and the region,” he said.

He applauded the great working relationship between the private and public health sector in delivering services to Ugandans.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine commended the hospital’s courage to deliver huge projects that are aimed at saving the lives of Ugandans.

Inside the Nakasero Cath Lab

Ag. Chief Executive Nakasero Hospital, Dr Simon Luzige, commended his team for all the hard work put into delivering a project of this magnitude.  “This is a huge milestone for the hospital and everyone should feel proud of having been part of this project,” he said.

The Chairman, Dr Ben Mbonye relived the mission of the founding team of Consultants by affirming the hospitals continuous improvement plan to deliver services that would benefit Uganda and the region ensuring less people have to travel out of the country to access highly technical services. “This is yet another manifestation of the mission that inspired the team to start Nakasero Hospital,” he said.

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UBL joins private companies to gift maternal health workers at Kawempe Hospital

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Handing over of the essential items at Kawempe Hospital

This festive season, a group of companies have come together to appreciate and lift morale to staff providing maternal health care services by donating various items worth UGX 45 million to Kawempe Referral Hospital in Kampala.

According to the 2016 Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS), Uganda like many other low-income countries continues to grapple with high maternal deaths, currently running at 336 per 100,000 live births. This has necessitated the need for additional specialized medical facilities like Kawempe Hospital, which was operationalised as a Regional Referral Hospital in 2019 to decongest the Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Kawempe Hospital has been grappling with high patient numbers as it oversees 1000 mothers from across the country weekly with a capacity of only 200 beds. It recorded the highest number of maternal deaths among the country’s 21 hospitals (excluding Mulago and Kiruddu National Referral Hospitals), according to the Annual Health Sector Performance Report 2019/2020.

To recognize and reward the efforts of the hospital’s Neo-natal and Maternal staff, the private sector pooled resources that will see some 450 health workers receive essential household goods and items. These private sector players include the MTN Foundation, Tasco Industries, Stanbic Bank, Uganda Breweries Ltd., Hariss International (RIHAM), Century Bottling Company, Crown Beverages, Nice House of Plastics, Kakira Sugar, Bidco, Mandela Millers, ATC, AZAM, Afrokai and others.

Speaking at the handover, Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health said, “Uganda has made significant improvements towards maternal healthcare with constant emphasis placed on investment in maternity care and neonatal specialized treatment.”

She further stated that these efforts are aimed at ensuring that women have access to quality and advanced healthcare services.

“We would like to appreciate all the private companies that have continuously supported the healthcare sector especially the nurses and midwives. It is our responsibility as Ugandans to ensure that all our health frontline workers are taken care of,” she added.

Ms Anne Juuko, CEO of Stanbic Bank Uganda and Dr. Diana Atwine, PS – Ministry of Health, hand over part of the essential items to Dr. Nehemiah Katusiime, Executive Director of Kawempe Hospital.

Ms. Anne Juuko, the Stanbic Bank Chief Executive said, “All life starts at birth and the life of every mother counts. That is why Stanbic Bank has joined with other private companies to help combat the issues affecting maternal health in Uganda today.”

The donation of essential items to healthcare staff is the first of a two-pronged approach aimed at providing critical support to healthcare facilities to help address the challenges affecting their operations.

“We have started a campaign under the theme ‘Every Mother Counts’, in which we intend to ensure that government hospitals have proper lifesaving equipment, individual mothers receive proper care during their pregnancy period and ensure that doctors, midwives and nurses are appreciated, comfortable and enjoy delivering quality services to these mothers,” Ms. Juuko added.

The campaign will kick off with Kawempe Hospital being the biggest maternal referral hospital and expand to tackle other issues affecting the healthcare sector.

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Housing Finance Bank named Most Innovative Bancassurance Agent for 2020

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Housing Finance Bank named Most Innovative Bancassurance Agent for 2020

Housing Finance Bank has been named the most innovative bancassurance agent for the year 2020 at Annual Insurance innovation awards held at Serena Hotel Kampala on December 18, 2020.

Receiving the accolade, Michael Mugabi, the Managing Director of Housing Finance Bank noted that consumers are now, more than ever expecting rapid responses and personalized care and as a result, insurance service providers ought to ensure that customer service remains a priority.

“In the year ahead, as Housing Finance Bank we pledge to maximize customer-oriented service, execute maximum competitiveness in products, business operation, and systematically establish and strengthen mid-and long-term strategic partnerships,” he stated.

The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) announced the inaugural Insurance Innovation Awards early this year and are aimed at recognizing the role innovation plays in advancing the insurance sector in Uganda.

According to IRA, the focus of these awards is on use of new technologies, new products and services, and other advancements in the insurance industry with the aim of fostering innovation and creativity in insurance sector.

Housing Finance Bank was licensed to sell insurance products to its customers on the 13th of April 2018 by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) of Uganda. Overtime, the Bank’s market share has grown from 2.7% in 2018 to 4% in 2019 according to IRA industry data. Q1 results however show that the Bank underwrote the most general business premiums registering Gross Written Premium of Ugx. 1.2Bn.

“The sectors’ distribution revolution has given a new dimension to insurance products distribution on the market. Housing Finance Bank together with Insurance partners have crafted insurance solutions for its various customer segments thereby creating more customer satisfaction,” Mugabi added on the sidelines of the awards event.

Housing Finance Bank’s flagship product is the Group Life Insurance embedded on to the revolutionary Saveplus Savings Account. This is an incremental savings account for future investments with free embedded insurance as outlined; Life Cover of up to Ugx.25M, Total Permanent Disability Cover of Up to Ugx.12.5m, Medical Cash benefit and Last Expense Benefit.

The product has led to increased Insurance penetration. This is depicted by the 47% growth in enrollments over a one-year period that is from 1,671 in August 2019 to 2,464 by November 2020.  It has also led to an improved customer savings culture. This is depicted by the 80% growth in account average deposits over a one-year period that is from Ugx.1.5m in August 2018 to Ugx.2.3m by November 2020.

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Uganda to obtain first batch of #Covid-19 vaccine by May 2021

By
Our Reporter
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#Covid-19 vaccine

Uganda expects to obtain the first batch of #Covid-19 vaccine by May or June 2021, the government has said.

The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Judith Nabakooba revealed this on Sunday through a press statement where she called upon Ugandans continue being vigilant to the point when the vaccines become available.

“Uganda expects to obtain the first batch of #Covid-19 vaccine by May or June 2021. Priority will be given to front-line medical workers, the elderly and people with existing health conditions,” Nabakooba said.

She also announced that there will not be a lockdown during the festive season, but warned the public to maintain Standard Operating Procedures.

“There will not be any lockdown during the festive season apart from the existing curfew and other SOPS. However I call upon everyone to be extra careful. As you head out to celebrate X-mas keep safe by following SOPs issued by Ministry of Health,” she urged Ugandans.

Nabakooba said that concerts and discotheques are still under lockdown and will not operate and encouraged the public to be aware that the deadly virus is still here as they celebrate Christmas.

“Discotheques and music concerts are still under lockdown and not allowed to operate. For those travelling, ensure that you follow all the guidance on masks and social distancing,” she said.

She called upon all leaders in the markets to restore the hand washing facilities that existed earlier in the year.

“Market leaders should also restore hand washing facilities. I know people will be rushing to the salons for haircuts, all those using public taxis and buses, take extra caution,” Nabakooba said.

Uganda is currently at stage four of the Coronavirus pandemic with the health systems overstretched by the daily rising infections.

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