Watchdog Uganda
Looking in surprise, two boys; Emmanuel Wefafa and Cyrus Kituyi born from Namisindwa District shade tears upon receiving the news about their successful results.
Wafafa scored 14 points while Kituyi scored 12 points. They were both students of Trinity Senior Academy at Bwebajja in Wakiso District.
Wafafa, the eighth child among 18 siblings scored aggregate 8 from Butsemayi Primary School, formerly in Manafwa had failed to join secondary school due to his parents’ inability to pay for his school fees.
“We were many in the family and my father, Anthony Wesswa is a primary teacher and in a UPE schools. He could not raise money for all of us. I studied in ten schools and I would leave each school with a debt until I completed primary school,†Wefafa narrates.
He reveals that after receiving his results in 2016, despite being one of the best pupils, Wefafa did not join secondary school until 2017 and he missed a term until a sympathiser connected him to Emma Wanyama, the director of Pure Hearts Organisation.
Wefafa said that the organisation has helped him to pay fees and facilitated his study leading to the best grades.
“I want to be an epidemiologist to help my country fight epidemics. Pure Hearts is my mirror to the society by identifying and helping us the poor children explore our potential,†he says
Wefafa narrates how Pure Hearts organisation has been kind, caring and groom him into a responsible young person encouraged to his best to serve the country.
Kituyi, 18, on the other hand says he scored aggregate 14 in 2014 after a long struggle for school fees; “I did casual labour to get school fees to complete primary school because my parents are unable to raise any money.â€
“We are 14 children and getting school fees was a problem. After P.7, my hope to join secondary education was gone and I decided to work on someone’s farm raring animals until 2017 when I found a group of people who had got stuck on the road in our village and helped them. They asked me about myself and I told them I was not schooling, they picked me up and brought me to school,†he recalls.
Kituyi says that he is pursuing to become a medical doctor to help in building a healthy country and also improve people’s wellbeing.
Wefafa and Kituyi are part of the hundreds of children who secured a second chance to pursue their education career after they were identified and co-opted by a charitable body, Pure Hearts Organisation, based in Muyenga, Makindye Division in Kampala.
To Emma Wanyama, the founder and director of Pure Hearts Organisation, the success of the youngsters in the national examinations is the ultimate goal for the organisation.
Wanyama, a medical doctor explains that the organisation was started six years ago in response to then scaring statistics that revealed that over 50,000 hopeless children are living on streets.
“I was at some point a victim of same situations after having grown up with my grandmother who was very old. After scoring aggregate 5, I ended up on Mbale streets because I did not have school fees to continue with school,†he says.
He recalls that his sister picked him up from Mbale but dropped him Kampala where he lived on streets for one and half years until a wealth man picked him up and returned him to school.
“I felt rejection and I was desperate to do anything for survival. People on the streets have no choice and I had lost hope and the worst moment was during the outbreak of typhoid and I was only saved by a street preacher,†said Wanyama revealing that upon being helped to succeed, he started the charity to help youngsters explore their potential.
“It was sympathy that I am able to share and I am strong. I started this programme as a way of a bigger purpose to create change and shaping the country’s future by supporting young vulnerable scientists to obtain scholarships and study materials to reduce school dropouts,†he said.
]]>URSB tips innovators on how to exploit their creativityhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/business/20210731/118345/ursb-tips-innovators-on-how-to-exploit-their-creativity.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 09:09:07 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118345Transformation of Uganda into a modern, prosperous society as laid out in the National Development Plan III will largely depend on how fast Ugandans can harness, protect and utilize intellectual property in a manner that encourages innovation and creativity.As part of the strategy to promote the realization of this goal, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) Registrar General, Mercy Kainobwisho on Friday delivered a virtual presentation themed ‘The role of Uganda’s IP policy in nurturing innovation for social economic development’. The webinar aimed at enhancing awareness and building capacity for IP to support national development through the creative sector of the economy.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, inventions, literary, and artistic works, symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. IP is divided into two categories, industrial property which includes inventions (patents), trademarks, industrial designs, and geographic indications of source; and copyright which includes literary and artistic works such as novels, poems and plays, films, musical works, artistic works such as drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures, and architectural designs.
In her presentation, the Registrar General, noted that intellectual property is a product of innovation, which is tied to Uganda’s strategic objective to propel the country to middle-income status. ‘Intellectual property is one of the single largest opportunities for companies to increase strategic business value, create new business opportunities, accelerate barriers to entry for competitors. IP represents a significant, untapped opportunity for revenue generation’. Kainobwisho said.
“Business enterprises irrespective of size must be innovative to remain relevant and competitive locally, regionally. However innovators need to protect their intellectual property in order to gain from their creativity’’ She added.
Intellectual Property supports the transformation of the economy through harnessing of the benefits accrued to rights holders such as creating opportunities for employment of the youth and providing solutions through commercialization of innovations.
To support IP growth across the country, Cabinet in May 2019 approved the National Intellectual Property Policy whose objective is to stimulate and nurture innovation and creativity for socio-economic development of the country. The policy also aims at facilitating integration of intellectual property into national priority sectors and programs towards realization of national development goals.
The Registrar General in her presentation outlined the pivotal role the national IP policy will play in promoting IP as a tool for all-inclusive transformation of academia, creative, informal, public and private sectors of the national economy.
“The government of Uganda is well aware of the benefits and role that Intellectual Property can play to accelerate the socio-economic development of our country.
The passing of the national IP policy aimed at stimulating effective and strategic use of Intellectual Property in all sectors in order to attain rapid economic developmentâ€, Kainobwisho added.
The Registrar General in her discussion tipped inventors on how they can promote their innovations, the need to protect IP creations through trademarking, copyrighting and other related rights, how to address challenges created by violation of IP for ICT innovators, empowering innovators to safeguard their solutions/products and promoting transfer of technology through patents.
The emergence of COVID-19 has had an effect on businesses with many small and medium enterprises (SMES) across the country working towards countering the challenges brought upon by the impact of COVID-19.
The pandemic has however also presented them with opportunities to create solutions such as medicine and drugs, protective gear, sanitary products, creating significant intellectual property assets that need to be protected for the benefit of their creators.
URSB is undertaking more engagements under their ‘innovation series’ to explain further how such SMEs can enhance their businesses through exploiting the full benefits of their intellectual property.
]]>Lord Mayor Lukwago highlights 9 areas Museveni failed to properly address as he eased the lockdownhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210731/118342/lord-mayor-lukwago-highlights-9-areas-museveni-failed-to-properly-address-as-he-eased-the-lockdown.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 08:29:41 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118342The Lord Mayor of Kampala Capital City Erias Lukwago has punched holes in President Yoweri Museveni’s Friday night address on Covid-19.Following the expiration of the 42 days of lockdown, the President yesterday addressed Ugandans on the way forward where he partially opened up some sectors of the economy.
Museveni among others allowed Kikuubo, malls, arcades, public transport, boda bodas to resume business while strictly following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
He on the other hand, kept schools, places of worship closed saying that they will only be opened after finding a sustainable solution that can limit the spread of the virus such as mass vaccination.
However, to Lukwago, the President’s speech had a lot of loopholes that it left many imponderables lingering his mind.
Lukwago said;
As many of you are gathering pieces to get back on your feet and resume business, albeit with a multitude of challenges, there are lots of imponderables lingering on my mind;
1) How the Kikuubo Lane, hitherto the county’s main commercial hub, is going to be turned into an exclusively wholesale and “petty-trader-free†zone.
2) The Country’s capacity to vaccinate the over 15 million learners before opening the schools.
3) Even when schools eventually re-open and a mechanism is worked out for the two sets of learners in each class study in shifts, the capacity of the struggling tertiary institutions to accommodate all the learners who will be progressing at a go.
4) The Landlord-tenant issues, especially in arcades and malls, which were never addressed in the new proclamation .
5) The chocking tax tarriffs which have not been revised in the wake of the prevailing crisis and the high cost of capital investment. Note that the Bank rate was reduced to 6.5% but the commercial bank rate was never revised down.
6) What of a comprehensive economic recovery program and interventions to resuscitate the collapsing economy?
7) The capacity of the law enforcement agencies to police the entire country to ensure that only 20 people attend burials, Boboda carry only one passenger, taxis and buses operate at half capacity, bars and saunas don’t operate, curfew at 7pm etc.
8) Oba what crime did our musicians commit?.
9) Why are these measures, well intentioned as they may be, never discussed in parliament as required under constitution before being rolledout?
10) etc
Anyway, let’s keep our hopes alive and keep safe.
]]>Outrage as Education ministry appoints only Christian officers to head Islamic Religious Educationhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210731/118334/outrage-as-education-ministry-appoints-only-christian-officers-to-head-islamic-religious-education.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 08:09:17 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118334The Ministry of Education and Sports has come under public criticism after appointing only Christian officers to head the Islamic Religious Education (IRE) in the country.The Education Service Commission under the Ministry of Education on 19th July, 2021 appointed Abong Geoffrey, Najjemba Barbra, Nakanjako Erinah and Nankungu Annet as the new Education officers for IRE.
However, the Ministry’s move has rubbed a section of Muslims a wrong way who say that the positions deserved to be filled by people who align to the Islamic faith since they understand their religion better.
“I really don’t know the importance of Uganda Muslim supreme council walai,†a one Sawiya Ismah said.
Jimmy Ntare wondered, “Those saying mbu Qualifications, ain’t there Muslims who have studied that can’t qualify for IRE?â€
Yusuf Mafabi asserted, “Religion is a faith, not a profession. If you don’t believe in it, you have no business teaching it. It’s like getting an NUP member to go and teach NRM or FDC members how to love their party, or the reverse. Our leadership must have outrightly opposed this nonsense like our Christian brothers have always done. But if you have leaders whose only job is waiting for the month of Ramadhan to go and eat free food in state house, just know you are doomed.â€
†If they can send Christians to be ambassadors in uea with zero knowledge about speaking Arabic so doing that it’s not case to them,â€Ritah Serenum added.
However, some people have since defended the Ministry saying that IRE, just like any other subject requires qualifications and professionalism not faith.
Henry kizza Shadrack said,†It’s not about being a moslem IRE is studied just like any other thing.. I was always the best in IRE yet am a Christian.. Tujeeko obujega naawe.â€
Defever O Martin Wodnam remarked, “It’s a big problem if there were qualified Muslim teachers who had applied for the job and weren’t given. Otherwise, there’s no problem if the only available qualified teachers were Christians.â€
Moses Ssenyonjo said, “It’s fine if they passed the exams and interview.â€
“They appoint professionals not religious ideologies,†Muyirima Starlone Derick noted.
]]>Rukh- Shana Namuyimba throws in towel after turbulent years at dfcu bankhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210731/118331/rukh-shana-namuyimba-throws-in-towel-after-turbulent-years-at-dfcu-bank.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 07:22:36 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118331Rukh- Shana Namuyimba has thrown in the towel as dfcu Manager Communications and Events.According to the bank management, Namuyimba’s departure follows her notice of resignation from her position which she has held for the last four and a half years.
The media personality joined dfcu in January 2017 at a time when dfcu’s purchase of Crane Bank had attracted bad publicity, mainly online.
She started off role by threatening to sue some online publications before arrangement escalated the bank’s bad publicity.
“As the Manager Communication & Events, Rukh-Shana has been responsible for the planning and execution of the Bank’s communication strategy. In her capacity, she has supported several initiatives including Brand campaigns, Corporate Social Responsibility, Digital and Marketing Communications, as well as Internal Staff Communications,†Veronica Sentongo Chief Change and Innovation officer dfcu Bank said in the statement.
“Rukh-Shana’s professionalism, skills and work ethic have played a significant role in propelling the dfcu brand to where it stands today. We are honored to have worked with Rukh-Shana over the past four and a half years; her commitment to the business has been unquestionable and her work; consistently excellent. We thank her for going above the call of duty on numerous occasions and wish her the absolute best as she takes on the next phase of her journey,†Sentongo added.
]]>Why your husband is having an affair with that ugly womanhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/entertainment/lifestyle/20210731/118257/why-your-husband-is-having-an-affair-with-that-ugly-woman.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 06:06:42 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118257As much as it sickens me to admit, I have been the other woman in two separate relationships. Please keep the heckling to yourself. Believe me, this is not something I am, by any means, proud of and is far from the woman I am today.But, a question was posed, “Why do men always cheat with uglier woman than their significant other?†After I got over the initial sting of being labeled “the uglier one,†it got me thinking why this is, in most cases, the truth.
Why was I always picked as the back-up plan and never the leading actress? I wouldn’t say it was my physical appearance that was “uglier,†though I’m sure that’s up for debate, but I would say emotionally I was hideous. This is like lamb chops to a lion for cheating men. Men don’t want to put more elbow grease into a relationship. They already have the trophy girl; they want someone who is going to be up for: waiting by the phone for the calls day in and day out, sneaking around, never going on actual dates and feeling miserable about themselves. Now, who better for this than girls who already feel miserable about themselves?
In most cases, men aren’t looking for someone to “date.†They are looking for someone to have sex with and feed their egos. They aren’t going to go hunting for beautiful, successful, put-together women at business functions. They are going to find someone who’s crying into their beer at a crusty saloon. That girl is prime picking for the “other woman.â€
These girls are so desperate for attention that they will blindly believe the: my-wife-is such-a-bitch-and-I’m-filing-for-divorce-next-week line of bull. They don’t think they deserve better than getting stood up night after night and truly believe that the one night a month/year they get with their lover is heaven on earth.
All I can hope for is that one of them is reading this right now and realizing that, “Holy crap, that’s me!†Don’t be someone’s second-best. Don’t do that to another woman. There is no one on this earth who deserves the pain of being in this disgusting situation. You deserve better. You are better than that. I know what you’re thinking, “Being with them is better than being alone.†Is it? Really? You like this feeling? I didn’t think so.
Paired Life
]]>JOSEPH M. MUMBE: Church Health Today Is at Ruinhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210731/118324/joseph-m-mumbe-church-health-today-is-at-ruin.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 05:51:06 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118324What beats my understanding is the level at which the ministers of the gospel are verbally fighting within and without, aiming to character assassinate one another regardless of their call, position and influence. Such a tendance undermines not only the perpetrators but also the church vitality hence, stunts her growth and health.Just as medical doctors examine their patients to ascertain signs of health, diseases and injury to determine the degree of health, it is possible to evaluate churches or any other organization’s health. Like a human body that requires regular exercise, good diet, rest etc., a church ought to attend to her vitality.
Much as church health is entirely God’s work, God uses human beings to accomplish it. Some of the indicators of church health are obvious like passion to reach out to lost souls and fellowship while others are uncommon. Some of the unhealth indicators are open conflict, moral decadence among others.
Due to space and time, let’s emphasize on spiritual vitality aspect of the church. For Christian growth to be realized, a lot should be put in place. Such require prayer, fellowship, soul cutting message and studying of the Word among others. Here the leadership contributes a lot as the maturity of the church shall be outwardly rated on the maturity of its leaders.
Pastor’s cardinal role
The Bible states the cardinal role of the fivefold ministry (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers) as “to prepare God’s people for the work of service so that the body of Christ may be built up†(Eph.4:12). From this verse, whichever ministry you have in church whether tangible or intangible and is not aligned with the above, is then not worth to function â€" in church. Here, a Pastor, the in charge and custodian of a local church, plays a vital role beginning with himself then the followers.
What question pops into your mind when you see and hear pastors on media insulting one another before believers and prospective believers? Are they building up (edifying) or tearing? Is that part of their cardinal roles as per the call? I acknowledge that conflicts are unavoidable but they are manageable in the church. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I say this to your shame. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute among believers? (ICor.6:5). Could lack of conflict resolution be ignorance of Bible teaching or lack of supreme authority to regulate on what is done in churches today?
Dangers
Four dangers facing the such ministers and their congregation in line with church vitality elements:
One called to edify is instead breaking as they think of what they have to say in order to create mistrust in the opponent (character assassination). In Proverbs, the writer says, “Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin….†and adds, “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a damâ€. (Prov. 17: 14, 19). A quarrel is premeditated and a drop falls after the other. We shouldn’t be made to think that sin is only adultery, fornication theft etc. yet we are living with it daily as we prepare sermons blended with attacks to others. Why should one deliberately sin? Do they present on TVs and Radio stations by accident? No, but through thorough preparation that includes quarrel, ridicule and all sorts of degradation conceived in their hearts.
Misrepresentation and impersonation are synonymous. If you’re a leader, you have a body you subscribe to. Even today during COVID 19 lockdown, government won’t allow you distribute food to the starving. Why? You may misrepresent their interests. No corporate institution can allow to be misrepresented and why should we disregard the supreme authority? (heaven)
What you do is revels your heart since everything flows from the heart (Prov. 4:23). It is also a sign of failure to guard their hearts.
Apostle Paul said, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -put into practice….†(Phi. 4:9). Consider the above verbs Apostle Paul uses to learn; receive, hear and see. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, many are emulating what we do whether good or bad. The moral authority both spiritually and publicly is lost and souls of followers are endangered. It is hard to stop your child from what you have failed to stop! You beat and insult your spouse? Wait on, your children will do the same as your disciples.
Dear friends, we ought to know that as living beings reproduce themselves, it is obvious that such leaders will definitely reproduce their own kind. Why should you expect a goat to reproduce a sheep? Why expect a quarrelsome proud leader to produce humble one? The misuse of the grace of God to attack and hurl insults to others simply because you own or have access to media house, will certainly produce the same offspring to do exactly what you are doing and if such so happens, in your heart know you have nurtured but negatively!!
Conclusively, the growth and health of the church should be the natural product of its spiritual health which is, the inclination with God the life giver. In whatever we do, we affect those around us either negatively or positively hence contributing to either the health or detriment of the church which has a direct link in standard with the believers therein.
Are you contributing to the life or loss of life to that Church? Don’t take anything light, a small mosquito can cause a deadly disease to the body, even death! Let’s take heed, the owner, the (CEO as in corporates) is soon coming to evaluate you!
Joseph M. Mumbe
mumbej@yahoo.com
The author is a theologian, teacher and Pastor
]]>HARUNAH KIYEMBA: Bitter truth to business owners/traders in Downtown Kampalahttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210731/118321/harunah-kiyemba-bitter-truth-to-business-owners-traders-in-downtown-kampala.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 05:26:28 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118321Majority have been home 42 days, some are still home not by choice but their government still hasn’t figured out an exit plan to a solution like schools and bars.Have you thought about what’s happening to those families especially private teachers? And support staff?
Now you who is starting to open your boutique today in that Arcade, what lesson have you learnt?
You taxi driver or owner, what lesson have you learnt? If there are no lessons let me bring the reality to you home. Anything can happen to that job or business.
Therefore, start to plan for dark days with “WHAT IT IF†it happens again, will I be able to survive?
Many people in the Last lockdown moved their businesses from city centre to outside town areas since customers apparently who come to town stay in those areas. Boutiques,Saloons,Restaurants,Hardwares,Clinics,among others.
Starting your business in that locality saves you on rent, transport especially if that business is located in your place of residence, and you will be under less pressure to connect with your customers.
In this lockdown, I bought a deep freezer for my business, I don’t know the person who sold it to me, all I did just get my phone, tap on the item I wanted , negotiated and boom item delivered and I paid.
Isn’t this now the mode of business where the country has gone? All you need to do is get a store somewhere cheaply and start to promote your products online and customers will come trust me.
But you sitting in that Arcade, ordering tea,katogo, fruitsalad, porridge, Mulokoni, and lunch as you wait for customers, believe me those days are gone and by the time you wake up , “Arcade owner †in quotes since are Majority are false tycoons brokers for thieves in government will be sealing your shop for non payment rent in millions.
My point is this #COVID19 economy should shift your mind set and mode of your business to go online and change location.
Introduce delivery system in your business operations instead of having 5 girls standing there entire day mbu serving customers like I see those guys of Tecno shops yet they are selling smart phones 
using analogue method believe me I don’t buy a phone because some young lady clad in green T-shirt and loud music polluting the environment is available but I look for value. If you can advertise smartly your product online with clear specifications trust with added value of this product will be delivered to your door 
steps.
That salary or commission you pay 8 young men and women mbu Sales assistant can cater for your transport cost.
Someone, I interviewed the owners of Pusha online(Kikuubo Online), they use the exact mode for their business and trust me their investment is the business of the future. You have seen how Kikuubo will never be the same again, after this lockdown. With the crowd we have been seeing, how come Ugandans never lacked anything when Kikuubo is closed? Ask yourself. The answer is simple people have started same wholesale shops in areas outside town , selling same price and same items sometimes cheaper since rent in those areas like Nansana, Wakiso, Namugongo, Gayaza, Mukono,Kiira is slightly cheaper.
This saves customers transport, jam, and risks for getting in contact with people whose #COVID19 status isn’t known.
My brother/Sister, its time to reinvent your mindset and business in order to remain relevant to your customers and survive.
If you want to know how towns transformed just drive through Nansana from Town Council offices, Masitoowa, Yesu Amala as you head to Wakiso, you will be amazed at the speed these areas are developing as you are busy with foolish slogans mbu “Abe Nansana jemuli†sebo jebali progressing and they didn’t feel these 42 lockdown at all.
I will end this post here with this photo, believe me, never will you witness this crowd in Kampala centre again if that’s the reason you still pay 6 million for rent in that Arcade.
May Allah protect you, your family and business since we are in period of uncertainty.
#HarunahInsights
According to the statement released by the School Director, Terry Garbett on Friday, July 30, 2021, Kampala International School Uganda registered yet another year of outstanding International Baccalaureate Diploma examination results, scoring a 100% pass rate.
KISU’s best performing student obtained a score of 41 points while 37.5% of students got 35 points and more. On average the IB Class of 2021 scored 32 points, the statement stated.
“Congratulations to the IB Class 2021 on the achievements of their results…Massive congratulations to the class of #KISU2021,†said a statement posted on the School’s Twitter account.
All KISU students who sat their International Baccalaureate exams for 2021 passed the prestigious Bilingual Diploma.
KISU is a world-class education facility that offers an international education to students between 2 and 19 years of age.
The school’s current enrolment is 450, with students from over 50 nationalities. The school is built on a purpose-built 14-acre campus, with an installed capacity of 1,000 students.
The KISU curricula, combines the structure, rigour and transferability of the English National Curriculum, with the broad, holistic and constructive approach of the International Baccalaureate (IB).
To the IB Diploma, the school has also added some other innovative elements such as “Learning to Learn†and “LEGO Robotics†to create a curriculum that has depth and breadth and is both relevant and exciting to today’s children.
Inquiries about ongoing KISU admissions for 2021-2022. Visit https://www.kisu.com/admissions/
]]>H.E the President Speech on the COVID-19 Pandemic Response in Uganda as of 30th July 2021https://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210730/118318/h-e-the-president-speech-on-the-covid-19-pandemic-response-in-uganda-as-of-30th-july-2021.html Fri, 30 Jul 2021 20:53:06 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118318Today marks the 42nd day since I instituted the lockdown on 18th June 2021. The lockdown was guided by rapidly increasing daily cases, increasing positivity rate, high admission rates in hospitals for severe and critically ill patients and increasing number of deaths. Therefore, I had to intervene to protect the health system from getting overwhelmed by many cases and the population from massive deaths.During the period of the lockdown, data generated by the Ministry of Health has shown;
I would like to appreciate the population for adhering to my directives during this lockdown which has resulted in the above mentioned achievements.
As of 29th July 2021, the country had registered 93,927 cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19, 83,115 recoveries, and 2,690 deaths.
Currently, there are 626 patients admitted in various hospitals. A total of 597 are in public health facilities and 29 in private health facilities.
Of all the confirmed cases, 53,000 representing 56%, have happened in this second wave from the month of April, 2021 to date.
The previous and current lockdown are part of preventive health interventions to contain the outbreak in order to protect lives and reduce deaths.
This is in addition to the Government strategy of mass vaccination.
Government is using a multi- pronged approach to secure adequate vaccines for the target population of 22 million, 18 years and above. Scientists have informed me that children above 12-18 years can also be vaccinated using the Pfizer vaccine. I have directed the Ministry of Health to include this age group in their estimates and plan holistically.
The following options are being used to access vaccines from the global market:
An order of 2 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccines has been made with the African Union and a down payment of USD 3 million effected. Delivery will begin in August 2021.
I have been informed that tonight, 30th July 2021, we are receiving donations of 286,080 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Norway and 300,000 doses of the Sinovac Vaccine from China. I would like to thank both the Government of Norway and People’s Republic of China for prioritizing the lives of Ugandans.
In addition, in September 2021, we are expecting 647,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine from USA, 688,000 of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX Facility and 299,000 doses from the United Kingdom. This gives a total of 1,634,000 doses of vaccines which will cater for 817,000 people. Although these are donations, I have directed the Ministry of Health and Finance to urgently secure vaccines for Ugandans.
Due to the hoarding of vaccines by the international countries, Uganda is embarking on its own vaccine manufacturing capacity. To-date, 3 candidate vaccines are at different stages of trial. Whereas this may take us some time, this is an effort in the right direction. This is an endeavor that the country will pursue to disentangle itself from dependency.
As of today, a total of 1,139,260 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered to the population countrywide; 902,293 people have received the 1st dose while 233,950 have received the 2nd dose.
During this second wave, I was informed of the challenges faced by the COVID-19 Treatment facilities due to inadequate medical oxygen.
Government is enhancing the existing oxygen production and supply at the National and Regional Referral Hospitals in Uganda to cater for both the COVID-19 cases and other Essential Medical services.
The procurement of Gaseous Oxygen Plants (Pressure Swing Adsorption) is ongoing and these will be installed in all the 15 Regional Referral Hospitals and Bombo Military Hospital. In addition, a similar oxygen plant with a bigger capacity will be installed at Mulago Hospital. Furthermore, three (3) cryogenic (Liquid oxygen) Plants will be procured and installed strategically in 3 regions of the country to complement the Gaseous Oxygen production. The Ministry of Finance has already provided funding for this. This will solve the current oxygen crisis.
Relief for the Most Vulnerable Population in Cities and Municipalities
On 18th June 2021 when I instituted the lockdown, I directed the Prime Minister and the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development to define and identify persons who depend on daily income in cities and municipalities who were affected by the lockdown; assess their needs during the lockdown period; and suggest interventions to take care of their needs.
From our experience with food distribution in the lockdown of 2020, Cabinet decided that each of the selected 501,107 vulnerable persons in Kampala, the 10 Cities, and 31 Municipalities should be given UGX 100,000/= (One hundred thousand shillings) so that they can buy food of their choice.
The category of people identified included the following:
S/N Category 1. Bus/taxi drivers, conductors 2. Baggage carriers, wheelbarrow pushers, touts, traffic guides and loaders in taxi, bus parks and stages, and other major commercial centers such as Kikuubo 3. Barmen, DJs, barmaids, waiters and bouncers 4. Bar, gym and restaurant workers 5. Food vendors in bus, taxi parks and arcades 6. Artists (musicians, comedians etc.) 7. Boda boda riders, special hire drivers and uber drivers 8. Salons, massage parlor workers 9. Teachers and support staff in private schools and teachers in government schools not on the government payroll 10. Car washers 11. Slum-dwellers/ghetto residents 12. Street and food vendors, shoe shiners and cobblersThe beneficiaries were selected from administrative records held by the urban authorities and town clerks.
I have been informed that as of Friday, 30th July 2021, 500,945 beneficiaries out of the target of 501,107 (99.97 percent) had been uploaded on the online registration system.
A total of 462,387 (92.3%) beneficiaries had been verified and paid by Post Bank as of today. This totalled to UGX 47,429,346,525.
The balance of 38,558 persons (7.7%) has been deferred for various reasons which are still under review by the town clerks before resubmission for payment.
I am told that the online system which we have used to register beneficiaries and submit their detail to Post Bank for payment was designed by my bazukulu who are Information Technology Specialists at National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. I have further been informed that if private consultants had been procured, the development of this system would have cost the Government at least UGX 500 million. I therefore would like to thank these bazukulu for being patriotic and saving public funds.
Local therapeutics
Our own scientists are at working around the clock to find solutions to attack the corona virus. They are at different levels of development of treatment remedies using our own natural products.
I am aware that several Ugandan teams have now discovered natural extracts that could have therapeutic benefits against COVID-19. I am thus working with many Ugandan scientists to ensure we follow the international standards and guidelines to avoid being labeled inferior and thereby sabotaged by the international players. The molecules referred to here act in a similar manner like all the drugs that have been recommended by the World Health Organization.
For example, the one by Dr. Nambatya, known as UBV-01N has molecules that stop the body from excessive reaction and self-destruction.
The one by Prof Patrick Ogwang of Mbarara University called COVIDEX; and Dr. Alice Lamwaka from Gulu University, Covilyce-1 have direct effects on the virus, as well as dampening ‘self-destruction’ effects of the virus (‘panic crisis’).
Therefore, a few Ugandans and other international skeptics shouldn’t undermine our home-grown scientific efforts by telling lies about our efforts. Also, the scientists involved must follow the globally prescribed steps so that we don’t give our enemies the chance to shot down our products.
Last and more importantly, we must protect the intellectual property rights of the scientists involved. I have heard of arguments around ownership of the patents and trademarks, but this is a straightforward issue. These belong to the scientists who discovered them. If the institutions that employ these scientists want to benefit from their innovations, they should levy a sort of tax, what the technology transfer experts refer to as sharing of royalties. Even then, much of the proceeds should go to the inventor so that we encourage our scientists to discover more.
Community Engagement
The Ministries of Health and Local Government developed a Community Engagement Strategy, community surveillance and homebased care guidelines and disseminated these to all districts and reoriented all the district local governments.
During the lockdown, I am informed that the following were undertaken;
I now direct the Ministry of Local Government to strengthen the Community Engagement Strategy as a means of mitigating the effects of the pandemic at community level.
Government Financing towards the COVID-19 response
Government response is guided by two costed plans; COVID-19 Response Plan (March 2020 â€" June 2021) and the Resurgence Plan (July 2021 â€" June 2022). This has guided budgetary allocation for; public sensitization, provision of free care and treatment in all Government treatment facilities, ambulance services in all regions of Uganda, enhancement of bed capacity, set up non-traditional treatment facilities (Namboole), procurement of vaccines and oxygen plants, relief support for the most vulnerable population and support to community interventions in Local Governments.
Review of the Lockdown measures
You will recall that when I instituted the 42 days lockdown, I said that I will review the restrictions if the situation improves as indicated above.
Following the 42-day lockdown, the National Task Force considered the following parameters to revisit the restrictions:
In addition to the above, the National Planning Authority (NPA) has made projections on the potential effects of the different interventions and the likely outcomes. Their model analyzes a number of factors including; COVID-19 cases, Human Development Index, Geographical factors, population density, age structure and weather among others, to give projections of the COVID-19 new case trends.
They looked at 3 options to analyze how the current cases that average 300 per day might increase or decrease based on either; full opening up (zero lockdown), no opening-up (Full Lockdown), or Partial opening-up.
The result of their modelling is as below:
Within 28 days, new cases will average about 500 per day with a weekly average of around 2,000. This measure will take the country directly into the 3rd wave.
With this option, the country will have 30 new daily infections and a weekly average of 246 new cases in the coming 28 days. This measure has strong and positive health benefits as the cases will reduce drastically but it has negative economic consequences that will impact the economic and social well-being of the people.
This model projects an increased number of cases in the first week to an average of 309 new cases per day and eventually coming down to 85 new cases by the third week. The initial increase of cases is due to the increased movement of people in the opening week. Everyone will be coming out after the 42 days of closure and this may spike the infection rates.
Cases are projected to further reduce to about 66 new cases per day by 28 days after partially easing the lockdown, based on this model. It is therefore important to ensure that there is strict observance of SoPs within the partial lockdown period so as to curb the spread of the virus.
The graph below shows the different 3 scenarios for opening up the country
Figure 1: Options for opening up (model run on 26th July 2021)
Based on the scientists advise and NPA projections, I now revise my directives as follows:
S/N THE ISSUE DIRECTIVE 1. Curfew time was set at 1900Hrs to 0530 Hrs. · Curfew time is maintained at 1900Hrs to 0530 Hrs. All persons except security personnel on duty and those authorized to move should be in their homes.· This is intended to avoid breaching of guidelines, SOPs and thuggery under the cover of darkness.
2. Boda-Bodas movement was restricted to 1700hrs and only allowed to carry cargo · Boda-Bodas are now allowed to move up to 1800hrs. Beyond 1800hrs, no Boda-Bodas should be on the road.· They are now allowed to carry one passenger at a time or cargo.
· They should strictly maintain SOPs. Wearing a mask is a MUST for both the rider and passenger.
· The Boda-Boda Associations are directed to regulate themselves.
· Failure to comply, this directive will be reversed to the earlier position.
3. Kikuubo was closed Kikuubo should open under the following conditions:· All kiosks within corridors of buildings should be removed for purposes of decongesting pathways.
· Roadside vending within Kikuubo is banned. These will be relocated to alternative venues where vending is permitted by KCCA.
· Kikuubo should remain a wholesale trading centre.
· The Ministers for Kampala, RCC, KCCA and enforcement agencies to ensure compliance.
· Manufacturers, wholesalers and traders should open outlets in the various towns and business centres in the outskirts of the Central Business District.
· Traders should adapt to e-commerce.
4. Malls, arcades and other business centers were closed · These can open and must strictly follow these guidelines:â€" Compliance to all SOPs
â€" Presence of compliance officers is a MUST.
â€" Corridors and access ways have to be clear
â€" Adequate lighting and ventilation.
â€" Dedicated entry and exit
â€" Install CCTV cameras where they are absent
â€" Proper hygiene and sanitation facilities
â€" Registration of shop owners and attendants is a MUST.
Only those arcades that conform to the above guidelines will be allowed to open.
In addition, failure to conform to any of the above will lead to closure.
5. Burials were restricted to a maximum of 20 people. · This should be maintained until the population is sufficiently vaccinated. 6. Weddings were restricted to a maximum of 20 people. · This should be maintained until the population is sufficiently vaccinated. 7. Places of worship were closed. · This should be maintained as closed and will be reviewed after another 60 days.· Alternative means of worship i.e. online, radio and TVs are instead encouraged.
· A maximum of 10 leaders are allowed to lead the virtual prayers.
8. Outdoor sports events were allowed with restrictions · The International and local accredited sports events are allowed under strict observance of SOPs (no spectators, mandatory testing of players and officials within 72 hours of the event).· Outdoor individual sport activities are allowed under strict observance of SOPs.
· Indoor sports activities including gyms, pool tables remain closed.
· Gaming and betting remain closed
· Casinos, theaters and Cinemas including Bibanda remain closed.
· Performing artistes, concerts and comedians are advised to perform virtually.
These measures shall be reviewed after 42 days.
9. Bars were closed · Bars remain closed and the enforcement agencies are directed to arrest and charge both revellers and owners who breach this directive. 10. Restaurants were allowed to operate under strict observance of SOPs · These should remain open under strict observance of SOPs. 11. Salons were allowed to operate under strict observance of SOPs · These should be opened under strict observance of SOPs and guidelines. 12. Saunas and Steam bath were closed · These should remain closed. 13. All schools were closed · Schools will remain closed until sufficient vaccination of the eligible population and children aged 12-18 years old has taken place· The Ministry of Education and Sports/ National Council for Higher Education and Ministry of Health should meet and plan for the possibility of a safe reopening of medical schools.
· Learning should continue virtually
· Ministry of Education and Sports will provide learning materials to learners
14. Reduction to 10% of Non-core staff in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other formal sectors. i.e. lawyers, auditors etc · MDAs and other formal sectors may operate at a maximum of 30% in a rotational manner.· MDAs and other formal sectors must have compliance officers to enforce SOPs.
15. Inter-District travel by private vehicles was banned but registered tourists’ vehicles were allowed to move · Private vehicles are now allowed to move across district borders carrying a maximum of 3 persons including the driver.· Registered tourists’ vehicles should continue to move to their destinations and designated places.
· Enforcement agencies and the task forces at all levels to ensure compliance.
· Ministry of Health should on a bi-weekly basis flag the high-risk districts for restrictive control actions.
16. Movement in and out of the country through the airport was allowed. · Entebbe International Airport will remain open.· Ministry of Health, Immigration services, Port health and other Agencies of Government to ensure compliance to the existing guidelines such as testing, isolation etc.
· UPDF medical services are directed to oversee the management of COVID-19 screening processes at Entebbe International Airport leading to secure entry and exit.
· Online visa management systems be maintained.
17. Movement of cargo trucks through the land border points of entry was allowed · Cargo trucks are still allowed to move in and out of the country with a maximum of two people (driver and turn man).· Drivers should possess a negative COVID-19 test result and be allowed to move.
18. Public transport was banned · Public transport will open at strictly 50% capacity effective Monday, 2nd August 2021. This will be reviewed every after 2 weeks.· Taxi and bus owners’ associations must ensure adherence to this directive by their members as part of self-regulation by the appropriate associations.
· There must be no air conditioning in all public transport
· There must be strict adherence to the detailed SOPs and guidelines as laid out by Ministry of Works and Transport
· The Public Transport Associations are directed to regulate themselves.
· Failure to comply, this directive will be reversed to the earlier position.
19. Food Markets were open · These should remain open but maintain strict observance of SOPs. 20. Seasonal markets were closed · These should remain closed. 21. Conferences, workshops and seminars were banned. · These remain banned except with explicit permission from the Ministry of Health and related MDAs.· Numbers will be restricted and testing will be carried out.
22. The Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), working together with the Technical Intersectoral Committee (TISC) were directed to closely monitor the compliance and enforcement of these directives. · JIC and TISC are directed to continue coordinating, monitoring and enforcing compliance to these directives.· TISC to create regional and district operations rooms to oversee the enforcement of SOPs.
POST LOCKDOWN MEASURES
The Ministry of Finance working with Bank of Uganda, will mobilize low cost credit for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Government will as a first step, immediately raise UGX 100 Billion through further Budget Rationalization, and participating Financial Institutions will equally contribute UGX 100 Billion. This brings total resources available for MSMEs to UGX 200 Billion. The Minister of Finance will prepare and announce details and guidelines for this support within two weeks from today.
APPRECIATION OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR
I would like to appreciate the following companies who have recently supported the COVID-19 response on top of those who I had earlier recognized during the first wave of the pandemic.
Thank you.
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