East Africa – KMAUPDATES

May312020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Parliament passes a Bill regulating mobile money

AFRICA

Kampala, Uganda --- On 29th May 2020, the Parliament of Uganda passed the National Payment Systems Bill, 2019, that will among others regulate and provide for the safety and efficiency of payment systems and issuance of electronic money. The Bill presented to the House by State Minister for Finance, Hon. David Bahati on Thursday, 14th November 20l9 seeks to create a comprehensive payment system law in Uganda. According to a report on the Bill by the Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the absence of a national payment systems law has created uncertainty in the market regarding licensing of payment systems service providers who are not financial institutions. These include among others telecom companies providing mobile money services as well as mobile applica...

May312020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Speaker directs Committee on pledges to sports stars

Sports

Kampala, Uganda --- Parliament Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, has directed the House Committee of Education and Sports to follow up Government pledges made to various personalities that bring glory to Uganda through sports. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of parliament of Uganda Kadaga said that some sports personalities had been neglected yet at one time they won medals for the country. In her communication during the plenary sitting of Wednesday 27 May 2020, Kadaga said that sports personalities live and eventually pass on in a sad state of affairs yet they should be receiving monthly benefits as was directed by the President. “I’ve met various sports personalities who have made various contributions and brought glory and presented a positive image for this country. The legendary football...

May312020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Coronavirus – South Sudan: Another Vice-president tests positive for COVID-19

AFRICA

JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN --- South Sudan’s Vice President James Wani Igga has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). Igga becomes the third Vice President to contract the contagious disease in a span of two weeks, or at least go public about the status. Igga, Vice President in charge of the economic cluster, announced his test result while speaking on state television in Juba on Saturday. James Wani Igga, South Sudan Vice President in charge of the economic cluster “My samples were taken for testing some few days ago and today it has been found positive,” Igga said. Last Wednesday, Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi also revealed that he had tested positive for COVID-19. A fortnight ago, Vice President Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny also confirmed that thei...

May312020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Coronavirus: Rwanda records her first death of COVID-19

CORONAVIRUS

Rwanda on Saturday recorded its first coronavirus related death after a 65-year-old truck driver passed away at the specialised Covid-19 facility in Kigali. The country’s Ministry of Health says the deceased was residing in a neighbouring country but opted to return to Rwanda after developing serious respiratory complications. “After seriously falling ill, the patient decided to return to his home country,” the ministry wrote without specifying the country. “He received intensive care treatment at a specialized COVID-19 facility but unfortunately passed away due to severe respiratory complications,” Rwanda’s Ministry of Health wrote. Further, another 4 positive cases were confirmed from the 1,368 samples tested on Saturday - rising the national total caseload to 359. Thr...

May312020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Coronavirus – Uganda: Interaction with Health Workers at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda

CORONAVIRUS

KAMPALA, Uganda, May 31, 2020/ -- The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Director General Health Services, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, Director Clinical/Curative Services, Olaro Charles visit Lira RRH and interact with health workers at the facility. Currently, there are 21 COVID-19 confirmed cases admitted at Lira RRH. Also in attendance are: Director, Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Deputy Incident Commander, Atek Kagirita, Prof. Henry Kajumbula, COVID-19 case management team, Dr Richard Idro, President of Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council and Representatives of Lira District Local Government.

May302020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Be innovative, Speaker advises Cavendish graduates

AFRICA

KAMPALA, UGANDA --- The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has urged graduates of Cavendish University Uganda to be more innovative and work on improving import substitution.Kadaga, who was officiating at the university’s 9th graduation ceremony held at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, appealed to graduates to think outside the box and be more innovative as they have been given a chance to graduate unlike their colleagues. “Certainly today is the new normal. When I arrived I felt the absence of the big numbers of graduands, their parents, flower sellers and the inevitable photographers that would have been at this graduation,” she said adding that “You that are here have qualified yourselves for greater things; you need to work towards adding value.”The university’s 1st virtual graduati...

May302020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: Floods in East Africa – EU provides initial emergency assistance

CORONAVIRUS

BRUSSELS, Belgium, May 30, 2020/ -- The EU has mobilised €3 million in emergency assistance to countries in East Africa that have been hit by heavy rainfall over the past weeks, triggering devastating landslides and floods. “In a region that is already battling the effects of a serious locust infestation and the coronavirus pandemic, these floods are adding to the hardships experienced by many vulnerable communities. EU aid will get essentials to those most in need,” said Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič. Funding will be supporting aid organisations in Ethiopia (€850,000), Kenya (€500,000), Somalia (€1.4 million) and Uganda (€250,000) and provide shelter material, clean water, food, hygiene kits and access to basic health assistance. More than 900,000 ...

May302020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Coronavirus – Burundi: Flood Victims in Burundi receive assistance from International Organization for Migration (IOM) amid COVID-19 Pandemic

HEALTH

BUJUMBURA, Burundi, May 30, 2020/ -- Over 2,100 victims of severe flooding and mudslides in Burundi are receiving help from IOM, the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Weeks of torrential rain have hit Burundi affecting 45,000 people and sweeping away thousands of homes and businesses, leaving 18,000 people newly displaced. Three large displacement sites for victims have emerged around Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, where thousands are living in temporary or makeshift accommodations. There are concerns the new displacement sites could increase their risk of contracting COVID-19, due to their overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. IOM under the coordination of OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and other UN agen...

May302020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Uganda: Secrets behind the resignation of URA officials revealed

AFRICA

KAMPALA --- Three top Uganda Revenue Authority(URA) Commissioners have thrown in a towel and resigned from their jobs. Reports indicate that URA’s Commissioner for Domestic Taxes Dicksons Kateshumbwa, Henry Saka, Commissioner Tax Investigations and Silaj Kanyesigye Assistant Commissioner large taxpayers officer were forced to resign a few days ago. “Today after more than 14 years of service in the authority, I have decided to end my tour of duty ahead of the contractual period with immediate effect,” said Kateshumbwa in his farewell message to URA staff. Dicksons Kateshumbwa Their resignation come at the time when CG John Musinguzi has just assumed office. Reports established show that the problem was messing up the former winning team at the tax board was the manner in which...

May292020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Journalist arrested over remarks on Coronavirus

INTERNATIONAL

KAMPALA, UGANDA --- Popular NBS TV and Bukedde FM radio presenter Hajji Bashir Kazibwe Mbazira was reportedly arrested on allegations of spreading harmful information regarding Coronavirus. Kazibwe,who is also the President of the Uganda Journalists Association is alleged to have landed in trouble with the state security over his live phone intarraction on Bukedde FM’s 'Ekirya atabaala' program with two confirmed COVID19 positive patients undergoing treatment in Gulu Hospital. In the the almost 90 minutes conversation, the two patients who were allegedly truck drivers cast doubt over the truthfulness in their status with regard to the disease. They stressed that inspite of them being confirmed to be positive for Coronavirus,they felt no any signs of sickness. Hajji Bashir Kazibwe...

May292020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Betty Bigombe: The woman who befriended a warlord

INTERNATIONAL

When Betty Bigombe was growing up in northern Uganda in the late 1950s, she walked four miles a day to go to school. She knew getting an education was the only way she could change her life and make a contribution to her community. Thirty years later her "contribution" would be to carry the fate of her region on her shoulders as she attempted to negotiate piece with Joseph Kony, the notorious leader of the Lord's Resistance Army. Bigombe was the eighth of 11 children and grew up in a society where polygamy is still practised today. "Without education, I probably would be having 20 children in some rural area, carrying out the daily chores of going to the field to dig, harvest, one baby on your back and another one is crawling - one of the many wives," she says. Betty Bigombe w...

May292020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

MP Zaake pins officers who tortured him

AFRICA

Mityana Municipality MP Zaake Francis Butebi has named senior police officers he accuses of torturing him while in detention. In his social media message, Zaake said the three police officers personally tortured him in various detention facilities between 19th and 29th April 2020. They are; Senior Supretendant of Police (SSP) Kagarura Bob (‘Kagarura H Bob’ on Facebook). Assistant Supretendant of Police (ASP) Mwine Alex Mukono (‘Mwine Mukono Alex’ on Facebook). This followed his arrest for allegedly distributing food to victims of coronavirus lockdown in his constituency. His torture attracted attention and was condemned both in parliament and in public circles. Even religious leaders preached against torture using Zaake as an example. Supreme Mufti Sheikh ...

May292020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Coronavirus – Kenya: Team Europe supports the most vulnerable Kenyans with health and social security

CORONAVIRUS

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 29, 2020/ -- The European Union and its Member States are providing a broad package of health and social support measures for the most vulnerable Kenyans in informal settlements and across the country, through a mix of emergency response and longer term support. This includes the provision of COVID-19 related health services, support for access to universal health coverage, and cash transfers to selected households. The total value of the ongoing health and social security support is KES 8.44 billion (EUR 72.1 million – EU 10 million, France EUR 20 million, the Netherlands 14.6 million, Denmark 14.4 million, Sweden EUR 11 million, Germany over EUR 2 million, Slovakia EUR 117 000) which will also lead to longer term benefits. Kenya is still fighting the spread of the...

May292020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

President Kenyatta calls for solidarity as world leaders discuss post Covid-19 recovery

AFRICA

Nairobi, 29th May 2020 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has emphasized the need for global solidarity in response to Covid-19 saying all stakeholders need to come together so as to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic. The President said Kenya is doing her best to not only slow down the spread of the virus in the country but to also support the region and the continent in dealing with the health crisis. President Uhuru Kenyatta "At the national level, we are doing our best. Beyond our national commitments, at regional and global levels, we have contributed within regional inter-governmental, continental African Union efforts," President Kenyatta said. President Kenyatta spoke last evening during a virtual high level meeting on development financing in the wake of...

May292020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Coronavirus – Uganda: Young Ugandan man ‘an agent of change’ in HIV care and gender justice

HEALTH

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 29, 2020/ -- Hillary Nuwamanya, 24, was born HIV-positive, and has chosen to live his life setting an example for other young people who are struggling to find hope. As an important part of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy programme, the Ugandan has trained people in how to lead their communities in gender equality, gender justice and zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence. He often participates in or facilitates intergenerational workshops on HIV and gender justice. On Thursdays, you’ll find Nuwamanya wearing black in support of Thursdays in Black, the global campaign for a world free from rape and violence. The people around him describe him as “an agent of change." Hillary Nuwamanya He often...

May292020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

President Kenyatta signs into law the KICD (Amendment) Bill

AFRICA

NAIROBI, 29th May 2020,—President Uhuru Kenyatta today at State House, Nairobi signed into law the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (Amendment) Bill of 2019. The new law mandates KICD to incorporate personal safety and psychosocial skills training in the curricula for basic and tertiary institutions. The overall objective of the Act is to enhance the country's disaster preparedness especially in learning institutions. Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi, Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale and Treasury CS Ukur Yattani attended the signing ceremony. Also present were Attorney General Paul Kihara, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, State House Deputy Chief of Staff Njee Muturi and National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai.

May292020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Coronavirus – Kenya: UNAMID reports 2 COVID-19 cases on its outbound flight to Nairobi

CORONAVIRUS

KHARTOUM, Sudan, May 29, 2020/ -- The African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) regrets to announce that two passengers aboard its special flight from the Mission’s logistics hub in El Fasher to Nairobi on 27 May 2020 turned out positive results for Corona Virus (COVID-19) when tested by Kenyan health authorities on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The flight carried a mixture of 14 UNAMID, UNCT and NGO personnel, including UNAMID staff who had volunteered for departure due to underlying health conditions that render them highly vulnerable were they to contract COVID-19 infection in the operating conditions of the field. The two passengers were diagnosed as COVID-19 positive on arrival in Nairobi and upon administration of the PCR (Polymera...

May292020 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR USE OF E-JUSTICE DURING COVID-19 AND BEYOND

CORONAVIRUS

KAMPALA FRIDAY MAY 29, 2020: Stakeholders from government, legal service providers, the United Nations Development system, information and communications technology experts, development partners, academia, private sector and civil society from Uganda and beyond have called for expanded use of e-justice as a means to deepen access to justice. They also made a business case for e-justice as one of the innovative and practical measures to respond, sustain and accelerate the dispensation of justice in Uganda in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking during an online dialogue on the dispensation of justice in Uganda organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS...

May292020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

U.S. Government Begins Phase Two of Indoor Residual Spraying in Eight Districts of Uganda

HEALTH

KAMPALA, UGANDA --- On May 25, the U.S. government’s President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) began the second phase of indoor residual spraying (IRS) in eight high-burden malaria districts in Lango and Teso sub-regions through its VectorLink Project. PMI is led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented together with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with the Ugandan Ministry of Health. Phase two of spraying is expected to last 24 days and will include the following districts: Otuke, Alebtong, Lira, Dokolo, Kaberamaido, Kalaki, Amolatar, and Serere. This second phase of spraying follows a March spraying completed by the VectorLink Project in Butebo, Pallisa, Kibuku, Budaka, Butaleja, Namutumba, Bugiri, and Tororo. ...

May282020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Uganda: We Were Reluctant to Charge Dr Nyanzi, Says DPP

AFRICA

KAMPALA --- The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo has said her office was reluctant to sanction charges of being a nuisance against former Makerere University Research Fellow, Dr Stella Nyanzi last recently. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo Dr Nyanzi and several others, were arrested in the city centre on May 18 while matching to the Office of the Prime Minister, over what they called 'slow distribution' of government relief food to vulnerable people, mostly affected by the Covid-19 induced lockdown. Her file was subsequently sent to the office of the DPP for perusal and sanctioning. She was set to be arraigned before Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court on May 19 but that never materialized. Instead, she was released on ...