Government vows to support Ssenfuka’s cancer, diabetes drugs

After years of frustration, anger and court battles, government has caved and written to David Ssenfuka, a researcher famed for treating cancer and diabetes – pledging to support the development of his medicine.

Dr Monica Musenero, the minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, wrote to Ssenfuka on July 6, just two days after this newspaper published a story about the researcher's exploits. Musenero said government is ready to work with the researcher to make sure his dreams come to fruition.

"We have reviewed the submitted copies on pharmacological analysis of SD 2018 and the evaluation of the antidiabetic properties of SD2018 herbal formulation in alloxan-induced diabetic animal models. The report is good and shows evidence of safety of SD 2018 and success stories have been covered in newsletters for cancer and diabetic management... For your information, PRESIDE focuses on Therapeutics/drug development as one of its mandate. Therefore, coming up with a drug to fight cancer and diabetics would be good," Musenero, who is also the head of the Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics [PRESIDE], said.

She said PRESIDE intends to support Ssenfuka by providing technical support in proposal writing to have the drug undergo clinical trials, which is a mandatory step according to good clinical practice.

"We have composed a writing team of scientists who will work with your team of scientists in writing protocols and addressing ethical reviews. We will also support you in mobilizing resources for your drug to undergo required steps," the letter adds.

Since 2013, when he found that his medicine, which treats gluttony, could also treat diabetes and cancer, Ssenfuka has written several letters to government officials including President Museveni without enlisting a response.

Even letters of recommendation from senior government officials like Minister Kahinda Otafiire and Retired Judge John Baptist Katutsi to the ministry of Health officials went unanswered.

Musenero's letter, therefore, came as a surprise to Ssenfuka and thus on July 21, he responded by thanking her for what he called valuable feedback.

"I appreciate the time you took to review my copies of the antidiabetic properties of SD2018 herbal formulation in alloxan-induced diabetic animal models... I have also appreciated the focus of the PRESIDE initiative in its schedule of support towards projects such as the one in reference. I have no hesitation whatsoever with the anticipated support from PRESIDE and consider this response as my consent towards the support," Ssenfuka wrote to Musenero.

In an interview with The Observer, Ssenfuka said he has been reaching out to government to help him develop his medicine without much success. He said he wants government to be part of the research so that the medicine is developed to help cancer and diabetes patients within and outside Uganda.

"People are coming to me for medicine but we don't have capacity to cater for everybody, but if the government comes on board, we shall be able to provide this medicine to whoever needs it," Ssenfuka said.

He thanked Musenero for being the first government official to express interest in working with him. In the past, Ssenfuka met with former Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda who appreciated his innovation but didn't offer government support.

"If they have now responded, it means they have realized that this matter is very important. Many of the people coming for treatment are people who are working in this government; therefore, before they help other Ugandans, they should first help their colleagues who need this medicine. Cancer or diabetes don't heal because you have gone to the best hospital or you have been seen by the best consultants; they heal because of medicine," Ssenfuka said.

Interviewed for a comment, Dr Musenero said when she read The Observer story, she looked for Ssenfuka's contact.

"I read your article but I didn't have his number. However, I discovered that he had written to my ministry before. Therefore, I had to write to reach out to him. I'm glad you wrote that story because those are the things we want to develop in our country," Musenero said by telephone.

Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, who held the ministry before Musenero, met Ssenfuka three times to help him draft proposals on how he can access government support. Tumwesigye was also fascinated by the medicine after he subjected it to an analysis at the Government Analytical Laboratory.

The report that was submitted to him on April 16, 2021 also confirmed that SD 2018 contained antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer and anticonvulsant activities. While the diabetes medicine contained anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antitumor and antimicrobial activities. Musenero said people must understand that all the science they know today started as ideas from people like Ssenfuka.

"I believe that Uganda has a lot of resources; we just need faith to develop them. It's my job to facilitate Ugandan innovators and their ideas. We have not yet established a proper system to assist innovators of ours. I'm just beginning but increasingly we are going to set up a center where anybody should come and we support them in developing ideas and bring them to the mainstream in a manner that doesn't threaten their ownership. That's what my ministry is going to do to harness Uganda's resources," Musenero said.

Asked why other government officials have been reluctant to help Ssenfuka, Musenero said most people are a product of Western education, which doesn't appreciate traditional medicine.

"I have had so many years of education and nobody has taught me about traditional medicine or our indigenous plants that can cure diseases. They are presented as witchcraft and backward. So, you don't blame individuals; it's really part of the way the education system churned us. We were only taught about formal medicine. You find that most of our traditional cures are in a crude format used by people who believe in them or those who are desperate," Musenero said.

She said for the time she will be minister, she will ensure that any Ugandan who has any innovation will receive government support to help develop it.

mmkakembo@gmail.com.

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Museveni relaxes Covid lockdown restrictions

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has relaxed the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions that he had announced on June 18. The relaxed restrictions include lifting a ban on private and public transport and the inter-district movement ban, among others.

However, the president said that private cars are only allowed to carry three people including the driver while public transport vehicles are authorized to carry only 50 per cent of their capacity. He told the country in an address on Friday evening that the decline in COVID-19 positive cases and deaths necessitates relaxing some of the restrictions.

Boda bodas have also been allowed to carry one passenger on the condition that both are wearing a face mask.

The Kikuubo shopping centre has been opened provided that all kiosks and roadside vendors are relocated to other areas. Malls, arcades and other businesses have been reopened provided they comply with all SOPs including having adequate lighting, entry and exits, CCTV cameras, proper hygiene, registration of owners of shops among others. Public gatherings such as burials and weddings have been restricted to only 20 people.

Museveni's decision to open up the country was based on the advice and modelling by the National Planning Authority (NPA) which said that if the country fully opens up, there will be 500 new cases per day averaging 2,000 cases per week and this would take the country to the third wave.

The second option was maintaining the lockdown which would see only 30 new cases averaging 246 new cases every week. However, this option would be devastating economically not only for Ugandans but also the economy at large.

The last option which the president adopted would be the partial reopening which would see an increase to 301 new cases per day which would eventually fall to 66 new cases per day by the 28th day. In the new measures, curfew time has been maintained at 7 pm to 5:30 a.m., except for security personnel and those authorized to move at night.

"The rest should be in their homes to avoid breaching of guidelines and thuggery under the cover of darkness. There will be too much socialization in the night and that is where the trouble will be," Museveni said.

However, places of worship will remain closed until 60 days when the decision will be reviewed. And for virtual religious services that have been allowed, they have been restricted to only 10 people while outdoor sports activities are allowed without spectators and under strict SOPs. However indoor sports activities including gyms and pool table remains closed.

Also to remain closed are gaming, betting, cinema, casinos, concerts, bars, saunas, and steam baths. Also banned are seasonal markets, mobile markets, conferences, workshops and seminars unless with permission from the ministry of Health. This decision will be reviewed after another 42 days.

Schools are also to also remain closed until learners between the age of 12 and 18 have been fully vaccinated. However, the president said the Ministry of Health working with that of education should work out modalities to see medical schools opening.  For the public and formal sectors, staff levels have been revised from 10 to 20 per cent.

"If these measures are adopted we can avoid the third wave and maybe we shall have already vaccinated our people or got a drug" Museveni said

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Court fixes dates to decide on two vehicle tracking cases against govt

The High court in Kampala has fixed dates to decide on two separate filed applications challenging the decision by the government to install surveillance devices in vehicles and other vessels.

The two applications were filed by city lawyer Male Mabirizi and Legal Brains Trust, a not for profit organization headed by lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde. Last week, the government signed a contract with Joint Stock Company, a Russian digital security company to provide digital trackers to all vehicles in the country. 

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi the minister of Security assured the country that the only purpose for which the government is going to track vehicles using GPS is to deal with insecurity. He added that they have no intention of interfering in the privacy of citizens.

However reports later emerged that the Russian firm is facing bankruptcy litigation in Moscow, court documents in Russia reveal. The company is also facing other debt-related cases filed between 2019 and 2021 in Russia.

Specifically, Legal Brains Trust asked the court to issue a temporary injunction restraining the government and all her agents from enforcing the presidential directives, cabinet resolutions, agreements, contracts, statutory instruments and other documents by whatever name called; through which the government wants to execute a programme of compulsory digital surveillance of all motor vehicles, motorcycles and other vessels in Uganda pending the determination of their main suit which is challenging the legality of the decision.

"The impugned conduct of the respondent/Attorney General goes beyond the permissible exercise of state power to support law enforcement and engender national security. It is manifestly intrusive, plainly unlawful, and unacceptable and demonstrably unjustifiable in a free and democratic society," reads the application in part. 

It adds that "unless restrained by this honourable court, the conduct of the respondent and other persons or authorities interested in the impugned surveillance programme will create a chilling effect on freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of movement and a bundle of other rights and freedoms, and is thus detrimental to the public good or welfare or good governance. 

As such, the court heard that to foster Uganda's efforts to combat crime without compromising citizens' constitutional values, the court should issue an interim injunction.

But when the matter came up for hearing before justice Boniface Wamala, court directed lawyer Stanley Okecho who was representing Legal Brains Trust to serve a copy of their application to the Attorney General such that he can make his response to enable the court to deliver its ruling on an application for an interim injunction on September 10, 2021.

The Attorney General was represented by the director of civil litigation Martin Mwambutsya who was accompanied by principal state attorney Geoffrey Atwine.  

Earlier, the same court first proceeded on a similar case by Mabirizi, who is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting any Uganda government official from implementing or acting on the strength of the cabinet decision requiring every motor vehicle to be fitted with tracking devices at the owner cost on grounds of being unconstitutional.

But on this, the parties have been directed to put in their written submissions and the judgement will be on September 30th 2021.

Asked to comment about the decision to give him a judgement date two months from now, Mabirizi said that it is okay because his application is omnibus and challenges several decisions he described as complicated, which also need more time if just was to be delivered.

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Somali arrested in Moroto for repackaging Ugandan sugar as Kenyan sugar

Police in Moroto district stormed a storage facility at Kosiroi, Moroto along the Uganda-Kenya border and impounded over 250 repackaged bags of sugar.

Police also arrested the proprietor of the facility only identified as Umar, a Somali national together with a private security guard also of Somali origin. The two are in custody at Moroto central police station pending further inquiries.  

The facility has allegedly been repackaging Ugandan sugar from Mayuge Sugar Industries Limited in paper bags labelled as Kenyan sugar purportedly manufactured by Kabaras Sugar Factory, a Kenyan based factory. 

Police have opened a case of counterfeiting products and trademarks under SD ref.58/27/07/2021. Emmanuel Lokii, the Moroto district production and marketing secretary, says they were not aware of the illicit dealings of Umar until a whistleblower informed authorities. The development comes at a time of heightened trade tension between Uganda and Kenya over the quality of food items. 

Earlier this year, Kenya suspended the importation of Ugandan maize citing a laboratory report, which showed it was unfit for human consumption. The acting director-general of the Agriculture and Food Authority in Kenya, Kello Harsama wrote directing the commissioner of customs in Kenya Revenue Authority to stop the imports. 

"The authority has been conducting surveillance on the safety of food imports into Kenya. The results from maize imported from Uganda and Kenya have revealed high levels of mycotoxins that are consistently beyond safety limits," noted Harsama.

Many Ugandan maize growers and business people cried foul following the ban. Kenya lifted the ban months later. Kenya also later suspended the importation of sugarcanes from Uganda. 

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Parliament procures iPads for MPs

Fresh from wiring Shs 200m to legislators, parliament has now procured iPads for its 529 MPs and 26 ex-officio members.

Deputy speaker Anita Among Thursday said that parliament would start distributing the iPads to MPs on Monday next week.

The tradition of procuring iPads for MPs started during the 9th parliament when the parliamentary commission, the governing body of the House approved the expenditure. Among said with the iPads, MPs no longer have the excuse of missing documents or meetings. 

Following Among's communication, the leader of opposition Mathias Mpuuga appealed to MPs to ensure proper use of the gadgets, especially when attending committee meetings and plenary sittings virtually. He also appealed for decency when one is using Zoom technology to avoid any scandalous images.

The iPads provided to MPs are supposed to be returned at the closure of the term of parliament. In March 2021, the former clerk to parliament Jane Kibirige directed MPs on the 10 parliament to return the iPads bought in 2016 by 30th April 2021.

The iPads are supposed to be returned to parliament at the end of the MPs' term

Kibirige then said that the iPads are property of the government and that parliament had valued them for disposal depending on their type and year of purchase. However, parliament advised MPs who could afford to buy the iPads at a disposal price. It is not immediately clear how many iPads were returned or bought by the MPs. 

Among also reminded MPs to declare the assets and liabilities to the office of the Inspector General of government before 12th August to avoid any repercussions. 

She also tasked the different chairpersons of committees to immediately table their plans for the first session as earlier agreed in the business committee meeting that agreed on the parliament calendar. Among says that the immediate presentation of plans by committees will enable the smooth running of parliament.

She also informed MPs that throughout next week, they will debate the State of Nation Address recently delivered by President Yoweri Museveni.

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American pleads guilty to attempting to sell 50m 'ghost' masks to Australian state for $317m

A Texas man has pleaded guilty of involvement in a scheme to fraudulently sell 50 million N95 respirator masks he did not have for $317.6 million to the government of New South Wales in Australia, US prosecutors said.

Arael Doolittle entered his plea to a wire fraud conspiracy charge on Tuesday before US District Judge Lynn Hughes in Houston.

Prosecutors said Doolittle and co-defendant Paschal Eleanya tried to sell 3M-branded masks at five times the list price, hoping to collect up to $275 million with the rest going to their "broker" and to representatives of the New South Wales government.

The US Secret Service broke up the transaction before it was completed, an indictment last November said. Doolittle, of Houston, faces up to five years in prison at his scheduled October 25 sentencing and will remain in custody until then.

A federal public defender representing Doolittle did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for comment. Charges remain pending against Eleanya. His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Doolittle separately pleaded guilty in June of wire fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud investors in oil and gas transactions.

Prosecutors in that case agreed to recommend he spends four years in prison in addition to his sentence in the mask case. 3M Co., the world's largest maker of N95 masks, has tried since the COVID-19 pandemic began to stop price-gouging and other improper sales of its masks. It has filed 36 lawsuits and seized more than 41 million counterfeit masks.

In a statement, the St. Paul, Minnesota, company said it was pleased with the guilty plea and appreciated US Department of Justice efforts to stop people from illegally exploiting demand for its masks.

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State prosecutors demand Covid-19 allowances, PPEs

State attorneys under their umbrella body, the Uganda Association of Prosecutors (UAP), are demanding for Covid-19 allowances and personal protection equipment (PPEs), claiming they are highly exposed to the virus.

The prosecutors who deal in criminal matters across the country, said in a press statement that they are concerned issued about the increasing number of their colleagues who are getting infected with Covid-19 during the course of their duties.

The statement doesn't reveal how many prosecutors have been infected, but it says that last month, one of their colleagues, state attorney Isaac Omyulo who was based in Mbale succumbed to the deadly virus on June 18. 

"We have also had cases of Covid-19 infections in several offices including at head office, Rukungiri, Mbarara, Nabweru, Makindye etc which interrupted office operations, fortunately, some of the affected persons have since recovered while others are still undergoing treatment," reads the statement in part.

The statement adds: "The development, however, points to more serious issues affecting prosecutors across the country, some of which have been discussed with relevant authorities such as ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Attorney General, office of the speaker of parliament, ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, Public Service among others."

The prosecutors state further that as frontline workers in the justice, law and order sector (JLOS), they are disappointed over government's oversight in catering for the prosecutors in the Covid-19 supplementary budget, a step which has reportedly handicapped the operations of members.

Parliament in February this year, passed a supplementary budget of Shs 292 billion - most of which included money to purchase Covid-19 vaccines and face masks by the ministry of Health among others.

However, the prosecutors say, that unlike other stakeholders in the criminal justice system including police, prisons and the judiciary, they have remained unattended to despite being the frontline workers in the justice sector.

"To make matters worse, there have been further cuts in the quarterly release of the new financial year. This has significantly impacted on the delivery of criminal justice to the nation." the statement further reads. 

In December 2020, High court civil division judge Musa Ssekaana ordered government to honour its promises to increase prosecutors' salaries and also improve their welfare. The ruling arose from a case in which the prosecutors sued government over breach of a 2017 commitment that they had signed with UAP a few days after their sit-down strike.

The government had pledged to increase their salaries, waive tax on it, provide professional and responsibility allowances and also help in fast-tracking the passing of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Bill within a period of 90 days.

But to date, nothing has ever been implemented. The prosecutors now want government to fulfill its obligations, commitments and assurances to them before matters go out of hand. They also want to be given personal protective gear, funding for regular operational and logistical requirements. 

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Tanzania president launches COVID-19 vaccination campaign

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan got vaccinated against the coronavirus Wednesday to kick off the country's first vaccination campaign.

It's a sharp turnaround from her predecessor, the late John Magufuli, who claimed vaccines were dangerous and that prayer had saved Tanzanians from the pandemic.

In a televised event held at the statehouse Wednesday, Tanzania's President Samia Hassan launched the country's vaccination campaign against COVID-19 by receiving her first shot of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

The prime minister, chief justice and other top officials also got their shots. The event marks a break with late president John Magufuli, who dismissed vaccines and said God had protected Tanzania from the coronavirus.

Speaking before receiving the vaccine, Hassan said it is safe and that those who are willing to get it have nothing to worry about.

The president said she would not risk her life or put herself in danger while knowing that she has so many responsibilities awaiting her. She said she's also a mother, grandmother, and wife, and that as the president, she must show this to the masses who are behind her.

Tanzania's Health minister Dorothy Gwajima urged leaders to encourage people to get vaccinated.

"I'm asking all our religious leaders, political leaders, and other leaders from each area in Tanzania to receive this vaccination, encourage and educate others that this vaccine is a modern weapon to slowdown COVID-19 and eradicates it completely, as other diseases," said Gwajima.

Tanzanian citizens seem to have welcomed the campaign. Ibrahim Maximillian is a Dar es Salaam resident. He says the way the fear is presented, not only in Tanzania but also in the whole world, fear that these vaccines are not safe. Maximillian adds that if the president has dared on the frontline to do that, she has shown that the vaccine is safe.

James Tumaini, a Morogoro resident speaking via a messaging app, said that he believes that the vaccine is safe. Tumaini says there are many who have received the vaccine and reported to have not faced any negative effects.

On my side, I'm ready to get vaccinated and I urge my fellow Tanzanians to also accept it since it has met the criteria of the World Health organization.

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Kagame to Uganda: Yes we spy on you

Military-grade spyware leased by the Israeli firm NSO Group to governments for tracking terrorists and criminals was used in attempted and successful hacks of 37 smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists, business executives and the two women closest to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to an investigation by The Washington Post and 16 media partners led by the Paris-based journalism nonprofit Forbidden Stories.

Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International, a human rights group, had access to a list of more than 50,000 numbers and shared it with the news organizations, which did further research and analysis. Amnesty's Security Lab did forensic examination of the phones.

In Uganda, the report said Rwanda had used the spyware to tap phones of a string of high profile officials including General David Muhoozi, the former chief of defense forces and now junior minister for Internal Affairs, former Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa.

Last week, Rwanda President was interviewed by the Financial Times to respond specifically to allegations of spying on Ugandan officials. Kagame said Rwanda runs a sophiscated intelligence system that leans largely on individuals and not on the pricey Israeli military-grade spyware and that Kigali knows a lot about her enemies.

Read Kagame's Transcript

They singled out people and gave them names against whom that technology is used because they talked about human rights activists and even talked about specific names. I want to explain my point. Let me start with the story of the human rights activists.

The names, which were mentioned, are actually names that are known to all of us. These are actually not human rights activists. These are people who in fact have indicted themselves by their own activities, including the ones who are appearing in the court of law here… That is for a fact.

Some of them are the same people who are appearing even in the reports of the UN as people who are part of the insecurity and violence in our region especially in eastern DRC. Again that is for the record. It is not me who wrote the report. I am not one of those investigators and I did not meet them nor talk to them.

If a newspaper, wherever they got their sources from, is already speaking on behalf of or sympathising with a certain group they call innocent human rights activists the government is acting against –that is already a falsehood that we can take to another step now.

The other step is –our country like any other country does intelligence. In fact they even monitor people's communication. For us to know our enemies and what they do wherever they are is something we have always tried to do within our rights like it is in the rights of all the countries we know in this world.

Of course there are rules that govern all these things we do. Probably more things happen discreetly than those that happen in the open that is why some people will pretend and accuse people of doing certain things that they do even more than the people they are accusing.

I have only read about that story of the (pegaus) technology in the news and I think there was somebody who was in Canada and another who was in the USA and that is how they knew that somebody who was in Canada was doing something against a certain country and that is how they got to know the movement of the one who later died. It was not involving Rwanda or any African country.

In fact, now that you are asking me about it, well, I actually wish I could have access to this technology. But I also know that it is very costly. That is what I have heard and read about it and I know how best to spend my money because I wouldn't spend so much money over nobody or nothing.

There is somebody I saw saying that we used the technology against somebody who lives in the UK. I wouldn't spend that money, which I saw the technology costs to run after that fellow who is of absolutely no consequence. I worry about these fellows who enter and kill people (in Rwanda). But the other one who is fed by the UK government; he has no job. So it is absolute nonsense.

But that technology they are talking about was not made for me. It is very expensive and I don't have that much money. I don't have anybody to spend so much on following around. The few dollars that we have we spend them on education but we have done intelligence and we are going to do it for the future because that is how countries operate.

I don't think Rwanda would be an exception. That is how we get to know about our enemies and those that support our enemies. We know a lot about them but we use mainly human intelligence. We are very good at that for your information. We really do a good job of that.

Financial Times not so long ago was writing a story about Rwanda faking data and again through human intelligence, we realised and came to know and have facts that this man who wrote this has been working with some of these enemies of ours. There is somebody who used to work for me here who lives in Canada who is faking news about us every day. So he found a friend in this writer of Financial Times and now they work together.

They wrote about how I dictate whatever is written about Rwanda. According to them everything about Rwanda is not supposed to be good and if there is anything good, Kagame has dictated it. In other words, I have dictated things with the economy, World Bank, World Economic Forum. I have dictated what Rwandans feel and say.

He has attributed a lot of powers to me, which I wish I had. If what I wished happened the way I wanted it and I had such powers I would be a happy person. So those are the powers he gave me. From this now he moves to the accusations in defence against us, in defence of certain human rights activists and using certain technology.

One thing that I also learnt that was being said was that this technology originates from Israel and Rwanda is a friend of Israel. I wish things work like that every day. We would be further ahead than where we are today. We would be very close to our targets. But for doing intelligence, I am guilty. We do a lot of it.

Pegasus Project: Key takeaways

Thirty-seven targeted smartphones appeared on a sprawling list of more than 50,000 numbers that are concentrated in countries known to engage in surveillance of their citizens and also known to have been clients of NSO Group, a worldwide leader in the growing and largely unregulated private spyware industry, the investigation found.

The list does not identify who put the numbers on it, or why, and it is unknown how many of the phones were targeted or surveilled. But forensic analysis of the 37 phones shows that many display a tight correlation between time stamps associated with a number on the list and the initiation of surveillance attempts, in some cases as brief as a few seconds.

Politicians, journalists, activists found on list: The numbers on the list are unattributed, but reporters were able to identify more than 1,000 people spanning more than 50 countries through research and interviews on four continents: several Arab royal family members, at least 65 business executives, 85 human rights activists, 189 journalists, and more than 600 politicians and government officials — including cabinet ministers, diplomats and military and security officers, as well as 10 prime ministers, three presidents and one king. The purpose of the list could not be conclusively determined.

Company says it polices its clients for abuses: The targeting of the 37 smartphones would appear to conflict with the stated purpose of NSO's licensing of the Pegasus spyware, which the company says is intended only for use in surveilling terrorists and major criminals.

The evidence extracted from these smartphones, revealed here for the first time, calls into question pledges by the Israeli company to police its clients for human rights abuses. NSO Chief Executive Shalev Hulio said that he was "very concerned" by The Post's reports.

"We are checking every allegation, and if some of the allegations are true, we will take stern action, and we will terminate contracts like we did in the past." He added, "If anybody did any kind of surveillance on journalists, even if it's not by Pegasus, it's disturbing."

NSO Group at the center of a global debate: The company, which began in an Israeli kibbutz, is now valued by investors at more than $1.5 billion. Hulio, the CEO, said in a lengthy late-night interview that he would "shut Pegasus down" if there were a better way to help governments deliver security. But he acknowledged that NSO's ability to investigate abuse is crippled by its policy of having no visibility into clients' activities.

Apple iPhone shown to be vulnerable: The discovery on a list of phone numbers of 37 smartphones that had been either penetrated or attacked with Pegasus spyware fuels the debate over whether Apple has done enough to ensure the security of its devices, popular the world over for their reputation for resisting hacking attempts. Thirty-four of the 37 were iPhones.

New details of hacking carry worldwide implications: Among the 37 phones confirmed to have been targeted, 10 were in India and another five in Hungary, most linked to journalists, activists or businesspeople. The finding will add to concerns about extralegal government surveillance conducted with private spyware in both countries.

Hundreds more numbers from India and Hungary appear on the broader global list. A third country, Mexico, was home to nearly one-third of the numbers on the list, adding to questions about its past use of Pegasus software. Each country says it acts legally in carrying out any surveillance activity.

A princess raced to escape: In the years since commandos dragged Princess Latifa, a daughter of Dubai's ruler, from her getaway yacht in the Indian Ocean in 2018, her friends and associates have wondered: How had her careful escape plan been foiled? A new investigation shows that in the days after she went missing, her phone number and those of friends were added to a list that also includes numbers of phones targeted by the powerful Pegasus spyware.

Numbers for the ruler's estranged wife, Princess Haya, and members of her legal and security team were also entered into the list when she fled later to London. The surveillance of the princesses was among the reasons the spyware's owner, NSO Group, terminated Dubai's contract, a person familiar with the company's operations told The Post.

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Ministers reject old cars, chairs

Just weeks after taking office, some new ministers have gained immediate notice among subordinates for their affection for lavish 4x4 official cars, furniture and executive privilege and are dialing up pressure on accounting officers to provide them.

According to insider ministry sources, Agnes Nandutu, the minister of state in charge of Karamoja Affairs, has rejected an official car bought two years ago at about Shs 650 million. She has asked the accounting officer to buy a new one.

Nandutu, according to sources, claims the 'old' car was previously used inappropriately to carry things like charcoal. Nandutu, a former journalist, was catapulted into cabinet and onto the national political stage after losing the NRM primaries in 2020 and later winning the Bududa woman parliamentary seat in the January 2021 general election.

Interviewed for a comment last week, Nandutu declined to speak directly about her request for a new car. She said she was conducting a series of meetings in Karamoja and promised to get back to this reporter but she didn't.

Judith Nalule Nabakooba, the new minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, reportedly demanded that all carpets, furniture, office fittings installed two years ago, be changed.

The minister, according to insider sources, does not want to use anything previously used by her predecessor, Beti Kamya. Nabakooba, a former Mityana woman MP, lost re-election in the 2021 general election. She moved from the ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to join Lands.

The minister of state for Primary Health Care, Margaret Muhanga and her counterpart in charge of General Duties Hanifah Kawooya are also demanding for brand new official cars. They have rejected their predecessors' cars.

Former minister of Energy and Mineral Development Mary Goretti Kitutu who is now minister for Karamoja Affairs is demanding a lead car. She used to have one when she was boss at the ministry of  energy.

The ministers' demands come months after government announced departmental budget cuts –shredding expenses on workshops, travel and other none essential items to raise Shs 600 billion to reenergize efforts meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Interviewed for a comment recently, Muhanga said since she arrived at the ministry two weeks ago, she has never seen her official car because it is still in the garage.

"Maybe it is because people see me still using my personal car, that is why they say I rejected the ministry car and I am waiting for a brand new one. But that is not the case, I have been told by ministry officials that they took the car to the garage to be repaired. I am waiting for it," she said, adding, "Why would I reject a car? I am not a person of positions and titles. I was even surprised to be made a minister. I have never seen the car but my bodyguard told me that it was a wreck with torn chairs, no tires, and broken screens; so, they had to take it for repair and make it a little bit better. But I have not rejected it. If it can move, that is all I need."

She said she doesn't need a brand new car because she won't leave with it when her work at the ministry is finished when she is transferred to another docket or dropped from cabinet.

Muhanga, however, expressed her frustration at the long time it has taken the ministry to return the car. She said she is tired of using her personal car to do government work.

"My car has gone through so much wear and tear. I am always up and about doing government's work in my own car yet no one pays that mileage. How long does it take for the car to get repaired? It has been in the garage for a long time and I am here still waiting for it to be given to me," Muhanga said.

Interviewed, Anifa Kawooya said the car she is using is the same car her predecessor Robinah Nabbanja used and she is very comfortable with it.

"All the facilities I am supposed to have were accorded to me on the first day I went to the ministry including the car, which is the very one my predecessor was using. It is a comfortable car and I have no complaints about it. It is not my duty to know whether it will be replaced or not because that has to be done according to the ministry's budget, which is not my role…," Kawooya said.

She however, noted that the car has a mechanical problem and broke down while she was at Kololo a few weeks back. She said it was repaired and it is back on the road.

Interviewed for this story, one permanent secretary who declined to be named to speak candidly, said much as a minister is entitled to a car and a driver, he or she is not obliged to make demands for a new one.

"A minister has no right to reject a car, which has been given to him or her because we also give them cars befitting their positions and even if they are used, we make sure they are in good condition before they are given to them. Ministers are given cars with an engine capacity of 4,000cc, which we believe are capable of enabling them carry out their duties," he said.

He said for a minister to get a new car, it must have been budgeted for and approved by the ministry of Finance. He said all ministers get new cars at the same time, not one at ago.

"The money ought to have been already indicated in the ministry's budget and then the accounting officer writes to the Prime Minister who clears it and that is when the procurement process starts. Otherwise, if it was not in the budget to buy the car, then the minister has to still use the one available," he noted.

jjingoernest1@gmail.com 

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Delta variant: Even vaccinated people now have to wear face masks - US CDC

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that even vaccinated people in the country now have to wear masks while indoors, reversing a decision it made two months ago.

CDC made the announcement Tuesday, based on surging numbers of new cases in regions with low vaccination rates. The rising caseload is driven by the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

There has also been a rise in cases of so-called breakthrough infections among fully vaccinated people, suggesting the delta variant may be able to cause such infections more often than previous strains of the virus.

Health officials say vaccines remain effective against the worst outcomes of infection with the virus, including those involving the delta variant.

US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said they have not reversed the decision of wearing masks for everybody because the delta variant has 1,000 more times viral load among even the vaccinated people who can then go on to infect others. 

"You don't get vaccinated because you don't want to wear a mask. If you don't wear a face mask you can innocently infect someone else. It goes beyond you," Fauci said. "We're not changing now, it is the virus changing...Vaccination will save your life from being hospitalised, even with the delta variant," he told CNN. 

Earlier in May this year, the CDC said fully vaccinated people no longer would be required to wear masks or maintain social distancing of six feet from other people. The agency still suggested people remain masked on public transportation and at crowded outdoor events.

For months, COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations in the US fell steadily, but those trends reversed over the past two months as the delta variant of the coronavirus began to spread.

The New York Times reports several cities and towns have restored indoor masking rules in recent weeks, including St. Louis, Missouri, Savannah, Georgia and Provincetown, Massachusetts.

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Covidex case is political and should be dismissed - Prof Ogwang

Prof Patrick Ogwang has asked the High court to dismiss a case filed against him that he's not not the lawful proprietor and inventor of Covidex, a Covid-19 supportive treatment herbal drug. 

Covidex drug was recently approved by the Nation Drug Authority (NDA) as a supportive treatment in the management of viral infections and many people have given testimonies about its efficacy in the treatment of Covid-19. 

But earlier this month, lawyer George William Alenyo together with the Christian Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture, Industry, Trade and Tourism sued Ogwang together with his company, Jena Herbals Uganda Limited and 12 others for alleged failure to perform their statutory duties. 

According to Alenyo, the co-defedants failed to do due diligence to establish the true ownership of Covidex drug, failed to collect taxes and remit it to government coffers, failed to obtain environmental impact assessment of the impact of the ongoing extraction or exploitation of millions of the tree species expected to be used to make millions of veils of Covidex among others.

Thoses sued alongside Ogwang include; National Drug Authority (NDA), Uganda National Bureau of Standards, National Environmental Management Authority, National Forestry Authority, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda Registration and Services Bureau, Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, Jena Herbals Uganda Limited, Uganda Revenue Authority, Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute, Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Attorney General.

Alenyo is seeking orders that would compel Ogwang to remit all money collected from the sales of Covidex to the consolidated fund, claiming it was invented from a public facility, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) by a civil servant (Prof Ogwang), who draws a salary from the consolidated fund and used government of Uganda facilities and laboratories and with the staff of the university and Pharma Bio Centre to develop the drug. 

In a written response, through his lawyers, Omongole and Company Advocates, Ogwang asks court to dismiss the case, saying it is incompetent, political, and abuse of the court process, and has no legal basis and therefore, it should be dismissed with costs.

Ogwang says the Covidex drug was developed in 2020 at Jena Herbals which is outside MUST using private funds, and the government only disbursed funds to the university in April 2021 for evaluation purposes of an already available product.

He contends that his move to produce the Covidex drug was driven by the government's call to individuals to come up with a product that could alleviate Covid-19 and that they can't transfer patent rights to the government and her people.

On claims by the applicants that Ogwang uses local forest materials in the production of his drug, the professor says that the Warbugia Ugandenis used to manufacture Covidex is purchased from farmers and not obtained from the forests.

"Anybody can harness nature of his benefits and it is the reason God has provided the plants and the defendants shouldn't be condemned for harnessing nature which has and is benefiting Ugandans in the treatment of Covid-19," reads the response in part.

According to his defence, Ogwang maintains that he is the inventor of the Covidex drug under Jena Herbals and therefore no need for it to be labelled government and the people of Uganda since 45 million Ugandans can't own an invention and can't be inventors. He adds that an attempt in that direction would suppress invention and innovation in individuals.

Ogwang further contends that his company, Jena Herbals employs more than 200 Ugandans and it "pays various taxes including VAT, Income Tax and PAYE for its employees and it contributes to the revenue of this country and it would be malicious to inject the defendants for no sound reason".

The response also indicates that it was not reasonable to wait for the environment impact assessment while people are dying adding that their actions were determined in an emergency brought by coronavirus disease.

Through his lawyers, Ogwang says that the production Covidex drug can't be stopped as it's a lifesaving drug unless the applicants want Ugandans to continue dying of the deadly virus. According to Ogwang, Uganda is not a communist country where everyone has to surrender their enterprise to the state.

The other 12 respondents are yet to file their defence to the case which is allocated to civil division judge Musa Ssekaana. There is also another related case against Ogwang filed by Advocates for People (AFP) which is owned by the former Lubaga North MP Moses Kasibante and  Elvis Kintu Nsonyi.

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Norway summons Chinese ambassador over IT attack against parliament

Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide informed that the ministry has summoned the Chinese Ambassador about alleged China's IT attack on the Norwegian Parliament.

On 10 March, the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) disclosed that its email systems had been compromised. The breach exploited security vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Exchange software, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

"All cyber operations leave different forms of traces, and then it is, among other things, our security services that make assessments of that and compile that information. And on the basis of this information, the government has made an assessment that the attack originated from China," the statement said citing Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide.

"This was a very serious incident affecting our most important democratic institution. We expect China to take this issue seriously, and to ensure that such incidents are not repeated," Soreide added.

In March, Chinese hackers reportedly attacked Australia's Western parliamentary email network as well, this was a part of a massive global cyberattack involving Microsoft software.

The online strike, which was detected on March 4 in the middle of the state election campaign, prompted intervention from Australia's cybersecurity watchdog in Canberra.

Meanwhile, Microsoft said that the flaw was being used by a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group to target a variety of organisations. (ANI)

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I am never getting married – Sheebah

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Works succumbs to pressure, starts construction of 'Nabbanja' road

The ministry of Works and Transport has succumbed to Prime Minister Robinnah Nabbanja's 'orders' and started construction of the road leading to her home in Bataka Zone, Makerere-Kavule in Kawempe South constituency. 

Issuing one of her first executive orders as prime minister, Nabbanja directed the ministry to construct a road heading to her place of abode.

Excited about her new position, Nabbanja who recently was appearing for the first time in public at Kalerwe market ordered for the upgrade of the road to her home "so that even my neighbours can also enjoy, as they are Ugandans."

Following her 'orders', the ministry of Works rushed to embark on the construction, starting with grading the bumpy George Kimbowa road from Bombo road to Nabbanja's house. The graded section makes up close to one-third of the road which is about 300 meters long.

The chairman of Butaka zone, Ibrahim Kibalama says that having a high-ranking government official in the area is already bringing benefits to them starting with the construction of the road.

Kibalama says that most of the feeder roads in his area are in bad shape having long been ignored by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). Kibalama says criminals usually intercept residents using dark bad feeder roads to steal from them during night and early morning hours. 

Joweria Nakachwa, also a resident in the zone is appreciative that the road to Nabbanja's home is being constructed. However, Nakachwa who sells groceries at the side of a feeder road asked that their road too be constructed. She decried the amount of dust that comes from the current road and how they are exposed to floods during the rainy season. 

Nakachwa wants the authorities to extend the construction to neighboring roads so that there is a proper link from Bombo road to Muganzi Awongerwa road.

Ibrahim Gumisiriza, also a neighbour to Nabbanja asked that the road works be extended to cover the entire road. Gumisiriza who owns a retail shop near the road says that a lot of taxis use the road, especially during peak hours to beat traffic jam. However, the road is too small to allow vehicles heading in opposite directions to use at the same time.

Gimisiriza says government should engage residents whose land and developments could be affected by the construction for them to pave way for the road works.

Another resident, Rahma Namatovu is also excited that the prime minister's order is being effected. Like the others, Namatovu wants the construction to be extended to the road at her place which she says "has been turned into a dust bin by residents who choose to dump garbage on the bumpy road".

Namatovu adds that the road in its current state poses a security threat since it is dark and a hub for criminals. Besides, the road lacks a proper drainage system hence exposing residents to flooding during heavy rains.

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RDC orders closure of Kagadi guesthouse over birthday party

Kagadi resident district commissioner (RDC) Lilian Ruteraho has ordered police to immediately close Devine guesthouse for allegedly hosting an illegal birthday party that attracted more than 250 people. 

The suspects were arrested on Saturday at 11 pm while attending a birthday party organized by Joachim Ategeka in contravention of Covid-19 guidelines.

The suspects were later whisked to Kagadi central police station where they are being detained on charges of negligent act that is likely to spread an infectious disease.

But police wants to release them with caution because they are too many to be safely kept in the cells. The managers of the guesthouse have since fled to an unknown destination. 

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FDC to govt: End lockdown, stop buying MPs vehicles

Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has reiterated calls for the scrapping of MPs vehicle cash, saying Uganda is too poor to afford such a venture for so many legislators.

The call comes less than a week after 529 MPs and 26 ex-officios each received Shs 200 million on their accounts to purportedly buy themselves a car. No accountability is needed for this money, and the latest payout has once again drawn public ire especially at a time when most Ugandans continue to suffer the financial bluntness of the Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions. 

Speaking at the party's headquarters at Najjanankumbi in Kampala on Monday, FDC spokesperson and one of the MPs who got the money, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda said the government must adopt a policy where all its employees including MPs should be just given interest-free loans recovered from their monthly salaries to buy for themselves cars.

"The Forum for Democratic Change wants the policy of giving MPs free money to buy vehicles abolished instead the MPs should be facilitated with interest-free loans to buy vehicles for those who are interested because it is not mandatory that each MP must buy a car. There are those who don't actually buy them but if there are MPs who want to buy vehicles, interest-free loans can be extended. The money should then be deducted from their salaries monthly. The idea of free vehicle, free money is very costly to a needy country like Uganda where the size of parliament keeps growing. If we're dealing with 50 MPs maybe one can understand, but 529 MPs including ex-officios is a luxury and you spend She 500m buying a vehicle for someone who can even use a vehicle to town," said Ssemujju. 

Asked whether by this stand, FDC will then compel its 32 MPs who received to return the money, Ssemujju said it's up to the individuals to decide what to do with the money. He said even if opposition MPs returned the money as some Ugandans have said, the move will be inconsequential. 

"You need a policy to have everybody return the money. You can't say; you FDC you return the others can't take, no. We just have to have that policy abolished such that that money is not budgeted for at all. The individual MPs will make their decision because right now this is a moral issue. In the past, some MPs have returned money others have not. The party didn't even need to ask, when I returned money for togikwato [constitution amendment consultation allowance] I was not asked by the FDC. So this decision remains a personal decision," Ssemujju said. 

On whether it is a right for MPs to take money yet the country is in the middle of a Covid-19 pandemic, Ssemujju said the principle remains that it is wrong to give money any time.

"The timing is useless, whether you take the money in January or December or next year you still would have taken the money. So the ones who are speaking about the timing, I think the intention is to win public sentiments but for me, it changes nothing. Whether you take it at the beginning of lockdown or after the lockdown, it will still be money lost. So the timing doesn't bother me. That policy is a bad policy, it doesn't matter whether you're under a lockdown, whether you're under Covid or not Covid. When I moved that motion there was no Covid in Uganda. FDC thought then and still thinks today that that money can be channeled to do other things," added Ssemujju. 

Ssemujju Nganda in 2018 proposed interest free loans for MPs instead of giving them cash

In the 10th parliament, Ssemujju who was then chief opposition whip introduced a motion to have the government stop buying cars for its employees. He met with the minister of Public Service Muruli Mukasa who said it was a good policy that government would embrace.

However, he asked that they first ascertain the number of cars that government has and then would report to parliament on the way forward. But according to Ssemujju that was the last time he heard from the minister.

LOCKDOWN

FDC has also called upon President Museveni not to extend the current lockdown when it runs out on Thursday this week.

Museveni last month locked down the country for 42 days to contain the spread of coronavirus disease.  Ssemujju said although as a party they supported the lockdown that was announced on June 18 as a measure to slow the spread of Covid-19, it can't be a permanent solution because the economy cannot be stretched by the lockdown any further. 

Ssemujju said instead the government should speed up the process of buying vaccines so that people are vaccinated to safely return to their work.

"In principle as a party, we supported lockdown which is a temporary measure to slow down the spread of corona and recommended by scientists and done by almost everybody. However, we don't support this temporary measure becoming permanent that for you, you're going to permanently lock people in their houses. This is supposed to be a temporary measure. On Thursday, therefore, our demand is that Mr Museveni must relax on the lockdown measures to allow citizens access their workplaces, public and private transport should resume but under some strict measures such as hand washing, use of sanitizers and wearing of masks. At worst, we should return to the zonal lockdown. If a particular area is experiencing a rise in infections you can lockdown that area but you can't lockdown the entire country," he said. 

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Gunfire, protests disrupt funeral of Haiti's assassinated president

The funeral of Haiti's assassinated president, Jovenel Moise, was disrupted Friday by tear gas and sounds of gunfire, prompting US officials to leave before the end of the ceremony.

"I never thought the changes you wanted to make would end up filling my eyes with tears," first lady Martine Moise said during the eulogy. "Jo, the oligarchs won one battle, but they didn't realize that the people would begin to see things clearly. You have pulled ahead now. You may have lost a battle, but the war is far from over. We must have justice."

Some audience members responded with angry chants of "Justice! Justice!"

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the site of the state funeral in the northern city of Cap-Haitien, burning barricades and shouting, prompting police to fire tear gas.

VOA Creole reporters on the scene said some guests panicked and foreign diplomats left the scene as smoke wafted into the Moise family's private compound, where the funeral was taking place.

No one attending the funeral was reported injured. The funeral was held amid heavy security. National police officers and private security guards protected the A-list guests.

US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who led the US delegation, left before Moise's widow spoke.

"The presidential delegation to the funeral of President Moise is safe and accounted for, and those traveling from Washington, D.C. have arrived safely back in the United States," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

"We urge everyone to express themselves peacefully and refrain from violence," Thomas-Greenfield said on Twitter. A statement that Thomas-Greenfield emailed to VOA said that before leaving Haiti, members of the delegation "underscored the commitment of the United States to support an inclusive and peaceful dialogue in Haiti. Special Envoy Daniel Foote and US ambassador Michele Sison will continue to engage with Haiti's political and civil society leaders."

"The Haitian people deserve democracy, stability, security, and prosperity, and we stand with them in this time of crisis," Thomas-Greenfield tweeted.

Moise was shot and killed July 7 in a predawn attack at his private residence in a wealthy suburb of Port-au-Prince. His wife was injured during the attack and received treatment at a Miami, Florida, hospital. She returned to Haiti last week to help plan the funeral of her husband.

The funeral comes days after Prime Minister Ariel Henry took power in Haiti, having received support from key international diplomats.

Henry issued an official statement on Twitter denying reports Thursday that the prime minister's motorcade had been ambushed in Cap-Haitien.

"The head of state arrived safely in Cap-Haitien to attend the Friday funeral of the president of the republic," the statement said.

Henry had been designated prime minister by Moise but had not been sworn in because of Moise's assassination. He has vowed to form a consensus government until elections can be held.

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Bad Black claims Rajiv financed Salvado’s wedding

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Nakasero market vendors lose KCCA take over case

The High court in Kampala has dismissed an application by a section of vendors from Nakasero market seeking orders to throw Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) out of market management.

The vendors organized under Nakasero Market Sitting Vendors and Traders Limited, last year ran to court seeking orders of a judicial review to reverse a decision by KCCA to take over the market, an order to re-instate the vendors into market management, and also an order to restrain KCCA and or its agents from interfering with the management of the market.

KCCA repossessed Nakasero market in November 2020 after President Museveni ordered the Authority in September 2020 to repossess all markets and abattoirs, which he said were being mismanaged by private groups. KCCA effected the directive abolishing the management structures then running the market and instituting a new team to work with.

The move prompted the vendors to file an application claiming ownership of the market and the right to run it. The vendors told court that in December 2009, they secured a sub-lease for Plot 4B & 7B Market street, Nakasero market from KCCA and made payment of premium of Shs 1.8 billion and ground rent of Shs 45 million. Also, that they entered into an administrative arrangement with KCCA to collect revenue from the market on behalf of the Authority.

In defense, KCCA said, the Markets Act Cap 94 gives it the mandate to establish and maintain markets in Kampala and that for a private limited company to manage a city market is in contravention of the Act. In April 2010, Museveni issued a directive that the land for the common user facilities within Kampala city be managed by and leased to the vendors operating in it. 

But KCCA said that the cabinet decided to reverse the policy and resolved that the government should repossess all public common user facilities. In November 2019, cabinet further decided that KCCA refund the premium and ground rent paid by Nakasero Market Sitting Vendors and Traders Limited with interest and take over possession of the property for proper management. 

KCCA hence says they acted on directives of the president. However, KCCA refused to compensate vendors who had acquired lease on its markets saying the markets belong to government.

In his judgement, High court civil division justice Musa Ssekaana dismissed the vendors' application, saying that it was not a proper case for judicial review based on the facts and circumstances of the case.

He ruled that the transactions the vendors entered with KCCA are purely contractual and based on the private law rights that are derived from the said agreements.

"Contractual obligations should not be enforced by judicial review, unless the question is whether the contracting authority has exceeded its powers. Judicial review should be a remedy of last resort and it is inappropriate where there is another field of law governing the situation.

The application was dismissed without any costs nor was a decision made over the Shs 1.845 billion the vendors had allegedly paid to KCCA.

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Lab technician arrested in Karamoja for causing death of two Covid-19 suspects

Police in Karenga district in Karamoja sub-region, northeastern Uganda has arrested a laboratory technician attached to Kapedo health centre III for allegedly refusing to carry out a test on Covid-19 suspects, demanding to first be paid his allowance.

Robert Lamson Okidi was arrested on Saturday afternoon following the death of two patients whose blood samples he refused to take to ascertain their sickness to make it easy to administer treatment on them. This week, the ministry of Health informed nurses across the country that their unpaid allowances will be paid next month and not this month as earlier communicated. 

Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, the Karenga resident district commissioner (RDC) who also doubles as chairman district task force on Covid-19 said that the arrest of Okidi was prompted by the report by the health officer in charge of Kapedo to the district task force. According to Hashaka, Dr Maruk Marmar Lousi reported to the task force that one of his staff had refused to work claiming he wants to be paid first.

"It's against this that I ordered for the arrest of the lab technician because he shouldn't have refused to attend to the patients," Hashaka said.

Lousi, the officer in charge of Kapedo health centre III when contacted, confirmed that Okidi had refused to work, causing the death of two people who had presented signs of Covid-19.

"I tried to plead with the guy to work but he became rough [with] me, so we couldn't guess what treatment to give the patients without knowing what they were suffering from so these patients died just like that," he said.

Betty Awilly, one of the village health team (VHTs) attached to Kapedo health centre said the lab technician has been arrogant towards patients, adding that sometimes he comes to the health centre on his own time.

"Sometimes I ask myself why do people cry for jobs and when God blesses them with the jobs they become a stress to the local community," she said.

Majid Sentosi, the district police commander Karenga confirmed the arrest of the officer saying he will be charged with negligence.

"We have him in our custody and our file is almost ready, we will produce him before court to answer charges of negligence," he said.

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NCHE investigates LDC over student marks

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has directed the Law Development Centre (LDC) to provide a response on the issues raised in a petition by some students.

On July 12, more than 1,000 students of the bar course petitioned NCHE accusing the LDC administration of breach of bar course rules on handling examination results.

It followed LDC's release of the graduation list last month which indicated 90 per cent of the 1,682 students had failed.

However, several students who missed out on graduation complained that it was wrong for LDC to release the list without providing students with marks or exam scripts.

Among the discrepancies cited by the students were that some discontinued students appeared on the graduation list and that LDC failed to provide a window for appeals and verification of marks before graduation.

In a July 16 letter to the petitioners by Prof Mary Okwakol, the NCHE executive director, she noted that Section 5 (f) of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institution Act 2001 (as amended) mandates NCHE to receive and investigate complaints relating to institutions of higher education and take appropriate action.

"In line with the above mandate, NCHE wrote to LDC drawing their attention to your petition and requesting for a response on the issues raised," reads part of the letter addressed to the student petitioners. "Any outcome therefrom will be communicated to you."

The letter is copied to the Attorney General, the Uganda Law Society president as well as the chairperson, Committee on Legal Education-Training.

It remains unclear what timeframe NCHE gave LDC to respond but a source at LDC who preferred anonymity said the institution was given two weeks to do so and will provide a detailed response next week.

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Speaker Oulanyah back in the country

The speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah has returned home after a month away in the United Kingdom where he was receiving treatment.

According to a source close to him, Oulanyah returned on Friday night and headed straightaway to his home in Munyonyo, where he is resting as he fully recuperates.

Oulanyah was last month rushed to the UK after his health deteriorated suddenly. Some sources claimed he had Covid-19 but his inner circle suspected he could have been poisoned.

When The Observer reached out to one of the MPs close to him, he confirmed he had spoken to Oulanyah and that he is in high spirits.

"What matters is that he is OK right now and will chair the next session of parliament next week," said the MP who preferred anonymity.

Oulanyah's return ends days of speculation about the state of his health amid rumours that he had been taken to Dubai for further treatment.

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14 teen girls 'being trained to sleep with dogs' rescued in Muyenga

Police have stormed a guesthouse on Muyenga Hill in Kampala and rescued 14 girls found living in terrible conditions. The girls were reportedly being trained in conducting unnatural sexual acts including allegedly sleeping with dogs and being prepared to travel to a European destination for unspecified duties. 

Most of the girls are minors aged below 14, who by law cannot be employed, nor travel abroad without parental/guardian's consent. Only one girl is said to be 19. 

Acting upon a tip-off by concerned residents in Makindye Division, a Kampala suburb. Kampala Metropolitan Deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire said that the 14 girls were found at Papaya Holiday Home in Muyenga B Zone, Makindye Division. He said the older girl aged 19 claims to be a S.6 student of Namungoona Parents secondary school in Rubaga Division.

Owoyesigyire said that they were under the custody of a lady called Dorothy Ndagire who purports to operate an NGO called Maya Project, Uganda Chapter working in collaboration with another in the UK but not registered under the laws of Uganda.

"We went to the guest house and found the girls living in bad conditions and the information we got is that they were being forced to sleep with dogs," said Owoyesigyire, adding that the girls have since refused to give information regarding where they came from and even their particulars.

Oweyesigyire revealed that the police have arrested and detained Ndagire amid ongoing investigations and the girls have since been taken to a home awaiting information where the girls came from and who their parents are.

"These are children whom we cannot expose to the media, but they are currently under shelter and care of professional people who will speak to them and be able to find out their parents," said Owoyesigyire.

He reveals that a charge of trafficking in children has been preferred against Ndagire. Immaculate Owomugisha, a social justice lawyer working as the head of advocacy at the Uganda Network On Law, Ethics and HIV/Aids (UGANET) said that the girls are being kept under shelter for safety as the police find their homes.

"The girls are in shelter as the police investigate the case and those found responsible shall be subjected to the law, but we are taking care of them as well as facilitating their health needs," she added.

Section 5 of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2009 provides for an offense of trafficking in children where a person who recruits, transports, transfers, harbours or receives a child for the purpose of exploitation shall commit an offense of aggravated trafficking in children and may be liable to suffer death.

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Olympics: Missing weightlifter safely returns home from Japan

By Alex Balimwikungu  Julius Ssekitoleko, the Ugandan weightlifter who grabbed international headlines when he went on Friday 16th July 2021 from the Olympic village facilities in Izumisano City, Japan has returned to Uganda safely. Ssekitoleko did not meet…
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Mukono priest survives being lynched by angry mob over land

Rev Mikka Lukwago, the parish priest of Kisowera Church of Uganda in Mukono district today survived being lynched by an angry mob who have accused him of hatching plans to evict them from their land.

The priest was trying to stop Badru Musoke, a resident at Muduuma village from bolstering the family's ancestral graveyard with cement when other residents surrounded the priest and threatened to burn his car on top of beating him. 

Fortunately for him, officers attached to Mukono Police Division managed to reach the scene on time and escorted him away.
Mukono divisional police commander Ismael Kifudde said they arrested five residents involved in the fracas to help police investigate the matter thoroughly.  

Several residents of Muduuma village have accused the priest of mistreating them, stopping them from developing the land despite the occupants being bonafide bibanja owners for over 30 years. The government has expressly prohibited any land evictions during the lockdown.

The contested land is approximately 151 acres covering over two villages of Kisowera and Muduuma, whose title is registered under the Church of Uganda Mukono diocese.

Badru Musoke says the priest is forcing residents to surrender parts of their land yet their survival depends on it because it is where they have derived their food and shelter over the decades.

Another resident, Harriet Nansamba says Kisowera church ignores the path of faith and instead pursues earthly gains which has also accelerated their greed for land.

Mukono Diocesan spokesperson Derrick Kaddu says the diocese is closely following up all the matters but he condemned the residents threatening servants of God with mob justice whenever they come out to speak about land.

The Diocesan bishop James William Ssebaggala has always preached against grabbing of church land within the diocese. He has always noted that the church land especially in the district of Mukono, Buikwe and Kayunga has been extensively grabbed.

In 2016, a mob attacked Church of Uganda bishops while touring the Ntawo-Muzingo village land in Mukono municipality and threatened to burn their bus, forcing them to flee for their safety.

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Two killed in Kamwokya fire outbreak

Two people have died and several others injured in an evening fire outbreak in Kyamuka Zone, Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb.

The fire broke out today at about 6.45 pm, destroying makeshift houses, timber workshops and shops among other items. The police fire brigade could hardly get to the scene due to the poor and narrow roads and congestion, leaving the affected residents with no choice but to put out the fire in the possible rudimentary ways they could. 

There are conflicting reports on the cause of the fire. Some witnesses say that the fire was caused by a charcoal stove that was left burning, while others say that the fire was ignited by a careless smoker. 

Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire says the fire could have been started after sparks from electricity lines in the area. Grace Namusisi, a resident says that there is rampant illegal power connection in the area which could have caused the fire.

Rita Nakayima, a resident blamed the fire brigade for arriving late. She says that the fire brigade arrived more than 30 minutes after the fire had started.  

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BBNaija Season 6 to Premiere with a Double Launch Show

By Kampala Sun writer Following the conclusion of the open call auditions in May 2021, all is now set for the premiere of the sixth season of Africa's biggest reality TV show, Big Brother Naija, this weekend. For…
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Lunch allowance: Nurses told to wait for end of August

Ugandan nurses have to wait for yet another month before they can receive their much long-awaited lunch allowances.

Justus Cherop Kiplangat, the president of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union, says the health workers will receive the allowances in August and not this month as earlier scheduled.

In a short notice issued on Wednesday, Cherop explained that the ministry of Finance released the circular for payment of the allowances long after the ministry of Public Service had already prepared a circular for July salaries.

Each qualified nurse is entitled to Shs 15,000 each day and their assistants Shs 10,000 and about Shs 70 billion has been budgeted for the allowances annually.

In May, the Health ministry indicated that the money would be availed in July following numerous threats and strikes by nurses over their lunch allowances. Back then, the ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwiine said the presidential directive for the lunch allowance promised in 2018 had remained unfulfilled because of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

When explaining the delayed payment of the allowance, Cherop said they are also pushing for the compensation of Shs 80 million to the families of nurses who succumbed to Covid-19.

At least 50 nurses have succumbed to the virus they contracted in the line of duty, according to the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union.

 

 

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410,000 beneficiaries have already received Covid relief cash - Nabbanja

Over Shs 41 billion of Shs 54 billion of Covid-19 relief cash has already been distributed to more the 410,000 beneficiaries, prime minister, Robinah Nabbanja has said.

Tabling a list of beneficiaries before parliament on Wednesday, Nabbanja said the ministry of Finance released Shs 53.5 billion for distribution to at least 501,107 beneficiaries with each receiving Shs 100,000.

According to Nabbanja 83 per cent of the money (Shs 41.35 billion) has already been distributed to poor urbanites in Kawempe Division, Nakawa Division, and Gulu City. She added that the government undertook a verification exercise of the vulnerable people in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, all cities, and municipalities.

By Tuesday, 413,504 beneficiary records had been submitted to the bank and paid. The top beneficiaries include bus or taxi drivers, conductors, baggage carriers, wheelbarrow pushers, touts, traffic guides, barmen, Djs, barmaids, waiters and bouncers, bar, gym and restaurant workers, boda-boda riders, special hire drivers and Uber drivers, salons, massage parlour workers, teachers, and others. 

Deputy speaker Anita Among referred the list of beneficiaries to the parliament's accountability committee (PAC), central government and the Local Government accountability committee for scrutiny. 

The government on July 8 launched the distribution of Covid-19 relief cash to vulnerable Ugandans affected by the 42-day lockdown announced by President Yoweri Museveni to interrupt the spread of coronavirus.

Regarding complaints over failed payments, Nabbanja said that out of the total 501,107 records submitted, a total of 87, 603 records did not pass the verification requirements by telecom databases due to invalid national lD numbers, telephone numbers registered under different names, non-existent or unregistered telephone numbers, and non-mobile money registered numbers.

"The failed numbers have been sent back to the cities, municipalities for correction before payment can be done. The town clerks have been guided and trained by the ministry of Gender, NITA-U on what to do," said Nabbanja.

Nabbanja says that the intervention was a short-term relief and not meant to address the high poverty levels. She said that as the government continues to mobilize resources, other vulnerable categories may be considered.

"This exercise for providing relief support to our people shown us that we need one; to invest in collecting, analyzing and documenting data about our citizens accurately. Such gaps and inconsistencies have caused the delay and affected this exercise dearly. This is the first time government is carrying out intervention of this nature in a short time and in such magnitude therefore challenges are bound to happen. The important thing is that lessons have been learnt and we shall do better in similar programs in future," Nabbanja said. 

Mathias Mpuuga, the leader of opposition in parliament (LoP) expressed displeasure to Nabbanja's statement. He said that the government was putting a lot of emphasis on curative rather than preventive measures. He asked the government to put all the emphasis on vaccination saying that the majority of the funds under emergency Covid-19 are being spent on activities that can be funded under a normal budget.

Mpuuga also noted that apart from food, the cash relief did not consider other costs of daily living such as water, electricity, medical care, and others. He says that these costs should have been incorporated in the computation of the cash transfers.

Anna Adeke, the Soroti Woman MP also raised concern over the discriminative approach by the government to identify beneficiaries of the Covid-19 relief. She demanded that the PM responds to concerns raised by the public that the relief was distributed to only NRM supporters.

Stephen Kangwagye, the Bukanga County MP said that he was happy that the 42-day lockdown has helped the country register a significant drop in the rate of hospitalization and that this is good and encouraging to the frontline workers to move forward.

He said that government needs to provide the country's health workers with sufficient protective gear and that this must be budgeted for and provided urgently. As of Tuesday 20th July 2021, Uganda had registered 91,162 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 70,377 recoveries and 2,425 deaths. Currently, there are 746 patients admitted to health facilities.

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