The government has given a green light to universities and other educational institutions with final-year students undertaking health-related training to reopen and enable students to complete their studies.
All education institutions in the country were closed in March in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus disease. It is hoped that the reopening of education institutions for medical students will fill the human resource gap that the health sector is likely to face as COVID-19 numbers swell.
The group of finalists considered for the said programme include those undertaking training at the bachelor's level in medicine and surgery, nursing, midwifery, dental surgery, pharmacy, and allied medical professionals. Also considered are finalist postgraduate students on health-related programmes, postgraduate students who are qualified and are already health practitioners, and those undertaking training at diploma level in different medical disciplines.
According to the letter written by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) executive secretary Prof Mary Okwakol, the government has addressed itself to the fact that it is likely to have a vacuum for medical and health interns if the internship schedule is not followed.
Over 1,155 medical interns are currently deployed in 35 hospitals across the country. But as their internship nears its end, there are fears of a likely vacuum since finalists who are supposed to replace them have been trapped by the lockdown which was instituted in March as one of the means to prevent the likely spread of COVID-19.
"…the president has approved the re-opening of institutions with final students undertaking health-related training. This is to enable the students to complete their studies to fill the human resource gap the health sector is likely to face," the letter dated September 1, addressed to all vice-chancellors and principals reads in part.
According to the given roadmap, the institutions will take about two weeks effective September 1 preparing for the reopening. This will include the formation of COVID-19 committees, training of staff and installation of facilities.
The council will inspect the institution and issue them with a certificate of compliance before students eventually report to school on September 28. However, there will be other continuous monitoring of the institution.
In a recent interview with URN, Dr Richard Idro, the president of the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) intimated that some course units will be conducted virtually before physical lectures begin. Starting in November, the students will have to sit for their respective examinations. Besides medical finalists, the national COVID-19 task force was recently tasked by president Yoweri Museveni to discuss plans for reopening of schools starting with finalists and candidates. Available documents indicate that the ministry of education needs over Shs 1.67 billion to reopen for only candidate classes.
Sources indicate that the fate of the academic year will be determined before the end of this week.
By Ahmad Muto Media and sports personality Cedric Babu celebrated his birthday yesterday August 31, however the highlight was not the day itself or all the other prominent people that wished him a happy one, but DJ Karo. Karo who calls herself the number one corporate DJ since she is picky with gigs got social media buzzing […] Source
Praised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a model country in the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus, Uganda is now seemingly headed into the same trajectory as other badly-hit countries, if events of the last few weeks are any indicator.
Interviews with Covid-19 patients, their relatives and medical experts, help explain how the country's rather good fight got off its rails. From March 18, when President Yoweri Museveni announced a total lockdown, all appeared to be going well. Cases were few, recoveries impressively high and the country began to open up.
Compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) especially washing hands and social distancing was religiously adhered to. The fear of contracting the disease stood between 70 and 80 per cent between March and May, according to survey results from the ministry of Health.
In June, that figure dropped to between 30 and 40 per cent and could be lower today. At the end of July, WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti praised Uganda, Seychelles and Mauritius for effectively managing to control the spread of the pandemic on the continent.
Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine even chastised Tanzania's seeming laxity in fighting Covid-19, adding that the entire world was looking up to Uganda's exemplary and success story.
On June 25, when the country had 848 cumulative cases, 780 recoveries and no deaths, the president of the Society of Uganda Private Medical Practitioners Dr Lulume Bayiga told a press conference that it was going to be an uphill task to convince Ugandans that the health impact of Covid-19 was as big as projected.
Lulume urged Uganda to emulate Tanzania and Burundi that had not locked down their countries but had kept their economies running amidst the pandemic, in hope for herd immunity (a form of indirect protection from an infectious disease that occurs when a sufficient percentage of the population has become immune either through vaccination or previous infections).
In response, Atwine told Uganda Radio Network (URN) that the perceived normality in Tanzania and Burundi was farfetched because their people were dying, according to intelligence shared between health experts in the region.
"What is there to learn [from Tanzania and Burundi]? Do you know thousands of people who have died just because they don't share with you? Do you know how many thousands, thousands, we're not talking about hundreds but thousands of people who have died?" she challenged. "Look at those countries that relaxed, they bought even extra land for graves. Is that what we want?"
THAT WAS THEN
But going by the recent trajectory, Uganda is headed for difficult times; hospital beds in Kampala are filling fast, with just 2,600 confirmed cases. SOPs have generally been dropped, and one only has to venture into downtown Kampala's Kikuubo Lane or Luwum Street, to understand why Kampala Metropolitan is the latest hotspot for the virus.
While taxis were ordered by the president to ferry only eight passengers for social distancing purposes, passengers report that the case is different once the matatus get to the crowded suburbs.
"The taxi conductors are very strict on masks, but when I asked to use the sanitizer at the door, one conductor quipped: 'eno ya ba traffic! Kozesa eyiyo (this one is kept for traffic checks; use your own)'," one regular passenger told The Observer.
No wonder the city is seeing an explosion in cases. A patient hospitalized in Mulago with Covid-19 symptoms said on condition of anonymity, that four floors of the newly-refurbished New Mulago complex are operating at full bed capacity.
Health workers getting dressed in PPE
Cubicles meant for six beds are now reportedly accommodating between eight and 12 patients. Another patient in Entebbe Grade B hospital said some patients are starting to occupy space in corridors. Also, the recovery rate has dwindled, as symptomatic community cases start reporting to health facilities, unlike the asymptomatic truck drivers who previously recorded themselves dancing in wards.
The Uganda Medical Association proposed that the ministry stops admitting every patient who tests positive, to decongest hospitals, and admit only those with severe symptoms. But Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said with the complacency exhibited by Ugandans, it is unlikely that Covid-19 positive Ugandans with mild symptoms can self-isolate for 14 days without interacting with other members of the public.
Interviewed by the New Vision recently, Dr Monica Musenero, the senior presidential advisor on epidemics, said Uganda is fast moving to the stage of uncontrolled transmission, especially in Kampala.
"The bed capacity, especially in Kampala, has been outstripped and that is why we have close to 150 people, who tested positive, being treated at home," she said.
TESTING CHALLENGES
However, even Aceng's current admit-all, treat-all method is not foolproof. Two weeks ago, Bettina (name changed on request) took her husband to Lancet Laboratories for a Covid-19 test at Shs 345,000, because he had presented with all the symptoms – including chest pain, fever, loss of sense of smell/taste, headache and difficulty in breathing – for at least five days.
Five days during which the couple went to different hospitals in Kampala and could not secure a test or help. According to Bettina, the couple contacted KCCA for help and were referred to Mengo hospital only to be turned away because there were neither testing kits nor doctors designated for Covid-19, despite the hospital being identified as a testing centre at the time.
As her husband's health deteriorated, they opted for the expensive private test.
"When he received a positive result the following day, through connections we secured an ambulance to transfer him to Mulago as our car was impounded for fumigation," Bettina said.
"As soon as the technician gave us the results, he told us to go home and wait for a call from the ministry. Had we not used our connections to deliver my husband to Mulago, the ministry would probably never have called, because he has never received the said call since his positive test."
"After his admission, I was told to self-isolate for 14 days, and also find my way to Kiswa health centre in Bugolobi for a test, because the Mulago sample collection centre had been closed and reserved for VIPs."
"Meanwhile, they told me not to use public means to go to Kiswa, but there was no vehicle or ambulance to take me. How was I supposed to get there and go back home?" Bettina said.
That was August 20. By Monday August 31 when The Observer compiled this, Bettina was yet to receive her test results, despite repeated calls to Kiswa.
"One health worker told me on phone they were undergoing health training and there was no one to update me on the results," she recounted.
Also, no contact tracer has been to Bettina's neighbours/community, neither has she received a follow-up phone call from health workers as a primary contact to a Covid-19 patient. At Mulago too, her husband reports that no one has asked for his list of contacts!
She is 'self-isolating', but ironically has to deliver food and fruits to her husband, after the Mulago patients reportedly protested against the bad food and the administration allowed caretakers to drop off food daily between 10am and 1pm.
The hospital executive director, Dr Byarugaba Baterana told the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on August 25, the hospital had budgetary shortfalls and needed funding from government to handle Covid-19, instead of dipping into the usual allocated budget.
He disclosed that the hospital was struggling to feed Covid-19 patients, whose appetites are not necessarily affected by Coronavirus. Many on the wards are asymptomatic. The hospital currently has close to 300 Covid-19 admissions and has registered at least four deaths.
DELAYED RESULTS
Delays in release of the test results is one of the big setbacks in the Covid-19 fight. While Kiswa told Bettina she would get her results within four days, it had been 10 days and counting, when The Observer last checked; the facility had stopped taking her calls.
Other patients have reported similar delays, and with no strict quarantine measures for community cases, the spread is inevitable. The delay in releasing results could also be responsible for the hospital congestion, since a patient is not discharged until they have a negative result.
A health worker taking swabs from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) executive director Dorothy Kisaka for Covid-19 testing
Minister Aceng has previously said each test takes about five hours to complete. But surprisingly in places like Ghana, the wait time for a Covid-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test result is 30 minutes.
The ministry has religiously updated Ugandans on 'new' cases, recoveries and deaths daily, but unknown to most, the results announced daily are from past tests done over several days, announced as and when the laboratories eventually turn them in.
For community cases, Ugandans are trusted to stay in self-isolation until their results come in.
"This entire Covid thing is a mess. I was tested 10 days ago and it is only today that they called to bring me to Mulago. Do they know how many people I have infected? I believe I have actually healed between then and now if indeed I was positive," a patient who had just been dropped at Mulago from Busia, said.
TIME BOMB
As the number of samples and occasional shortage of reagents overwhelm laboratories, Covid-19 is spreading from the crowded downtown Kampala to upmarket air-conditioned ministry offices (Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development registered 21 cases), banking halls (Dfcu Lugogo branch), newsrooms (so far, New Vision, NTV, NBS, UBC and Radio Pacis), hospitals, supermarkets, among others.
"I feel Coronavirus results are only important if they are released within 24 hours or 48 hours. That is when they are important. Apart from that, you're going to create a trail of contacts that you can't handle. Maybe the government is enjoying having enough numbers of Covid-19 patients," said a laboratory technician from one of the Covid-19 contracted labs, in a voice note sent to The Observer on July 29.
Recently the ministry of Health spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona told The Observer that it takes only 48 hours to know one's results. The facts on the ground state differently. Even Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development staff who were tested between August 19 and 21, received results on August 24. And that was considered fast.
"Sometimes when the results delay, it is due to the running out of reagents or sometimes traffic jam affects movements of medical officers from sample collection centers to testing laboratories," Ainebyoona told The Observer.
He also said there is a planned rapid assessment that will occur in greater Kampala Metropolitan, Wakiso and Mukono districts like what happened in other high-risk districts.
"We shall be selecting a number of people scattered across in these districts and test them. We shall also do risk basic testing; for example, if premise X has a case, then we test all the occupants and their contacts there," he says.
Meanwhile, a patient at Mulago said in a phone interview that patients are neither sensitised about proper hygiene, nor supplied with sanitizers. They, however, get one surgical mask per day.
"Patients are also cleaning the washrooms, because most of the cleaners who were doing the job reportedly contracted the disease. Unfortunately, there is no liquid soap or other detergents to help. If patients don't volunteer to clean the washrooms, they remain dirty all day," he said.
DOGGED BY COMPLACENCY
Perhaps the ministry of Health's major battle now is against public complacency and skepticism over the seriousness of the pandemic. After reported misuse and theft of Covid-19 funds in some African countries including Kenya, a section of Ugandans still believe there is no pandemic and government is only using the term to collect donations.
Not even public figures such as AIGP Asan Kasingye, businessman Isaac Rucibigango (he was discharged on August 27 after a negative result), Makerere University lecturer Amanda Ngabirano and others, talking about their personal struggles with Covid-19 made much impact.
One Twitter user even responded to Kasingye's Covid-19 infection announcement that he (the tweep) would not believe Covid-19 exists unless the Police Chief Political Commissar succumbs to the disease, to Kasingye's chagrin!
The ministry of Health's fight was dealt further blows when Aceng was captured in an unfortunate video mingling with masses in Lira, without a mask. Several other ministers and politicians have also flouted the SOPs as the election season kicks into high gear, further disenfranchising the doubting Thomases.
It did not help matters when on July 19 the ministry released its daily update that showed more Covid-19 recoveries (1,071) than confirmed cases (1,069). In their explanation on social media that was missed by many, the ministry said the recoveries included Ugandans, non-Ugandans, as well as refugees.
However, foreign confirmed cases had earlier been expunged from the country's totals on the orders of President Museveni, a development that even led to mini friction with WHO, who said it was against international pandemic practices.
In addition, when the country started recording Covid-19 deaths, affected families took to social media to dispute the ministry's findings that their people had died of the disease. This only fueled social media allegations of 'scaremongering'.
Even The Observer, which has consistently been making daily updates on our online platforms on the status of Coronavirus in the country, was falsely accused of colluding with the ministry to steal Covid money.
As cases spike and the country continues to open up with SOPs, the ministry remains faced with the challenge of upholding an image it boasted of earlier this year, which even made Aceng, Atwine, Dr Monica Musenero and other taskforce members adored celebrities. For a short while.
By Ahmad Muto Singer Bobi Wine has opened up on his academic documents and age that caused a lot of buzz last week. During a presser that he held yesterday, he said he was born on February 12, 1982 in Nkozi and started school in 1986 at St Mary Gorretti Nursery School in Kamwokya. While […] Source
Police and army personnel in Kiira region have retrieved the body of five-year-old Amirror Alwi who drowned in River Nile on Sunday.
The body was retrieved by a joint team of Uganda People's Defense Forces and police marine units from former Budhagali falls in Budondo sub-county, Jinja district about eight kilometres from Kiira dam.
The deceased, alongside her parents were having an adventure tour along the Nile on Sunday evening when their speed boat suffered engine failure and stopped in the middle of the river. It was then dragged through Kiira dam, leading to the drowning of the victims.
In a statement, power generator, Eskom said the boat experienced engine failure and was carried by the river current towards Kiira power station whose spillways were open to release water. A lone boater who attempted to rescue the family was also washed away by the current but got rescued by the UPDF marine.
Although the deceased, rescuer Patrick Odoi and her mother, Shakira Kawesa drowned immediately, officers attached to UPDF marine unit managed to rescue her father, Hassan Alwi and brother, Jafalu Alwi.
The Kiira region police spokesperson, Abbey Ngako, says that the body of the deceased was on Tuesday afternoon taken to Jinja regional referral hospital mortuary for postmortem and later on handed over to her family for burial.
Ngako adds that efforts are underway to ensure the missing body of Odoi is retrieved. A source from the Source of River Nile Tourism Site who spoke to us on condition of anonymity said the tragic speed boat had undergone several tests before the accident.
"On receiving the victim's order, our colleague made several water tests to ascertain the stability of the speed boat on water," he says.
By Ahmad Muto Singer Winnie Nwagi has for the past one year had the worst kind of PR any artiste would ever dare wish for. From dancing erotically with school boys, to beating up her maid, abusing a journalist, smashing a fan's phone, she crowned it by blasting those saying she dresses terribly for a […] Source
The High court will shift to Luzira maximum security prison for the trial of 38 terrorism suspects, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) commander, Jamil Mukulu who was extradited from Tanzania in 2015.
A meeting on Monday that included international crimes division (ICD) judges, Counter Terrorism police officers, prisons, directorate of public prosecutions and defense lawyers agreed that for the safety of the participants from Covid-19 and other possible security risks, the trial be conducted inside the prisons.
The four-hour closed-door meeting took place at the ICD headquarters on Kololo hill and was attended by the head of the High court international crimes division justice David Wangutusi, one of the trial judges justice Lydia Mugambe, the ICD registrar Beatrice Atingu, commissioner of police Amos Olweny who is attached to Counter Terrorism department and officer in-charge of Luzira Upper Prison Moses Sentalo.
Also in attendance was assistant director of public prosecutions Lino Anguzu, state attorney Lillian Omar and defense lawyers represented by Anthony Wameli and Geoffrey Turyamusiima. Wameli told the media that they had convinced the meeting the need to be consulting their clients during the trial as it cannot be fair to do so via video conferencing.
"It appears with consensus that the trial is carried out in the prison instead of having the prisoners come out or instead of having it on the video audio link. Reason being, we need a lot of consultations between the clients and the defense counsel and also the security of the participants in the whole trial." Wameli said.
"Then the number witnesses because the prosecution has indicated it has 150 witnesses. So those factors have been taken in mind. We had this meeting and we said we shall come back after the judges have confirmed. It means the court is going to go to Luzira, they will get an open space and probably put up a tent and then everyone will be there - the lawyers, the prosecution, the judges and the witnesses." he added.
It was also agreed that the security of all the participants in this case, is at stake and as such, the parties found that Luzira prison is secure for everyone including the 150 prosecution witnesses who will be coming from across East Africa.
The parties agreed that due to fear of exposure to Covid-19, it's easier for people coming outside to be managed other than managing prisoners when they go out. The trial is expected to start on notice in November 2020 before a panel of three justices including Lydia Mugambe, Susan Okalany and Michael Elubu.
Mukulu who was arrested in Tanzania and extradited to Uganda in 2015 on charges of terrorism, murder, aggravated robbery, attempted murder and being a member of a terrorist group is jointly charged with 37 others.
The other accused persons are Abdallah Sharif Ali Salim alias Mukyotala, Musa Nabangi, Adam Diin Bashiri alias Wabula, Sheikh Ahamed Rashid Wasiga, Cpl. Alex Martin Engwau, Sgt. John Owori, Sheikh Ibrahim Badru Wanjala, Amis Adam, Abdul Malik Kabaale, Muzahamu Ndifuna and Ibrahim Kyessa.
Others are Yakubu Kyessa, Muhammad Muruya, Abdallah Waniala, Abduswabul Kimbugwe, Muhammad Mbuya, Muhammad Kiryagana, Abdurahamani Muyaga, Muhammad Matovu, Omar Abdallah Mutuka, Amis Sowedi, Zaidi Kambo, Musa Kaala, Mansuudi Kisambira, Isa Kayira, Hassan Wasswa, Abdallah Kirwani, Daniel Wanyama, Abdul Ddungu, Robert Wandera, and Umayiya Kikomeko.
The group is accused of murdering Muslim clerics Sheikh Yunus Abubaker Mandanga and Dakitoor Muwaya, the top Shia cleric whose assailants also reportedly attacked Bugiri police station and killed two police officers Karim Tenywa and Muzamir Babale.
According to the charges, between 2011 and 2014, the accused persons under the command of Mukulu acquired firearms and training in neighbouring countries and funding for economic, social, political and religious reasons.
Mukulu and his co-accused were arrested from various places in Uganda and Tanzania between 2014 and 2015 on charges dating back to 1998 when suspected ADF rebels attacked Kichwamba Technical Institute and more than 80 students to death.
In September 2019, justice Eva Luswata committed them to face trial before the panel of three Judges and the trial is yet to kick off on notice.
By Ahmad Muto Singer Iryn Namubiru over the weekend shared a tweet saying she had tested negative for covid-19 after testing four days earlier. She said she had the test done after a possible exposure. She wrote: "Banange, after the Covid-19 scare and possible exposure, I did a test four days ago. And all is […] Source
On April 20, Elizabeth Nafula travelled with a team of other human rights lawyers to Kiryandongo district, to collect testimonies from victims of the ongoing land evictions in the district.
She had interviewed about four women when the police arrived and arrested her together with her team and taken to Kiryandongo police station where they spent a night over charges of disobeying lawful orders, and intention to spread an infectious disease (Covid-19).
The women, who were being interviewed by the lawyers, are part of the group that claims to have been raped by a gang of men working for three multinational companies that have since 2012 been evicting people off a chunk of land measuring about 37.8 square miles to establish large scale commercial farms.
Agilis Partners, Kiryandongo Sugar Works Ltd and Great Seasons SMC Ltd are the companies behind the evictions that have left more than 35,000 people from 14 villages homeless.
Agilis Partners, a US company, is growing simsim (sesame), maize, sunflower, and soybean while Great Seasons SMC Ltd, a firm owned by Sudanese nationals is involved in coffee growing, and Kiryandongo Sugar Limited which supplies sugarcane to Hoima Sugar Works.
"There are hallowing stories of rape. Rape is one of the weapons being used to push people off their land. They [investors] use their guards to warn women of the possibility of getting raped if they remain on the land, and indeed they go ahead and rape them," human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza said on August 25 during the launch of a report; Land grabs at gunpoint.
It was compiled through a collaborative effort by three civil society organizations; Witness Radio Uganda, Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) and a Barcelona, Spain – based international non-governmental organization, GRAIN.
"The evictors are sophisticated; they work with security agencies and private security guards to intimidate the locals, journalists and human rights defenders. That is how lawyers were arrested and detained at Kiryandongo police station," Kiiza said.
The lawyers who were arrested belong to his law firm, Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates through which the evictees have filed various court suits against the investors.
"Torture and rape should never be used as a method of solving land problems in Uganda. What is disheartening is that some of these atrocities are carried out by an American company [Agilis Partners] which claims on its website to be feeding Africa yet in actual sense, they are using rape and torture to carry out the forced evictions in Kiryandongo while spreading propaganda about how they are feeding Africa," Kiiza said.
Some of the women Nafula interviewed, had fresh wounds on their hands which they sustained during a scuffle with a gang that wanted to rape them. Two others, a 15-year-old girl and a 30-year-old woman gave birth to children whose fathers they don't know.
Early in March, a woman was rushed to Kiryandongo hospital after the rapists left a condom stuck inside her, causing the swelling of her abdomen.
ONLY $78
According to the report, the evictees are forced to accept as little as $78 (Shs 300,000) as compensation for their land, and those that protested, like Stella Akiteng, the secretary for women at Nyamuntende village, were arrested and detained for more than a week over charges of inciting violence, malicious damage to property, arson and aggravated robbery.
For 83-year-old David Isingoma, when the evictors raided his Kisalanda village and ordered him to vacate, he asked his children to seek the intervention of the Kiryandongo resident district commissioner's office, but to his surprise, they were arrested and detained at the police.
"I asked my children to find out from the RDC why we were being evicted. I was shocked later when I got a phone call informing that they had been arrested and taken to police," Isingoma said during the report launch.
The father of 25 held about 100 acres of land at Kisalanda village which he has since lost. The last time he checked, his family graveyard had been razed. Besides the police, the report pins soldiers from the UPDF's 4th division to be involved in the violent evictions.
"They robbed us before evicting us with guns," says 60-year-old Florence Nassaka who lost her land to Agilis Partners that has since established a vast maize plantation.
One of the eviction victims attending the report launch
In February, the NGOs wrote to foreign governments notably, Britain, USA and the Netherlands as well as organisations that support the activities of the three companies to free their assistance due to the alleged human rights violations but no response has been received.
"With the support of a human rights defense organization – Witness Radio, the communities have filed several cases at the High court in Masindi to block the evictions. The cases are currently pending hearing dates," the report states.
FAKE REPORT
In a statement issued on August 26, Agilis Partners refuted the allegations contained in the report, stating that they have never evicted anyone from land and has always been focused on empowering the communities.
"The lies contained in recent reporting are an abomination to Agilis's core values and mission. Agilis, founded in and operating in Uganda since 2012, is a social enterprise whose mission is to empower Ugandans to feed Africa," the company said in a statement.
"In 2017, Agilis purchased Ranch 20 and 21, a property in Kiryandongo district, from private individuals and developed the land into one of the largest maize and soybean farms in Uganda. This farm alone has replaced 3 per cent of the international maize imports to East Africa with local corn production and created employment for over 75 Ugandans," the company further stated.
The statement signed by Emmanuel Onyango further claims that the company has never evicted anyone but rather worked with community leaders to develop a humanitarian compensation and resettlement plan for all of the illegal occupants. This, Onyango said, was after determining that occupants on the land were living on it illegally.
