𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐏

𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄 655

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MAY 14, 2024

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🇺🇬 Ministry of Health bans hotel-based workshops for health workers

📌The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwine, has announced that workshops for health professionals undertaking capacity development at hotels would no longer be allowed. She made this revelation during the launch of advocacy against pre-eclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Kawempe Hospital. She maintained that the emphasis should be on maximizing resources for patients and that these courses are a waste of time and money. Dr. Diana also cautioned against going to hotels all the time since that is not where people are if they want to talk about acute care or how to handle medical problems.

🌍Uganda in talks with China’s Sinohydro for $180 Million power transmission line to South Sudan

📌Uganda is in talks with Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation Limited for the development of a $180 million power transmission line to export power to South Sudan. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni met with a delegation led by Yang Yi Xin, the vice president of Sinohydro Corporation, to discuss this project. The initiative involves constructing a 138-km high-voltage transmission line to supply power to South Sudan, expanding two substations, and building a new one. Xin expressed China’s willingness to provide financial support for the project if needed, and President Museveni showed support for Sinohydro’s involvement in the development

🇺🇬 Namugongo Shrines to open next week for Uganda Martyrs Day Pilgrims

📌The Namugongo Catholic Shrine is set to open its premises on May 25, 2024, to welcome pilgrims who have walked long distances to attend the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3. This announcement was made during the central preparation meeting for the Martyrs Day celebrations, held at the Catholic Secretariat in Nsambya. The meeting was attended by over 100 members of different committees, the head of laity from the Uganda National Catholic Council Gervase Ndyanabo, security officers. The Uganda Martyrs Day is an annual celebration held to commemorate the lives of 22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts to Christianity who were executed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of Kabaka (King) Mwanga II of the Buganda Kingdom.

🇺🇬 Gov’t to revive mandatory vehicle inspection as 13 people die daily of road accidents

📌The Minister for Works and Transport Gen. Katumba Wamala has revealed that the Government has finalized arrangements to revive mandatory vehicle inspection on roads countrywide. He explained that the process will be aided by existing inspection facilities that were put in place by Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), a Swiss company. According to Gen. Wamala the revival of mandatory vehicle inspection will curb the rising road accidents. A recent Police report indicated that last year, traffic crashes killed 4,806 people of which the majority were pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and passengers on motorcycles. In just one week, 79 people lost their lives and 288 others sustained injuries in road accidents, with most incidents attributed to careless overtaking and speeding.

🇺🇬 Water hyacinth invasion puts 10,000 fishermen’s livelihoods at risk in Kasensero

📌Over 10,000 fishermen at the Kasensero landing site on Lake Victoria in Kyotera District are struggling to access the lake due to water hyacinth blocking the shoreline. The weed has caused a 200-meter stretch of shoreline where boats dock, making it difficult for the fishermen to fish. Local fisherman Mr. Abubaker Katamba expressed concern about their livelihoods, as no boats can dock or sail on the lake. The fishermen have tried to uproot the weed using rudimentary tools but have been unsuccessful. The lake’s weed kills fish, as it denies them of oxygen thus affecting business in the area. Kasensero Town Council chairperson Deo Nsamba says the town council’s operations are paralyzed as fishermen are not working.

🇺🇬 Gov’t to share costs of FMD vaccine with farmers

📌The State Minister for Animal Industry Lt Col. Bright Rwamirama has revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture is set to introduce a policy where farmers are required to pay for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines while the government will cover the costs of vaccine administration, transportation, and storage. Lt. Col. Rwamirama made this revelation while dispatching a consignment of 900,000 doses of FMD vaccine last week to the affected districts at the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC) in Entebbe. Maj. Gen (Rtd) David Kasura Kyomukama,  the ministry’s permanent secretary, said the cost of vaccines will cost Shs7,600.

🇺🇬 NEMA imposes heavy fines, jail time for Air pollution offenders

📌The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has implemented administrative fines and an express Penalty Scheme for environmental polluters to deter non-compliance with environmental laws and prevent environmental degradation. NEMA Executive Director, Dr. Barirega Akankwasah says the fines range from Ugx. 3,000,000 to Ugx 6,000,000,000 depending on the violation. Specific penalties include fines for noise pollution, littering, pollution, and other environmental offenses. For instance, penalties for air pollution offenses in the new regulations can range from a fine of Ugx.400 million to Shs1 billion and/or imprisonment for four to 10 years, based on the severity of the violation.

🇺🇬 Uganda welcomes Dr. Gebeyehu for signing protocol on free movement of Persons

📌The IGAD delegation in Uganda, headed by Ms. Joselyn Bigirwa, welcomed Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Monday 13th May 2024, a head of signing the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons within the IGAD area. According to Bigirwa the protocol aims to facilitate easier movement across borders for citizens of member states, promoting regional integration and economic cooperation. The signing ceremony marks a milestone in IGAD’s efforts to enhance regional connectivity and cooperation among its member countries.

🇺🇬 BUIKWE: Man dies after boat capsizes while fishing in Lake Victoria

📌Kaaya John, also known as Buwutatu, a 50-year-old man from Busagazi Parish, tragically drowned in Lake Victoria on Monday evening, May 13, 2024. The incident occurred at Busagazi central landing site while he was fishing, and it’s said strong winds caused his boat to capsize, leading to his drowning. Kaaya John was reported to be using illegal fishing gear, and as of now, his body has not been recovered. The police have issued a stern warning to fishermen, emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety regulations to prevent further tragedies on the lake.

🇺🇬 BUSHENYI: Uganda scientists and herbalists join forces to combat prostate cancer with herbal medicine

📌The Ministry of Science and Technology has extended support of sh200m to Rukararwe Partnership Workshop for Rural Development, a non-governmental organization. Rukararwe is to assemble its herbalists who will team up with scientists to proceed with the research for a period of one year, focusing on adding value to Prunus Africana (Omugote) and other herbs to provide a solution to prostate cancer. Dr Hilda Ikiriza, the project leader, who is also a lecturer at the department of biology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology said Prunus Africana has active compounds used in the treatment of prostate cancer, but said they want to explore other herbs that can boost its effectiveness.

🇺🇬 MUBENDE: District authorities concerned over teachers fleeing for higher pay abroad

📌Mubende District authorities are concerned about the teachers who abandon their jobs for jobs abroad but continue receiving monthly salaries. Investigations by the District Education Department Asaph Kabunga said that about 15 teachers in various primary schools had spent four months without reporting for duty, yet salaries were credited to their accounts. Asaph stated that the district is facing staffing gaps in many schools, and many absent teachers are leaving the country for more paying jobs abroad. Many teachers are deemed absent if they fail to report for duty for more than one day without permission from the head teacher and if a teacher spends 30 days without working, the district removes their name from the payroll and sends them to the disciplinary district committee.

🇺🇬 KISORO: LC V Chairman proposes renaming Kisoro Airstrip to “Gorilla Airport”

📌The Kisoro District Chairman, Abel Bizimana, has submitted a petition to the Ministry of Works and Transport requesting the elevation of the Kisoro airstrip to airport status and renaming it Gorilla Airport to boost mountain gorilla tourism. Bizimana believes branding tourism products with the mountain gorilla, golden monkey, and names of forests like Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Echuya will enhance tourism in the region. Bizimana also urges the construction of an alternative road from Kabale to Kisoro to improve tourism, trade, and security, especially given the instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

ACROSS BORDERS

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🌍 NORTHERN IRELAND: Court blocks UK law to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda

📌A court in Northern Ireland ruled on Monday, May 10, 2024, that the British government’s law on migrant deportations to Rwanda is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights as well as the 2020 EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and should not be applied.  Justice Richard Humphreys ordered the “disapplication” of the law’s provisions in Northern Ireland following a legal challenge brought by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC). However, in his first reaction to the ruling, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it “changes nothing” about their operational plans to send illegal migrants to the East African nation of Rwanda this July.

🌍 Kinshasa to acquire six new Chinese attack drones

📌The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has finally received the second batch of three Chinese CH-4 offensive drones. These drones are set to be deployed in the eastern region of the country, where they will play a crucial role in the ongoing operations against the M23 rebel group and the Rwanda Defense Force. The DRC is expected to receive three more drones in the coming months, further bolstering its military capabilities in the region.

🌍 JUBA: Ethiopia, South Sudan strengthen economic ties at Business-Investment Forum

📌The South Sudan-Ethiopia business and investment forum kicked off in Juba on Monday May 13, 2024 with the aim of strengthening economic ties between the two countries.  Addressing the media at the Pyramid Intercontinental Hotel, Nebil Mahdi, Ethiopian Ambassador to South Sudan, stated that Ethiopia and South Sudan mutually agreed to focus on economic relations. Mahdi added the two countries could only engage in economic diplomacy if they were integrated in a variety of areas, particularly infrastructure. In his address inaugurating the exhibition, Dr. Wol urged Ethiopian industrialists to explore investment opportunities in South Sudan, highlighting the promising prospects awaiting potential investors, including access to the regional market.

🌍 South Sudan loses court case set to pay Qatar Bank USD1bn

📌The Republic of South Sudan has been ordered to pay over $1 billion to Qatar National Bank (QNB) in an ICSID arbitration award. The case stems from a $700 million loan QNB gave South Sudan in 2012, which was later restructured in 2015, 2016, and 2018 as South Sudan requested more time to repay. However, South Sudan defaulted on the loan, prompting QNB to file a case against South Sudan and its central bank on October 7, 2020 (ICSID Case No. ARB/20/40). The tribunal was fully constituted on March 24, 2021