Issue 174
AFTERNOON πππππππ
JANUARY 11, 2023
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πΊπ¬ Uganda Cancer Institute staff call off sit-down strike
πThe Acting Executive Director of Uganda Cancer Institute, Dr. Nixon Niyonzima on Tuesday said that health workers at Uganda Cancer Institute, who went on a sit-down strike over delayed salaries on Monday, had agreed to resume work after the management of the Institute agreed to pay their arrears by the end of this week.
βWe communicated with our staff. Finance released the money and we have initiated the payment process. We expect staff to get their salaries within the week,β Dr. Niyonzima said.
πΊπ¬ Health Minister faults 27 partner organisations over accountability of Ebola cash
πThe Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has said that at least 27 organisations and agencies had not accounted for Ebola cash. She urged partners who have accounted for the funds but have balances to submit to WHO a detailed accountability report with a well-coordinated plan of how the balances will be spent. βIt has emerged that $42 million (Shs154b) out of the $81.2 million (Shs298b) mobilised by partners for the Ebola Sudan Response remains unspent,β said Aceng.
πΊπ¬ Police foil arson attack on Masanafu Police station
πPolice officers have shot and injured a man identified as Charles Bazil Kintu who attempted to burn down Masanafu Police station. The Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire said that the arsonist raided Masanafu Police at around 11:00 PM with a 2-litre water bottle containing an unknown substance. “One of the officers asked the man what was in the bottle and what had brought him to the Police station, but he responded by pouring the substance and setting a fire prompting one of them to shoot at himβ said Oweyesigire.
The attacker got injured and was admitted to Mulago Hospital.
πΊπ¬ Norwegian Government invests Ugx17.4Bn to promote food security in Teso sub region
πThe Norwegian Government and World Food Program in partnership with Government of Uganda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to invest Ugx17.4 billion into building climate resilience food and nutrition security of smallholder farming households in Teso region. The project will benefit 8000 families in the region with a priority to female-headed families in Kaberamaido and Katakwi Districts. The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at the Norwegian embassy in Kampala.
“The Teso Sub region is among the most critically vulnerable to climate change and it is anticipated that the frequency of heavy rainfall will increase, escalating the risk of floods and landslides,” FAO representative in Uganda, Antonio Querido said.
πΊπ¬ Government collects Ugx 34Bn on Kampala-Entebbe expressway in one year
πGovernment has collected at least Ugx34 billion more than the target in the first year of tolling the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway.
“Iβm excited to share that we have recorded impressive growth in a number of key priority areas, hitting past the set targets in the past 12 months in which 7,300,000 motorists have used the road and a total revenue of shs34 billion collected”,Yavuz Cagatay of Egis Company said.
The Company was awarded the contract for the operation and maintenance of the greenfield section of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway and it kicked off operations on January 8, 2022.
πΊπ¬ RWAMPARA: Nyabikungu Health Centre II upgraded to health centre III
πThe Rwampara District Health Officer Dr. Alan Paton, while at the launching ceremony of the upgrade of Nyabikungu Health Centre II to Health Centre III said that the upgrade will improve health service delivery especially for pregnant mothers in the neighbouring areas of Nyabikungu village, Nyabikungu parish in Rugando sub county.
πΊπ¬ SHEEMA: Excitement as PDM SACCOs are authorised to start using PDM Money
πThe District Commercial Officer, Sheema, Karakure Allan while inspecting the PDM Enterprises SACCOs of all the ten beneficiaries from Kyabuharambo Masheruka PDM SACCOs in Masheruka sub county authorised the PDM SACCOs leaders to start using the money to benefit the members. Karakure warned SACCO members to avoid mismanagement of the money or risk being prosecuted in Courts of law.
πΊπ¬ SHEEMA: Boda Boda rider loses motorcycle to passenger thief after being strangled
πPolice in Itendero Town is hunting for a boda boda thief who disguised as a passenger and ran away with a motorcycle registration number plate UFN 174W after strangling the boda boda rider, one Mwijukye Peter, leaving him unconscious.
ACROSS BORDERS
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π SOMALIA: US gives Government direct $9M military aid to fight Al-Shabab
πThe U.S. announced that it is giving $9 million in new military aid to help Somalia’s ongoing campaign against Al-Shabab militants. It is the first such direct military support since U.S. forces returned to Somalia as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced an “all-out war” against the militants. According to a tweet from the embassy, the weapons and vehicles will support the campaign by the Somali National Army to liberate communities from Al-Shabab control areas.
π ETHIOPIA: Tigray rebel forces surrender weapons to Government
πTigray rebel forces who fought a two-year war against Ethiopiaβs Federal Government began handing over heavy weaponry to the National Army as part of the African Union-led peace process. The demobilisation of Tigray rebel forces is seen as central to the November ceasefire agreement where the restoration of services, resumption of humanitarian aid and withdrawal of Eritrean troops led to the handover in the towns of Agulae, around 30 km (18 miles) northeast of the regional capital Mekelle.
π ZIMBABWE: New law to incriminate protesting healthcare workers
πZimbabwe on Tuesday signed a bill into law that outlawed organised protests by healthcare workers who could now face a fine or an imprisonment of up to six months. The signing by President Emmerson Mnangagwa comes after health workers, nurses and doctors in state-run hospitals went on strike last year demanding a hefty raise and wages in US dollars.
π BURKINA FASO: French minister dismisses accusations of interference
πFranceβs Deputy Foreign Minister Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, on a visit to jihadist-torn Burkina Faso, denied accusations that Paris is seeking to meddle in the already troubled former colony. She was speaking after her exchange with junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore.
βI have come to bring a clear message, that of the continued commitment of my country, of France, in an important moment. France remains committed on all levels, humanitarian, security, and development, to the degree and in the forms that the Burkinabe authorities wish,β she said.
π Over five million people in the Sahel very hungry
πThe United Nations expressed concern on Tuesday about a massive food crisis in the Sahel that has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, with more than five million additional people now facing βsevere food insecurity.β More than 18.6 million people are experiencing βsevere food insecurity,β which is 5.6 million more than in the last report in June. Of those, 2.1 million are experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity, the report added, with Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria being the hardest hit. Deteriorating security conditions, particularly in Burkina Faso and Mali, have also exacerbated the problem, according to the report.