𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐏

𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄 243
𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 21, 2023
🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬

🇺🇬 Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 Second Reading ongoing in Parliament
📌The Second Reading of the Anti- Homosexuality Bill 2023 is (Tuesday) successfully going on in Parliament presided over by Speaker Anita Annet Among.  Members of Parliament from across the political divide are optimistically debating the Bill with the majority seconding. Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament presented the Private Member’s Bill for First Reading on Thursday, 09 March 2023. Basalirwa called on legislators to make public commitments in support of the Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to establish enhanced legislation to protect the traditional family by prohibiting sexual relations and marriage between persons of the same sex. The Bill also seeks to protect children and youths who are made vulnerable to sexual abuse through homosexuality and related acts. Speaker Among re echoed her call to legislators to stand firm against intimidation and support the Bill.

🇺🇬 President Museveni tips leaders on value addition to increase revenue
📌President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has advised Uganda’s political class to sensitise their people about value addition to raw materials in order to increase the country’s revenue and create more jobs. While meeting the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Regional Whips at State House on Monday, he told them that coffee, cotton, maize, milk, forest products, and materials were some of the commodities that should not be exported raw but rather processed to fetch higher incomes for the country.  He said that recently when he was in Algeria, he learnt that they also want coffee and that they can buy our processed coffee.
“This is something we cannot miss. These young people have come up to fill the gap that was there. That’s what I wanted us to do for all raw materials. What happened to milk? I would like it to be done for coffee. That’s why, the other time in Parliament, you were fighting my plan of value addition. But I refused; I’m going ahead; I don’t know what will happen, but I cannot accept selling coffee at 2.5 dollars when I can sell it for 25 dollars a kilo. It’s criminal  and I cannot accept it,” the President said.

🇺🇬 President Museveni tips Somali President on essence of building national army
📌President Museveni has urged the people of Somalia to consider building a People’s National Army with the correct ideology of defending their country for peace to prevail. He said the country needs to stabilise so as to raise enough resources for self-sustenance. This was during a meeting with the visiting President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during his courtesy call at State House Entebbe. According to President Museveni, like the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), an army should be built on voluntarism to protect the State so that in future, the country can raise resources to pay the soldiers.

🇺🇬 Counsellors take Kasaka SSS students through sessions to overcome post traumatic stress
📌Studies at Kasaka Secondary School in Kanoni Town Council, Gombe have resumed following the tragic incident that left four dead and scores injured.  A sinotruck driver last week lost control and rammed into the school computer lab building, killing four students on spot and injuring others.  Mr Wilberforce Ssekasiko, the School Director of Studies says that out of 800 students, only 300 reported by Monday afternoon as many others remained home recovering  from shock. According to the District Inspector of schools, Charles Lwanga, the traumatised students are still receiving psycho-social support as the studies continue.
“The district has got some counsellors who are trying to help the students avoid trauma-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress,” he said.

🇺🇬 Police issues new rules on acquisition of driving permit tests
📌Police have announced new rules on individual applications for driving permit tests and their issuance. Addressing journalists on Monday, Traffic Police spokesperson, ASP Faridah Nampiima said the entire process up to acquisition of driving permits has now been automated aiming at reducing corruption and ensuring efficiency.
“The new development at IOV is that we have automated drivers’ testing processes. Effective this month, attaining learners’ driving licence at the learners’ centre was automated and booking of the learners’ testing is done online by driving schools and all learners are brought by school instructors for testing,” Nampiima said.

🇺🇬 Finance report says Uganda export earnings grow by 38.9% 
📌According to the Ministry of Finance Performance of the Economy report released at the weekend, Uganda Export earnings have grown by 38.9 percent in January compared to the same period last year. This has been attributed to higher returns from commodities such as maize, coffee, tea and tobacco. The East Africa Community remained the leading destination for Uganda’s exports, accounting for 63 percent. The report illustrates that earnings from coffee increased by 13.1 percent due to growth in exports to meet the reduced supply from major exporting countries such as Brazil and Vietnam.

🇺🇬 Dentists warn public against fake toothpaste on market 
📌As the world commemorated Oral Health Day, Dentists have warned Ugandans about the use of different tubes of toothpaste which are flooding the market. Dr. Nevis Agirembabazi, the head of the Dental Department at Mengo Hospital, said there are many kinds of toothpaste in the market, which are unhealthy. Experts recommend toothpastes that contain 1,350 to 1,500 ppm fluoride.

🇺🇬 MBARARA: Five die of Rift Valley Fever contracted from infected animals 
📌At least five people in Mbarara District are confirmed to have died of Rift Valley fever after getting into contact with infected animals. According to the in-charge of Bwizibwera Health Centre IV, Dr. Richard Atuhairwe, the disease was detected in people after subjecting them to tests. He explained that about 30 positive cases were confirmed following tests from the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe. Of these, five have since died. The District Veterinary Officer (DVO), Dr. Andrew Akashaba, said measures to contain the disease have been put in place.

🇺🇬 LUWEERO: 36 teachers dismissed for absconding from duty 
📌At least 36 teachers in Luweero District have been dismissed from service for absconding from duty. They had previously worked at universal primary schools such as Mityebiri Roman Catholic, St. Theresa Kasaala Girls, Luweero Boys, Nandere, Buyuki, Malungu, and Nambi UMEA Primary School among others. They were dismissed after  the Luweero District Service Commission summoned them to present their defence on accusations of taking more than three months off from work without authorization, which is against public standing orders.

🇺🇬 BUKEDEA: Health officials delay to distribute Govt  treated mosquito nets
📌Residents have accused health officials in Bukedea for delayed distribution of mosquito nets given out to them by the Ministry of Health in a bid to fight the rampant outbreak of Malaria in the district. Muvehi Tonney, a local leader, says the delay has caused residents to keep demanding the mosquito nets from them.  The mosquito nets are allegedly just packed at parish stores.

🇺🇬 APAC: More than 100 people receive free cataract surgery courtesy of Mengo Hospital
📌APAC: More than 800 people in Lango sub-region have benefited from free eye care treatment provided by the Christian Blind Mission in partnership with Mengo and Apac Hospitals. At least 111 people underwent cataract surgery during the four-day health camp. The medical superintendent at Apac Hospital, Dr. Augustine Ssemugenyi said that the health facility could not provide the eye care service despite the need.

🇺🇬 MUKONO: Thugs tie up school guards, rob Shs63M, school computers
📌Police in Mukono have launched an investigation into a break-in that happened at Kasawo Secondary School in the wee hours of Monday morning. Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson says a group of armed assailants tied up the private security guards before breaking into the school’s administration and bursar’s offices. It is said that the robbers made off with Shs63 Million, three computers, and other valuables.

ACROSS BORDERS
🌍 🌍 🌍

🌍 KENYA: One killed, six injured in Kenya protests – Police 
📌A university student in Kenya was killed and six police officers injured in protests on Monday against President William Ruto’s Government over high living costs. Protesters took to the streets in the Capital, Nairobi, and several other cities in response to a call for demonstrations by opposition leader Raila Odinga. Police fired tear gas and water cannons, including at Odinga’s convoy as he addressed supporters from the sunroof of his car.

🌍 KENYA: Schools change reopening date to Tuesday over Opposition demos
📌Some schools in Nairobi and its neighbourhood have changed the reporting date from the half-term break from Monday to Tuesday, March 21 following concerns that demonstrations called by the opposition pose a risk to learners’ safety. According to the Kenya Ministry of Education calendar, the half-term break officially ended on Sunday and learners were expected to resume learning on Monday. However, parents and teachers have complained that allowing the children to go to school could compromise their safety because the demonstrations had turned violent.

🌍 SOUTH SUDAN: UNISFA denounces presence of armed groups in Abyei
📌The Acting Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Abyei (UNISFA), Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr has denounced the presence of armed groups in the area. He was speaking during the recent celebrations to mark the transition of the mission from a single country to a multi-national peacekeeping mission tagged UNISFA Multi-National Day. The event took place at the mission’s headquarters and was marked with a parade that involved all the components of the mission, military, UN police and civilians.

🌍 BURUNDI: Health Ministry to launch Polio vaccination campaign 
📌Following the declaration of the poliovirus epidemic as a national public health emergency on March 17, 2023, by the Ministry of Public Health, the Burundian Government has planned to launch a polio vaccination campaign in the coming week to protect all eligible children (aged 0-7 years) from the virus. According to Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, the detection of circulating poliovirus type 2 demonstrates the effectiveness of disease surveillance in the country.

🌍 TUNISIA:  Ennahda Movement calls for  release of detainees 
📌Tunisia’s Ennahda movement Monday affirmed that it is continuing its “peaceful struggle” to confront the authority’s policies that violate public and individual freedoms, calling for the release of all political prisoners opposed to the policies of President Kais Saied. This came in a statement issued by the movement on the occasion of Tunisia’s commemoration of the 67th anniversary of its independence from the French occupation.

🌍 ISRAEL: Defense Minister threatens to resign if judicial overhaul goes ahead
📌Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has threatened to resign if the Government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on going ahead with its proposed judicial overhaul. Denouncing the wave of military personnel taking part in anti-government protests in Israel for almost three months, Gallant added that such “widespread insubordination may harm the IDF’s ability to carry out its missions.”