Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of the Acholi Community in the diaspora have kicked off a drive to support families that were hit by restrictions imposed to contain coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Northern Uganda. The drive which was flagged off on Saturday targets the districts of Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo …
Read More »TASO enrolls back 200 on ART treatment in Gulu
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Aids Support Organization Gulu Regional Care Centre-TASO has enrolled back 200 people on treatment who had abandoned it due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Michael Ochwo, the centre manager for TASO Gulu says several persons living with HIV who could not afford transport at …
Read More »Kumi district unable to account for 700 teen pregnancies
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kumi district authorities are struggling to trace the whereabouts of more than 700 girls who conceived during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sr. Suzan Okwakol, the Assistant District Health Officer who doubles as the in charge of Maternal and Child Health in Kumi says they registered …
Read More »Lessons on poverty from COVID
Why measuring poverty using income is misleading and why we need to switch to using wealth THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | It is seven months since Uganda locked down due to COVID. The lesson I have learnt from the lockdown is not related to health but economics. …
Read More »Uganda’s addiction to borrowing
Why our country continues to take more and more loans and what this means for the economy THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Uganda is at a crossroads. Early this year, government passed a budget of Shs32 trillion for the 2020/2021 Financial Year. It also projected to collect …
Read More »Lockdown registers spike in domestic violence in Lango
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police has recorded a worrying increase in domestic violence cases since the Covid-19 lockdown started in Lango sub-region. The North Kyoga regional police headquarters has reported that in the first quarter of the year before the lockdown, the reported cases of domestic violence in the …
Read More »We can’t compel schools to waive fees balances – Muyingo
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo has said that the Ministry of Education cannot compel schools to waive fees balances as demanded by a section of parents. Muyingo was responding to a plea by parents across the country for government intervention to force schools …
Read More »Fathers top list of those abusing their children
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development reports an increase in sexual violence against children since March from 20.1% to 40% by the month of July, with fathers being the worst perpetrators during the lockdown. According to the commissioner youth and children affairs …
Read More »Mental health challenge for re-opening school
Students, teachers return with post-COVID lockdown problems Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Schools are scheduled to re-open on Oct. 15, for some 1.2 million learners who are in their final year of their respective levels of formal education. But as school administrators and parents continue mulling over how to …
Read More »Lockdown affected HPV immunization uptake in Kanungu
Kanungu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The HPV vaccination campaign in Kanungu district suffered a huge setback because of the lockdown that was initiated by the government to disrupt the spread of coronavirus. The government launched the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination (HPV Vaccine) exercise at Bwera Secondary School grounds in Kasese district. …
Read More »