UgandAbout – luglio 2011

Lightning struck several districts in the country yesterday, with one strike killing 17 pupils and one student teacher at Kiryandongo, some 210Km north of Kampala.
Police confirmed that 36 other pupils of Runyanya PS in Kiryandongo District were admitted with serious injuries, and arrangements had been made to transport some of them to Masindi and Mulago hospitals by last night. The devastation, which is by far the biggest since unseasonal heavy rainstorms descended on the country, formed the highlight of debate on the floor of Parliament yesterday as lawmakers put the government on the wall to explain what is going on.
Some 100 pupils at Runyanya PS are said to have been affected by the late afternoon thunderstorm, and medical personnel said the death toll was feared to rise by today. Dozens of the dead were taken to the Kiryandongo Hospital morgue, three miles away from the primary school. Grief and emotion engulfed the hospital as many thronged to indentify the dead. Mr Patrick Kawamara, the Kiryandongo Resident District Commissioner, told this newspaper that doctors had confirmed 18 dead, while 36 had been admitted nursing serious injuries. This brings the death toll from lightning strikes in the past one week to 28.
Those killed yesterday included 14 girls, two boys and a female student-teacher. “Majority of those being treated are in a coma and cannot talk” said Mr Edward Kirya, the district education officer. Officials admitted it was difficult to ascertain just how many people had died. “All the children are scattered” said Sister Norah Akello, a nurse at Kiryandongo Hospital. “It is not easy to count how many are dead”.
Police publicist - Judith Nabakooba said last evening that the force had dispatched six ambulances to bring the injured to Masindi and Mulago hospitals. Police was called in to calm matters following a scuffle that ensued as crestfallen parents moved to claim their dead children. Meanwhile, a total of 21 other pupils at Paidha Role Model Primary School in Zombo District received burns after they were struck by a bolt of lightning. Witnesses said several pupils writhed on floors in their classrooms holding their ears and eyes. The injured pupils were rushed to Nyapea Hospital, some 10km away from the school.
Cleric hit – “I just heard an irritating sound and I got scared that it could have struck something. Moments later, I just heard pupils wailing in pain. They lay unconscious on the ground” said Christopher Onyai, an eye witness. Six people in Yumbe District were similar victims while a cleric in Hoima is admitted to a private clinic partially paralysed after he was struck on Monday. In the last one week, there have been several incidents of lightning strikes which have left several people dead and untold damage.
In Hoima, the Rev. James Mbabazi, 45, an associate Vicar at Hoima All Saints town church (COU) is admitted to a private clinic in Hoima town after being struck by lightning at about 10.20pm on Monday during a downpour at his home in Kalyabuhiire village in Hoima municipality. Mbabazi, who was shivering, told the Daily Monitor at the Tropical Clinic that the incident left him with burns on the right hand and feet. He said his right hand side of his body is paralyzed. It has been a bitter pill to swallow for many farmers whose prayers for the return of rains following a long dry spell have brought tragedy and suffering.
Lawmakers ordered the government to come up with a comprehensive statement on the crisis. “I don’t know which minister is in charge of the lightning but let the Government come with a statement to inform the country on what is going on and how we can manage it” said Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.
The matter was raised by Kyenjojo Woman MP Lyndah Timbigamba who reported that an unspecified number of cows in her district had been killed by lightning. Scientists believe that magnetic force generated by lightning provides an electric jolt so powerful that it can stop someone’s heart. Traditional advice for people caught in a thunderstorm is to avoid sheltering under trees as they act as lightning conductors and to make sure you are not the tallest object on the ground.
Government to explain - “Most of the school buildings need electro lights to avert such deaths and injuries” said Terego MP Kassiano Wadri. Government Chief Whip John Nasasira told MPs both the Ministers of Environment and Housing would table a statement before the House as MPs demanded that lightning conductors be fixed atop all public building including schools to avert future disasters. Efforts to obtain a comment from experts at the Meteorology Department were futile. The department’s publicist declined to receive repeated calls.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug - George Muzoora & Frank Wimba

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INFLATION SLOWS TO 15.8%
1 july 2011

Ugandans will for the time being begin to enjoy low food prices as supply to markets increase due to improved harvests. The harvests are expected to slightly ease food price pressures that had for the past six months increased the cost of living.
The reduction in prices of matooke, Irish potatoes, pineapples, passion fruits, avocado, beans, tomatoes, fish and fresh milk have seen inflation slightly drop to 15.8 per cent in June, according to data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos). Inflation has been accelerating since January hitting a 16 per cent rate, the highest record in 17 years. The country last recorded inflation above 16 per cent in May 1994, when it stood at 16.2 per cent.
Food inflation - According to the figures released yesterday, food inflation reduced from 35.3 per cent in May to 33.4 per cent in June, while food prices inflation dropped by 2.5 per cent during the period. Food constitutes 27.2 per cent of the weight in the basket of goods and services, the biggest percentage in the basket of goods used to measure inflation. This therefore means any reduction or increase in food prices will automatically impact inflation. The director macro-economics at Ubos, Dr Chris Ndatira Mukiza, however, noted that prices for cabbage, egg plant, bitter tomatoes, groundnuts, maize flour, bread, firewood and paraffin went up during the period.
Dollar effect – The continued depreciation of the shilling against the dollar has, however, kept inflation in double digits despite increased food supplies to markets. This is because Uganda imports 40.5 per cent of the goods consumed in the country. During the month, prices of imported goods especially clothing, household and personal goods went up because of a weak shilling. Yesterday, the dollar closed at the Shs2,500, the highest record in so many years.
Importation has also brought in imported inflation from countries like China, Uganda’s biggest trade partners.
Inflation is picking up in all East African countries due to a weak shillings, sharply escalating cost of food and fuel prices. In Kenya, it leapt to 14.49 in June from 12.95 per cent in May, while Tanzania’s rose to 9.7 per cent in May, from 8.6 per cent in April.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug - Faridah Kulabako

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INVESTMENTS DROP BY 48% DUE TO PROTESTS
4 july 2011

The month-long ‘ Walk to work’ protests between April and May scared away investors leading to a decline in the investment value in the last quarter of the 2010/2011 financial year, an official has said.
State minister for privatisation, Mr Aston Kajara, said during the release of the 2010/11 Uganda Investment Authority report that the authority registered 95 projects with a planned investment of $210 million between April and June. This represented a 48 per cent drop, compared to the 78 projects licensed between January and March 2011, with a planned investment of $604 million.
“The ‘Walk to work’ demonstrations saw a number of potential investors stay their establishment in Ugandan market while they assessed the political situation” Mr Kajara said in Kampala last week. However, the authority’s investments during the just concluded financial year increased, with a total of 337 projects, worth $1.7 billion licensed compared to 340 projects worth $1.55 billion in 2009/2010 financial period.
The highest investments were recorded in electricity and gas sector and this was closely followed by the financial, insurance, real estate and services sectors. The licensed projects are expected to create employments for about 130,732 people in the country. Uganda still took a lead as a top source of investment, followed by India, Kenya, Netherlands, Norway and China in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth positions respectively.
Meanwhile, the investment body also launched its new website that is expected to enhance investors’ search capabilities by making it easy for investors to navigate.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug - Faridah Kulabako

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I WON’T RUN IN 2016, SAYS BESIGYE
4 july 2011

The FDC leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, has announced that he will not contest for the national presidency in 2016. Dr Besigye, whose second term as Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president expires in 2014, also said he would not seek to extend his leadership of the main opposition party in the country.
While the FDC constitution bars him from running for the party presidency after two terms in office, it does not have similar restrictions for anyone seeking to stand on the party ticket for the national presidency. The FDC leader broke the silence over his political future on Saturday during a two-day retreat for party leaders held in Mukono District. The meeting was called to examine last year’s elections and to propose a way forward for the opposition party.
Dr Besigye is expected to meet another set of FDC leaders in Mukono today. “I am not going to be like the NRM and President Museveni who want to cling on to power. I will not change the party constitution for selfish reasons to serve another term” Dr Besigye, who was flanked by the party’s vice president for eastern Uganda, Ms Salaam Musumba, and the Leader of Opposition, Mr Nandala Mafabi, reportedly announced during a closed-door meeting.
‘Shocked’ audience – Sources not authorised to speak on behalf of the party and therefore sought anonymity told ‘Daily Monitor’ that after Dr Besigye’s announcement, silence engulfed the hall with most officials visibly shocked. According to the FDC Deputy Spokesperson, Mr Toterebuka Bamwenda, Dr Besigye did request to retire after serving his second term. He said Dr Besigye explained to officials that he had served his two terms successfully and time had come for him to give way to new leadership. “Dr Besigye said he would retire from the leadership of the party when his current term expires and that he will not seek re-election as the party’s presidential flag bearer in 2016, saying he had successfully completed his two terms. The party leaders, however, said they still need him as FDC party leader and presidential candidate” Mr Bamwenda said.
A group, reportedly led by the FDC chairperson for Kasese District, tried to dissuade Dr Besigye from stepping down. Whereas Dr Besigye did not hint on his possible successor during the meeting, the FDC leader reportedly directed his party officials to formulate a transition plan that among other things will enable them elect his likely replacement.
Speculation is, however, rife that a succession battle has been raging on with a number of candidates expressing interest to replace him.
Likely replacement – Those that have so far been tipped to replace Dr Besigye include Mr Nandala Mafabi, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu, Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu, Aswa County MP Reagan Okumu, Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar and Ms Musumba. Dr Besigye could not be reached for a comment by press time as his known mobile phone was switched off.
As soon as the 2011 presidential elections ended, some party officials started agitating for Dr Besigye’s exit, saying he had played his part to the full.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug - Mercy Nalugo & Gerald Bareebe

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UGANDA, PROCEDE ELETTRIFICAZIONE ZONE RURALI
7 luglio 2011

L’Uganda ha varato una serie di progetti per l’estensione della rete elettrica nelle zone rurali di alcune province settentrionali e orientali. Gli interventi porteranno al prolungamento della rete dalla provincia orientale di Soroti, dove arriva attualmente, alle province di Katakwi e Amuria, mentre nel nord l’ampliamento interesserà le province di Oyam, Gulu e Kole.
La realizzazione delle opere, che beneficiano di un prestito parziale della Banca mondiale per 6 milioni di euro, sarà coordinata dall’Agenzia nazionale per l’elettrificazione rurale, che gestirà un apposito fondo creato dal governo per accelerare l’elettrificazione delle zone più lontane dai grossi centri urbani.
fonte www.agi.it

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UGANDA, CORSI AGGIORNAMENTO PER 4.000 IMPRENDITRICI
7 luglio 2011

Oltre 4.000 imprenditrici ugandesi beneficeranno di un corso di aggiornamento quinquennale, concepito con lo scopo di migliorarne le capacità professionali, soprattutto nei settori della produzione e del marketing. L’iniziativa, che richiede l’esborso di tre milioni di dollari, è stata lanciata da Enterprise Uganda, un organismo locale impegnato nella promozione dei talenti imprenditoriali femminili.
Il corso, che avrà come slogan ‘Rafforzare le donne imprenditrici’, inizierà nel 2012 per concludersi nel 2016. Un’iniziativa analoga si svolse dal 2008 al 2010 ed ebbe come risultato la creazione di oltre 740 nuove imprese guidate da donne che avevano partecipato ai corsi di formazione.
fonte www.agi.it

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EAST AFRICA CHILDREN POORLY TAUGHT, A REPORT
11 july 2011

While three East African countries have achieved on school enrolment levels, majority of pupils continue to demonstrate incompetence in the two most important aspects of basic education. A report dubbed ‘Are our children Learning’ shows that children in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda perform poorly compared to the established curriculum standards.
The report appears to hold a different tone than another one from Uganda’s examinations body, which points to a slightly brighter outlook. Uganda boasts of approximately 8.3 million children in primary school, compared to 2.3 million before the programme in 1997. But as the report, prepared by Uwezo, an initiative to improve competencies in literacy and numeracy in East Africa, indicates, there is nothing to be proud of if majority of pupils, though in school, are not able to read and later on deal with numbers.
The tests were for Primary Two and administered to 145,730 children from 79,286 households in 2009/2010. The assessment was done on children between the age of 6 and 16. But findings indicate that investing in inputs alone has limited impact, and that fresh thinking focused on incentives for learning is needed. Further, it shows that children in the three countries perform poorly compared to established curriculum levels. In Primary Three, two out of three children failed to pass the Uwezo tests for English, Kiswahili and numeracy.
In Kenya, only 28 per cent of pupils in Standard 3 completed the test successfully, meaning they were able to read a story with ease. In Uganda and Tanzania, pass rates were at 4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively. “There is a crisis of learning in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Governments are proud of their achievements in expanding school enrolments. But they should now not hide behind these achievements, and focus instead on making sure that children in school are in fact learning” reads part of the report released last month. It adds: “Even amongst children who have advanced to Standard 7, many have not acquired Standard 2 numeracy and literacy skills.”
However, Mr Aggrey Kibenge, Ministry of Education undersecretary said issues in the report are not any different from what government has been addressing for five years. “These issues are not coming up for the first time. We have been working on book-to-pupil ratio, pupil-to- teacher ratio and the launching of Quality Enhancement Initiative project three years ago, which was to target 12 districts that are poor in attracting teachers”
Mr Kibenge said on phone. Referring to a 2010 report released on Tuesday last week by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) on the National Assessment of Progress in Education (NAPE), Mr Kibenge said there has been improvement with at least more than half of pupils able to read. Although the NAPE report shows an overall 72.8 per cent proficiency in numeracy and 57.6 per cent in literacy in English in Primary Three, it still identifies that Primary Six pupils are not able to tell time on hour and minutes, read a story and comprehend, and subtract fractions, which is not any different from what the Uwezo report identifies.
Mr Mathew Bukenya, UNEB executive secretary notes that the findings in the various NAPE reports have revealed a lot about teaching-learning process and pupils’ learning achievement.
Like the Uwezo report, NAPE recognises that pupils in private primary schools are performing better than those in public schools. “The results showed a decline in pupils’ achievement immediately after the introduction of UPE and also a gradual improvement thereafter” Mr Bukenya says, highlighting an uneven curve in the progress. However, the Uwezo report asks the three governments to face the crisis squarely and find solutions that will reflect the billions of shillings and hours spent on basic education each year by parents, governments and donors and that the learners are learning, literate and numerate.
The Uwezo report notes that teacher incentives are weak, with teachers often posting high rates of absence. It demonstrates that in Tanzania, 23 per cent of teachers are not in school on any given day and when in school, teachers spend half their time outside the classroom. As a consequence, children are only taught two hours and four minutes a day, instead of an expected five hours. Studies from Uganda and Kenya suggest similar findings.
“Reflecting on these results, one cannot but note the enormous challenge East African governments, teachers and parents face in making sure that children acquire basic numeracy and literacy skills. These asymmetries in learning also undermine the prospects for greater cooperation and development across the East African region” says the report.
Mr Emmanuel Mugole, Uwezo-Uganda assessment Coordinator, earlier said as long as there is an individual in primary school who cannot read or deal with numbers, it is a loss for any government because money has been spent for learning to take place yet there are negative returns on it.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug - Patience Ahimbisibwe

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A GULU APRE PROCESSO A COMANDANTE LRA, NON MANCANO PERPLESSITÀ
11 luglio 2011

Centinaia di persone stanno assistendo al processo dell’ex comandante delle operazioni militari della ribellione dell’Esercito di Liberazione del Signore (Lord’s Resistance Army, LRA), Thomas Kweyelo, che si è aperto oggi dinanzi la divisione speciale per i crimini dell’Alta corte di Gulu (nord).
Lo riferisce il quotidiano ugandese ‘Daily Monitor’ sottolineando che si tratta del primo procedimento ai danni di un alto dirigente dell’LRA da quando la Corte penale internazionale (Cpi/Icc) ha messo in stato di accusa altri elementi della ribellione nord ugandese, sodali di Kweyelo tuttora latitanti, tra cui Joseph Kony, il fondatore, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo e Raska Lukwiya.
L’ex comandante, nato nel distretto settentrionale di Amuru tra il 1968 e il 1972, era stato catturato nel marzo 2009 nell’est della confinante Repubblica democratica del Congo durante scontri tra l’LRA e l’esercito ugandese impegnato nell’operazione ‘Fulmine’ alla ricerca di elementi armati. Anche se il suo nome non figura tra quelli dei ribelli ricercati dalla Cpi, nel suo paese Kweyelo viene processato per omicidi preterintenzionali, sequestro di persona, ferimento di persone e danni a proprietà privata perpetrati nelle regioni di Gulu e Amulu.
Detenuto da più di due anni in un carcere ad alta sicurezza nei pressi di Kampala, la capitale, Kweyelo potrebbe essere condannato all’ergastolo. Osservatori fanno notare che finora gli elementi della ribellione ugandese arrestati come quelli che si sono arresi hanno usufruito di una legge di amnistia mentre alcuni sono stati perfino integrati nell’esercito regolare.
A Gulu, riferisce la stampa locale, la gente si sta interrogando sul valore del processo a Kweyelo, da molti considerati un comandante di minore importanza, mentre i capi più importanti sono latitanti.
Il procedimento giudiziario ha però una valenza simbolica in quanto si tratta del primo ribelle dell’LRA a comparire davanti a un tribunale speciale che dipende dall’Alta corte, istituito nel 2009 dal governo di Kampala.
Secondo i bilanci in circolazione, da settembre 2008 l’LRA ha ucciso 2400 persone e ne ha rapite 3400. Fondato negli anni ‘80 nel Nord Uganda, il movimento guidato dall’ex-predicatore Kony è stato protagonista in Uganda, per circa un ventennio, di brutali attacchi contro i civili delle comunità settentrionali Acholi.
Dopo il fallimento di un difficile processo di pace, il gruppo si è sparso tra il nord-est della Repubblica democratica del Congo, il sud del Centrafrica e il Sud Sudan, dove continua a seminare il terrore tra i civili.
fonte www.misna.org

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FOOD PRICES LIKELY TO REMAIN HIGH IN REGION
12 july 2011

Food prices across the east African region are likely to remain high due to low production resulting from low rainfall and high fuel prices, United States Agency for International Development says.
Although improved harvests are expected this month (July), the Agency says high transportation costs of commodities to the markets are likely to maintain prices above the seasonal levels. “In Teso and Lango sub regions, normal rains are likely to result in average harvests but the marketable surplus of sorghum in these regions are likely to offset deficits in Karamoja” the Agency says, adding that food prices in West Nile region continue to rise as farmers in Eastern Uganda report good harvests and dropping food prices.
Kenya’s hopes to import maize from Malawi and Zambia to alleviate food crisis; dampened after Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) rejected some 5,000 tonnes on basis that they were discoloured. The duty free maize was to be imported mid last month. And while the products were not harmful for human consumption, it is alleged that the commodities defied Kebs standards with several parameters that include rotten, decayed and discolored, foreign matter and moisture discontent and insect damage and aflatoxin contamination.
The country’s Ministry of Agriculture currently projects to produce 25 million 90 kilogramme bags of maize in 2011/12 season down from 39.8million in the previous season due to low yields resulting from poor rainfall. Also, farmers abandoned the growing of maize due to lower prices experienced last year in favour of wheat and fruits. While food shortage in the region is expecting to be short-lived, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says people in developing countries – in which Uganda is inclusive – will continue to be squeezed by spiraling food prices for another decade.
But Oxfam – another charity organisation predicts food shortage for the next two decades. In their 2011-2020 Agricultural Outlooks FAO and OECD, a think-tank that tracks economic developments in 34 countries, forecast that real prices for cereals could grow on average by 20 per cent over the coming decade, compared to 2001-2010.
They project that farm output would grow to 1.7 per cent annually over the next decade, down from the 2.6 per cent growth rate of the past 10 years, with meat prices increasing by up to 30 per cent. “While higher prices are generally good news for farmers, the impact on the poor in developing countries who spend a high proportion of their income on food can be devastating” OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurri says. The increasing erratic weather and price speculation are blamed for a spike in foodstuff prices over the past years.
A severe drought in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan caused wheat prices to spiral, driving up the cost of bread and animal feed, while falling stocks caused sugar to reach a 30-year high in February. Oxfam, however, says the world’s poorest people, who spend up to 80% of their income of food, will be hit hardest in the next two decades. The charity says the world is entering an era of permanent food crisis, which is likely to be accompanied by political unrest and will require radical reform of the international food system. The charity projects international prices of staples such as maize to rise by as much as 180% by 2030, with half of that rise due to the impacts of climate change.
A devastating combination of factors – climate change, depleting natural resources, a global scramble for land and water, the rush to turn food into biofuels, a growing global population, and changing diets – have created the conditions for an increase in deep poverty.
Hunger to bite on – Over 44million people are currently under abject poverty globally, according to World Bank. “We are sleepwalking towards an age of avoidable crisis” says Oxfam’s chief executive, Barbara Stocking. “One in seven people on the planet go hungry every day despite the fact that the world is capable of feeding everyone. The food system must be overhauled.”
For that, Kenya has opened door to genetically engineered crops, seeking people to produce or trade in genetically mortified materials but only after getting a written consent from the regulator – National Safety Authority. Food Aid agencies have also launched multimillion-pound appeals to address amounting humanitarian emergency in the east and the horn of Africa. Oxfam launched its biggest ever appeal for Africa last week , seeking £50 million to help three million people. The British government also announced that it was giving £38 million emergency food aid to Ethiopia, following a warning from Josette Sheeran, the World Food Programme executive director that “desperate hunger” loomed across the Horn, “threatening the lives of millions“.
For Somali refugees arriving in neighbouring Ethiopia, the rates of severe malnutrition are as high as 23 per cent, according to Oxfam. Oxfam spokesperson in Nairobi, Alun McDonald, recently said the figures were the worst the agency had seen since the early 90s. At least 500 people are believed to have died in Somalia over the past few months of nutrition-related illnesses, he said. “We are not yet at a stage where large numbers of people are dying. But things could get even worse in the coming months as the next rains are only due in October.” It is estimated that up to 1,000 Somalis a day are also streaming across the Kenyan border to Dadaab, already the largest refugee settlement in the world, with 367,000 residents.
Overwhelming figures - Over 2.5 million people require food aid in Somalia; and 3.2 million in Ethiopia. In Uganda over 600,000 people are in dire need of assistance, and in Djibouti 120,000. In Kenya, over 3.5 million people in the country’s arid areas need assistance. cap: One in seven people on the planet go hungry every day despite the fact that the world is capable of feeding everyone.
fonte www.allafrica.com – Isaac Khisa

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AIDS, I FARMACI USATI PER LA CURA ABBATTONO I CONTAGI TRA I SANI ‘A RISCHIO’
14 luglio 2011

Arriva da due studi condotti sul campo in Africa la nuova speranza contro l’Aids. I due trials realizzati in Kenya e in Uganda e Botswana nel contesto del progetto ‘Partners PrEp’ hanno dimostrato per la prima volta in maniera inconfutabile che i tradizionali farmaci usati finora per curare l’infezione utilizzati nei soggetti sani svolgono una decisiva funzione preventiva, più che dimezzando le possibilità di contagio del virus Hiv durante rapporti sessuali con partners sieropositivi.
A darne notizia è stata l’Università di Washington che ha diretto lo studio ‘Partners PrEP’, finanziato con 63 milioni di dollari dalla fondazione di Bill e Melinda Gates, con i Centers for disease control and prevention (CDCP) di Atlanta che hanno coordinato il progetto in Botswana, costato 31 milioni di dollari.
La scoperta sarà uno dei temi salienti della Conferenza mondiale Ias 2011 sull’Aids, in programma a Roma dal 17 al 20 luglio prossimi. Ai due studi sarà dedicata un’intera sessione nell’ambito delle quattro giornate di lavoro. E’ una svolta per la terapia antiretrovirale (ART) alla quale va il merito di tenere sotto controllo la carica virale nei casi conclamati di Aids e che ora si trasforma in una preziosa arma per arginare la diffusione del virus Hiv nella popolazione sana. Curarsi o meno con la terapia antiretrovirale (ART) farà la differenza sia per il singolo, sieropositivo o sano con comportamenti ad alto rischio, sia per l’intera collettività.
Dopo l’introduzione della doppia terapia, annunciata nel ‘96 a Vancouver, e il grande tema dell’accesso ai farmaci nei paesi poveri del mondo, dibattuto nel 2000 a Durban, l’impiego della ART come strumento di profilassi per spegnere la pandemia Aids/Hiv specialmente nel Sud del mondo è il grande cambiamento di cui si parlerà alla Conferenza di Roma.
“Si tratta di una novità straordinaria – dice Stefano Vella dell’Istituto Superiore di Sanità, co-presidente della Conferenza mondiale IAS 2011 – sapevamo che se un sieropositivo assume precocemente e correttamente la terapia antiretrovirale la possibilità di trasmettere l’infezione si abbassa drasticamente oltre il 95% come dimostrato dallo studio HPTNO52 condotto su coppie in cui uno dei partenr era sieropositivo; adesso questi studi clinici controllati e randomizzati dimostrano l’efficacia dei farmaci nel ridurre dal 60 fino all’83% il contagio se assunti da soggetti sani che hanno rapporti sessuali ad alto rischio“.
Promuovere l’accesso al test ed ai farmaci in Africa, e non solo, potrebbe essere dunque una delle strategie per fermare o ridurre notevolmente l’infezione. Convincere le persone con comportamenti a rischio a sottoporsi al test e, qualora risulti positivo, a cominciare presto la terapia resta però un’operazione impegnativa e costosa. “Sappiamo che i farmaci sono capaci di stoppare il contagio, ma l’applicazione nella pratica non sarà facile; è importante capire che le cure non saranno più solo finalizzate alla salute del singolo ma a quella dell’intera collettività“, sottolinea l’infettivologo Mauro Moroni.
Guai, però, avvertono gli esperti, a interpretare l’azione preventiva delle terapie antiretrovirali come la pillola del ‘giorno prima’. “L’utilizzo del profilattico, l’uso consapevole e responsabile del proprio corpo e del sesso restano i capisaldi della prevenzione contro l’Aids - sottolinea Stefano Vella – : somministrare i farmaci ai sani, oltre che ai sieropositivi, come profilassi fa parte di quell’approccio combinato di cui si parla da anni e che porterà ci auguriamo a spegnere se non a eradicare la diffusione dell’HIV“.
fonte www.repubblica.it – Mariapaola Salmi

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TRIBUNALE RITIRA CAPO DI ACCUSA CONTRO OPPOSITORE, PROCESSO CONTINUA
15 luglio 2011

Non sarà processato per incitamento alla violenza Kizza Besigye, capofila del ‘Forum democratico per il cambiamento’ (Fdc), imputato nelle manifestazioni antigovernative ‘Walk to work’ che negli ultimi mesi hanno provocato scontri e diverse vittime tra agenti di polizia e dimostranti che protestavano contro il carovita.
Senza fornire alcuna motivazione, il procuratore della Repubblica, Ivan Nkwasibwe, ha annunciato che lo Stato ha deciso di abbandonare l’azione giudiziaria intentata nei confronti di Besigye in relazione al suo presunto comportamento che l’11 aprile, durante manifestazioni antigovernative, avrebbe incitato alle successive violenze. Rimangono invece in piedi i procedimenti aperti per assembramento illegale, rifiuto di obbedire ad un agente di polizia e mancato rispetto del codice della strada.
Il processo a carico di Besigye si è aperto il 13 giugno per assembramento illegale e incitamento alla violenza, capo di accusa ormai decaduto. La prossima udienza è prevista il 27 luglio.
L’esponente di spicco dell’opposizione, ex compagno d’armi ed ex medico personale del presidente Yoweri Museveni, ha già criticato la decisione del procuratore che “avrebbe dovuto ottenere prove prima di aprire il caso” ha detto Besigye che accusa la giustizia ugandese di “usare il suo potere per reprimere l’opposizione” e si dice vittima di “violazione dei propri diritti costituzionali”. Ha annunciato che sporgerà denuncia contro lo Stato ugandese “che infanga il mio nome e mi fa perdere tempo” riferisce la stampa locale.
Intanto a gettare un’ombra sulle istituzioni giuridico-carcerarie è il rapporto di ‘Human Rights Watch’ che denuncia violazioni dei diritti umani dei detenuti, vittime della lentezza della giustizia, di maltrattamenti fisici e morali oltre ad essere “costretti a lavorare in condizioni vicine alla schiavitù” sostiene l’organizzazione internazionale.
fonte www.misna.org

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UGANDA, 25.000 BABIES BORN WITH HIV/AIDS ANNUALLY
17 july 2011

As the world celebrates good results of an HIV/Aids drug trial conducted in Kenya and Uganda, the country once a role model in the fight against HIV/Aids, has for the last 10 years not made any progress in reducing the incidence of the disease.
The announcement early this week in the US that the use of certain ARVs among discordant partners had cut infection by 73 per cent is dampened by reports that the number of new infections every year is exceeding the number the government can treat. At the same time, donor money for the fight against the pandemic is dwindling.
Fresh alarm – Though infections in Uganda, which once had the highest, incidence rate in the world, dropped from 30 per cent in the early 1990s to around 7 per cent to date, Centre for Disease Control (CDC-Uganda), a bilateral partner within the US mission to Uganda has raised fresh alarm over increasing HIV/Aids infections.
Dr Wuhib Tadesse, the director CDC-Uganda at a news conference in Entebbe last week, said Uganda was the only country where HIV incidence has remained unchanged for more than 10 years. “In Uganda, for every person started on antiretroviral therapy, there are three new HIV infections and this is unsustainable” Dr Tadesse said.
Dr Tadesse said there are no clear-cut answers to explain this trend, but added concerted efforts will be needed to stop new infections. “We are investigating what has caused this stagnation in the fight against HIV/Aids in Uganda and we are very concerned” Dr Tadesse said. “But complacence could be part of the problem. Young people nowadays no longer see people dying; they see people on ARVs but getting children. We need to re-examine our strategies in the fight against HIV/Aids. Leaders at all levels are spending a lot of time in workshops than in the communities to sensitive the people and this must stop.”
According to Dr Tadesse, in the past 10 years, Uganda appears to have turned a corner in the opposite direction as more people continue to get infected. CDC figures show that there are 1.2 million Ugandans with the virus. However, according to Dr Tadesse, only about half of those who are in need of the life-saving drugs under the new treatment guidelines were receiving them by the end of last year. He said unless government deals with new infections through effective prevention strategies, achieving the universal treatment coverage of 80 per cent will be difficult.
Much of Uganda’s HIV/Aids programmes are being funded through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund. Dr Tadesse said under PEPFAR, Uganda has received over $1.2 billion between 2004-2010. Globally, as of September 2010, PEPFAR supported ART for 3.2 million people, care and support to 11 million people, counseling and testing to 33 million and provided $5.1 billion to Global Fund initiative. However, with more than 110,000 new infections occurring every year, more funds will be required to help Uganda regain its reputation in the fight against HIV/Aids.
But health experts at CDC-Uganda are concerned that if these new infections continue the way they are, it will be hard for Uganda government to cope with the cost of offering treatment to all. The number of Ugandans on ARVs has risen from 10,000 a decade ago to 200,000. But figures from the Uganda Aids Commission indicate that an extra 300,000 Ugandans in need of ARVs do not have access to the drugs because they cannot afford them.
In his response to the crisis, Dr Kihumuro Apuuli, the director general of the UAC, has since warned that the rising number of new infections will cause a critical challenge in the future, suggesting that more focus should be put on prevention and that the government should stop over relying on donor monies in its battle against the HIV/Aids pandemic.
A senior official in the Ministry of Health who preferred anonymity in order to speak freely, said even those on ARVs receive treatment largely as a result of American generosity. “We are guilty” she said, adding: “As government, we have not taken prevention seriously. We have concentrated so much on treatment and care yet more Ugandans are getting infected each year and the number of those who need ARVs is increasing. It is time we reviewed the old-fashioned prevention because it has flopped. The few people in Uganda are using the ‘ABC’ Abstain, Be faithful and use Condoms strategy“.
fonte www.allafrica.com – Yasiin Mugerwa

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VOCATIONAL TRAINING VITAL FOR FUTURE CAREER
18 july 2011

With the levels of unemployment shooting high due to the few jobs, the education system to had to redesign itself in many ways. One such way is vocational training. This has meant moving away from theoretical classes to more practical approaches.
During Open Day at Mengo Senior Secondary School last week, the focus was mainly put on vocational training, in which students are equipped with skills, which they can use to survive before or even after they get white-collar jobs. The head teacher, Mr George Ssemivule, says that the school aims to produce competent students in the job market and that they can provide others employment other than them seeking the same. He says that “we train students so that they can professionalise after sometime”. Paul Mukasa, a Senior Three metal work student admits that the subject is more of prior training before he ventures into the world. He says: “I don’t have to struggle looking for a job because I can now make a lot out of the skills that I get from the subject.”
Blacksmith skills – In the subject, which puts emphasis on metal fabrication basics such as sketching, cutting and welding, these are skills the blacksmith in Katwe and Kisenyi must have. The students are exposed to such skills before they leave school. The students are equipped to make various items such as burglar proof windows and doors, chairs and other metal products, which are on high demand in Uganda and South Sudan.
The Home Economics department, which embraces clothing and textiles, teaches students the basics of clothing from tracing to fashion designing, which helps them maintain a dream for the future as Moreen Niwenshuti notes. “With different design styles, by the time I am done with Senior Four, I will go for a short fashion and design course. I would like to be Sylvia Owori’s competitor” she says.
In Food and Nutrition, the students are taught about proper food quantities. Richard Mubiru, a Senior Five student, spoke to Education Guide about self- reliance: “We get skilled in making cakes for all functions, food processing and production. I cannot go out looking for jobs on the streets.” The students from this department get a chance for employment in bakeries, especially during holidays, to help them with work.
Excellence rewards – Other subjects that have been a major focus include Art and Design in which Mengo senior school has been awarded as a center of excellence in Africa and one of the students, Faridah Nalukuuma has been awarded a two year scholarship by the African Leadership Academy for her exceptional performance in making cultural gear more so necklaces where gets herb school fees.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug - Abdu Kiyaga

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COUNTRY SEEKING MORE STUDENTS FOR NEUROSURGERY
18 july 2011

Uganda has four qualified neurosurgeons at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Medical experts are calling on the government of Uganda to support the training of more professionals to better cater for the population, which stands at more than 33 million people. Neurosurgery is a medical treatment that deals with operation of the brain, spine, peripheral nerves and the arteries of the neck.
Nixon Niyonzima always wanted to study journalism but never got support from those around him. For many of his friends, there was only one profession. That is how he finally found himself following the medical path. Under a Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) scholarship, Mr Niyonzima, a Makerere University Bachelor of Medicine graduate, is now studying a Master of Science in global health and wants to become a neurosurgeon. If you paused and asked what interests him in the profession, you could get the most unlikely answer. “It is more about service to the people than the financial benefit” he says.
Never mind that this is a field many people shy away from. With five years of under graduate study, a year on internship and another on up-country hospital attachment, going for another five-year course to master in neurosurgery is not easy. “I always want to serve. It takes long to see the results when you start working. You have to learn to be patient. Otherwise many look at the time spent on the training and opt to join NGOs” says Niyonzima, now in his third year. He plans to be an academic, a researcher, once he is done with the course.
The training focuses on chronic and non-communicable diseases and trauma in areas of neurosurgery, orthopaedic and spinal surgery, trauma management, physical therapy and rehabilitation, stroke and stroke prevention and pediatric malnutrition. To improve the situation in the country, the government has introduced a scheme that sponsors any student willing to study neurosurgery to improve on the enrolment.
According to Dr Edgar Muhumuza, a consultant neurosurgeon at Mulago Hospital, the government should support the training offered by the DGHI and Duke University, in order to increase the number of neurosurgeons. “This work needs a lot of dedication and patience because we deal with emergencies and work long hours. It will be difficult for someone who is not interested to join because it is tedious” Dr Muhumuza explains, adding: “We see over 100 patients a month and 30 to 40 of these need surgery, yet we can’t admit them because we are overwhelmed on the ward as the workload is too heavy and facilities are limited.”
Seeing the need for more neurosurgeons in the country, Dr Michael Haglund, codirector in the partnership between Mulago National Hospital, Duke University, DGHI and Makerere University, said an East African Neurosurgery Training Programme has been designed to train Ugandan surgeons in neurosurgery, who will then go to regional hospitals to provide neurosurgical care. “Uganda has laws in place that are not enforced in compliance to helmet use” Dr Haglund said during the tour of the Duke projects at Mulago Hospital. Dr Haglund hopes the number of neurosurgeons will have increased to 19 in 2020 and spread across the country. He, however, added that the government needs to support the project by providing residence for neurosurgeons and salaries to trainees to attract their service within the country.
Dr Isaac Alidria-Ezati Director of Health Services (planning and development) in the Ministry of Health said while there are challenges with salaries, there are still few students who apply to study neurosurgery. “In this country, neurosurgery has been left behind yet this is an important area. Because people don’t apply to study it, we have put up a scholarship that binds the students for five years after which they can go and work where they want” Dr Alidria-Ezati said.
Dr Alidria-Ezati said once the number of neurosurgeons increases, it will reduce the number of patients who seek their service outside the country.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug - Patience Ahimbisibwe

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IMMORALITY LINKED TO POVERTY
21 july 2011

Poverty is the leading cause of immorality among communities, the Archbishop of Kampala Dr. Cyprian Lwanga, has said. Lwanga said if the Government and the church do not put in place measures to fight poverty, it may be difficult to eliminate prostitution, abortions and homosexuality. He said many countries are spending money in the fight against diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria without identifying their cause. “We often talk about Malaria, HIV/AIDS and cancer, but we forget to identify their linkage to poverty” he said.
Lwanga made the remarks on Sunday during golden jubilee celebrations for the Fort Portal Catholic Diocese. The ceremony was held at St Mary’s Minor Seminary in Fort Portal town in Kabarole district. Lwanga decried the high rate of prostitution, homosexuality and lesbianism among the youth in urban areas. “The youth need our help. Government and church leaders should find a solution to these problems. I do not think these girls like to sleep with different men. Some of the men smell like rats, while others are drunkards but poverty drives these girls to do it” he explained.
Lwanga called for harmonious living among communities. He urged leaders to work hard and display exemplary leadership. “When people get into leadership positions, the first thing they ask is what they will get from it. If a leader cannot manage his family of five people, how can he be a village chairperson?” Lwanga asked. President Yoweri Museveni, in a speech read by the local government minister, Adolf Mwesige, hailed the church for promoting delivery of social services among communities. “These institutions help masses to access services which has led to improvement in standard of living of many Ugandans” Museveni said.
He commended the diocese for championing a holistic human growth as a benchmark in preaching the gospel.
fonte www.newvision.co.ug - Hope Mafaranga

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BETTER MAIZE SEEDS COMING
21 july 2011

Drought resistant maize seeds will be ready for use in 2016, experts have said. Confined field trials on the seeds are taking place at the National Crops Resource Research Institute at Namulonge.
Joseph Kikafunda, a researcher at the institute said the initiative would help farmers continue with production during drought. Kikafunda was speaking at a meeting for Kasese district stakeholders at Rwenzori International Hotel in Kasese Municipality recently. The meeting was aimed at updating stakeholders on the progress of the research. It was held under the theme ‘Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa’.
The research is funded under the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) Project. Presenting a paper on the status of the field trials of WEMA maize in Uganda, Kikafunda warned that the country would experience drought more often due to changes in global climatic conditions. “We have to mobilise people to adopt modern farming methods, otherwise, the country is at risk of famine” Kikafunda said. He advised farmers to use modern farming methods to get higher yields for sale and consumption.
Johnson Mutungwanda, the assistant chief administrative Officer, expressed concern over the laxity by residents to adopt modern farming techniques. Mutungwanda asked the team to sensitise masses on the benefits of yellow maize, saying some people had spread rumours that it had side-effects. Deputy resident district commissioner Aminadab Muhindo urged scientists to sensitise masses on modern farming methods. He urged residents to work hard to fight poverty. Muhindo hailed the leadership of the National Crops Resource Research Institute for selecting the district to benefit from WEMA maize project.
The meeting was attended by district leaders, model farmers, the Media and representatives of NGOs. Experts say a drought-tolerant seeds can tolerate erratic weather patterns and yield greater crops. The initiative has been welcomed by many countries in Africa as a strategy to boost food security among households.
fonte www.newvision.co.ug - John Nzinjah

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TEACHERS DEMAND 100% PAY RISE
21 july 2011

A group of 40 teachers from the Uganda National Teacher’s Union (UNATO) on Thursday petitioned the social services committee of Parliament demanding a 100% pay rise. The group led by the UNATO chairperson, Margaret Rwabushaijja told MPs on the committee, that they want the money to meet the rising cost of living. She said the current salary teachers get is too low forcing some teachers seek for greener pastures elsewhere and do other businesses to cover up the gap.
Currently, a primary school teacher earns sh260,000 on average per month, while secondary schools teachers get about sh450,000. There are about 152,682 teachers on the Government payroll in primary and secondary schools. Rwabusaiija now wants the Government to respond immediately or they continue with their intended strike starting Wednesday next week. She told the committee that teachers in Kenya get Kenyan shillings 3500 and in Tanzania teachers, get over $200 US dollars and wonders why Ugandan teachers cannot be paid to the same.
fonte www.newvision.co.ug - Alfred Byenkya

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TOUR OPERATORS ASK FOR FUNCTIONAL TOURISM MINISTRY AND AGENCIES
22 july 2011

Tour operators have demanded to meet the tourism minister and the tourism committee of Parliament to discuss and devise solutions to the numerous challenges facing the sector.
Speaking in Kampala on Wednesday, Mr Amos Wekesa, the president of the Uganda Tourism Association, said among the key issues players want to discuss include having a functional tourism ministry and agencies. Tourism was allocated a full ministry, away from Trade but it’s yet to start executing its duties. Mr Wekesa also noted that players need to talk about having functional wildlife authority and tourism boards. “Uganda Wildlife Authority top board members are in acting capacities and can’t make major decisions on matters concerning the industry. This is massively impacting the sector” he said.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority is responsible for the conservation of wildlife while the Uganda Tourism Board is charged with marketing and promoting the country as a tourism destination. UWA board was disbanded last year to pave way for the Commission of Inquiry to investigate how the Shs85.5 billion ($38 million) in grant and loan money from the World Bank was spent by UWA in the Protected Areas Management for Sustainable Use wild life project.
Functional boards – Ms Connie Tumusiime, the managing director Acacia Safaris, however, urged the commission to expedite the investigation and institute a functional board that can ably deliberate on matters concerning the industry. Mr Wekesa further said that the prevailing conditions in the country started with the general elections to a series of civil strikes in past months have portrayed a negative image of the country, thus discouraging tourists.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug -Faridah Kulabako

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MESSA DI SUFFRAGIO STASERA IN RICORDO DI SILVIA OCHEN
22 luglio 2011

In ricordo di Silvia Auma Ochen, una messa di suffragio nella chiesa di Sona, questa sera alle 20.30. Silvia Auma Ochen, mediatrice interculturale dell’Ulss 22, è scomparsa ai primi di luglio in seguito ad un incidente stradale nella capitale ugandese. Silvia collaborava da più di 10 anni con il servizio stranieri dell’Azienda Ulss 22: coinvolta nel progetto fin dal suo avvio, ha contribuito in modo sostanziale a definire un modello ormai collaudato di mediazione.
Lavorava nelle scuole, affiancando gli alunni di recente immigrazione nel delicato momento del primo inserimento e accompagnava le famiglie nel dialogo con la scuola e i servizi territoriali. Accoglieva il venerdì mattina, allo sportello all’ingresso dell’ospedale Orlandi di Bussolengo, i cittadini dell’Africa anglofona, nigeriani e ghanesi soprattutto, orientandoli al corretto accesso ai servizi sanitari e ospedalieri. In collaborazione con l’associazione ‘Le Ninfee’ realizzava laboratori di animazione interculturale nelle scuole. Portava la sua testimonianza raccontando la vita dei bambini ugandesi e l’Africa, condividendo la sua esperienza di migrante e mediatrice.
Molti operatori, insegnanti, famiglie, bambini che hanno potuto incontrarla e apprezzarne la professionalità sentiranno la sua mancanza.
Quanti hanno lavorato con lei potranno fare tesoro della sua discrezione e riservatezza, del suo rispetto per il prossimo, della capacità di empatia e dell’umiltà che la caratterizzavano. Come desiderio della famiglia, il funerale è stato celebrato in Uganda. Ora la comunità si stringerà attorno al marito Luciano Tacconi e ai figli Francesco e Maria nel suo ricordo.
fonte www.larena.it

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SUGAR PRICES KEEP AN UPWARD TREND
23 july 2011

Sugar prices have risen steadily in the last few weeks with a kilogramme costing as high as Shs5,000 in most market locations. The increase comes on the back of a 50 per cent duty reduction on the commodity that was recently announced by the government during the 2011/12 budget reading.
The cut would mean that the Shs50 tax levy on the commodity would be less by Shs25 for every kilogramme consumed. The spike in prices is attributed to the closure of some manufacturing factories for maintenance routines, high fuel prices and the general increase in the cost of doing business. Recently retail price in and around Kampala rose to between Shs4,000 and Shs5,000 from Shs2,400 last month. However, prices are expected to come down as manufacturers resume operation. It is expected that within a month’s time, traders would have stopped the speculation thus prices falling.
During this time market supply would also have stabilised as the sector’s maintains production. Around the same period last year, when sugar manufacturers closed for annual maintenance, prices increased from Shs1,900 to about Shs2,300 for every kilogramme. However, even after resuming production of the commodity, prices only dropped by about Shs100, this is an indication that suggests that prices might not go back to their original but would be kept in the rage of Shs3,000.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug – Othman Semakula

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UGANDA FACES FOOD SHORTAGE MONDAY
25 july 2011

Research carried out by the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness which is yet to be announced has established that several parts of the country will experience severe food shortage between August and January when the next harvesting period will be.
The ministry experts have advised the Government to set aside a reasonable amount of money not less than sh10b to embark on a drive of stocking food for emergency relief. The Ministry of Disaster Preparedness is already undertaking measures to ensure that the Ministry of Fnance, Planning, and Economic Development allocates funds for feeding Ugandans. Already, the Karamoja region is experiencing food shortage with over 1,200,000 people facing starvation.
Households in the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of Amudat, Kaabong, Kotido, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Napak are likely to continue facing food shortages for the remaining months of the year requiring relief food support from the Government. The ministry had red-zoned 15 districts which are likely to experience food shortage that might lead to starvation and deaths of people if there are no relief interventions.
These vulnerable districts include Moroto, Napak, Kotido, Amudat, Kaabong, Nakapiripirit, Abim, Amuria, Katakwi, Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Moyo, Yumbe and Bulambuli. The disaster preparedness ministry has established that over 35 districts are likely to experience acute food shortages and these include Nebbi, Kyenjonjo, Amuru, Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Dokolo, Apac, Lira, Amolatar, Sironko, Kapchorwa, Isingiro, Tororo, Busia, Budaka , Butaleja, Palisa, Sembabule, Lyantonde, Nakaseke, Mubende, Kooki, Kabula, Luwero, Rakai, Nakasongola, Bugiri, Namutumba, Iganga, Kaliro, and Kamuli.
Districts that are likely to experience moderate food shortages include Kamwenge, Bushenyi, Hoima, Bulisa, Ibanda and Kiruhura. Food shortage in these areas is likely to be result of sudden shocks such as excessive sell of household stocks. The areas that will experience severe food shortage had seasons of poor rainfall, crop failure, and poor agricultural performance.
There are also areas that have not recovered from the impact of last season’s drought and areas that experienced crop destruction by hail and windstorms.
A prolonged dry spell is the other factor many areas of the country, especially those around the cattle corridor experienced.
If more focus is put on the northern Uganda region which unlike other parts of the country has been currently experiencing a rain season since May, more food can be produced to feed other parts of the country.
According to the meteorology department’s forecast for the period between June and August, the northern region is expected to continue receiving rainfall. “The northern region has a rain season which is different from other parts of the country. That region is right now having a rainfall season which is expected to go up until the end of the year. If measures are undertaken to ensure that there is increased food production in that area, the country will have enough food” said Deus Bamanya, the assistant commissioner for meteorology in-charge of data processing and analysis.
Bamanya said at the peak of the harvesting period in August, food supply will increase and the food prices are expected to go down. “The Ministry of Agriculture people should come out and sensitive Ugandans on food security. Let them use our weather forecast to advise Ugandans on what to grow where and the need for stocking food in other parts that will experience food shortage. The sensation should be done early enough before it is too late” Bamanya advised.
Meanwhile, experts have also warned that the long dry spell that has been experienced in the neighboring countries of Somalia, Kenya, Ethopia, and Sudan has created famine in those areas and they will all be running to Uganda to buy off the country’s food that will be realised from the August harvest. As part of the preventive measures, the Uganda government might have to emulate Kenya by stopping traders from taking food out of the country.
The spokesperson for the Uganda Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations, Rachael Nanderenga, said the situation is likely to be bad. “We have not yet done any survey except that we have done with government jointly on the Karamoja region. Since most parts of the country got adequate rainfall, there are high prospects for a good harvest in most parts of the country. But rains are not enough to guarantee food security. The high fuel prices are likely to lead to higher food prices than it would have been” Nanderenga argued.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture’s early warning department, Anunciata Hakuza, said they would carry out a thorough countrywide survey and produce report to guide the farmers. “We had not yet received funds from government to embark on research for our early warning reports. Probably in two weeks time we shall embark on that because the releases have started coming” said Hakuza.
fonte www.newvision.co.ug - Moses Mulondo

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DEMAND FOR SKILLED LABOUR ATTRACTS TECH UNIVERSITY
25 july 2011

Demand for skilled human resources in Uganda continues to be a major issue for organisations to deal with. Calls to enhance capacity have been partly answered to through plans for the construct of an ultra-modern technical university.
The university, aimed at enhancing the government policy of teaching science subjects and promoting practical skills among employees, is a brain child of a local education charity, Kariisa Foundation, officials said on July 13. The university in Ntungamo District, will target students from western districts and neighboring countries mainly to produce technically skilled personnel.
“Start of the construction will depend on how soon the project will be approved. We have support both locally and internationally to put up a skills development facility” said Mr Hamidu Kariisa, an Executive Member of the foundation said during a meeting in Kampala.
Mr Kariisa explained that the university is aimed at enhancing the government’s efforts to improve and develop human resources through training job creators rather than seekers. “We have a plan to cost us about $1million (approximately Shs2.5b) to construct laboratories and workshops as well as lecture theatres on a 16 acre piece of land. Our target is the increasing number of students who complete advanced secondary level but cannot afford universities in Kampala” Mr Kariisa said.
According to the expenditure performance for the financial year 2010/11, nine traditional secondary schools received fully quipped ICT laboratories to promote science and technology in schools. Funds have been provided by the government to equip technical institutions and about 10,000 youths, country-wide, were trained in various non-formal modularised courses for self-employment.
Mr Kariisa said the move is aimed at addressing the challenge of rising unemployment. It is estimated that the current job market can only absorb 20 percent of the youth. “Much as the youth are highly adaptable and only require attitudinal transformation, with technical and business management skills attained, that part of the population will fit into the existing job market and create avenues for generating their own small scale enterprises” said Mr Kariisa.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug -Ephraim Kasozi

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SHILLING IS THIRD WORST PERFORMING CURRENCY
25 july 2011

The Uganda Shilling is one of the world’s worst-performing currencies, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, a news agency. The local unit is in third position coming after the Suriname dollar and the Maldives rufiyaa.
Since January the Shilling has depreciated by about 12 per cent touching an all-time low of Shs2,700 in more than a decade. The unit was by close of last week set for a weekly decline against the dollar amid increased demand for the greenback from local domestic banks. It fell by 0.6 per cent to Shs2,600 per dollar bringing its decline so far this week to 1.9 per cent, according to Bloomberg’s data. Last week it closed at Shs2,585.
A local foreign exchange dealer, Mr Benon Okwenje, said last week: “The Shilling weakened slightly because of demand in the interbank market.” However, the local unit has also seen pressure from both corporate demand and the manufacturing sector. Businesses are pensive about the local unit’s trend, thus have been forced to increase stock capacity fearing for the worst.
The Shilling has since the beginning of this year heavily depreciated against major currencies on the back of rising inflation, high fuel prices, power outages and international market volatilities. In May, inflation rose to 16.1 per cent – a 17-year high, before slowing to 15.8 per cent in June. However, the central bank has stepped up measures that aim to stabilize the unit.
Apart from a regular market interventions, the central bank recently increased interbank interest rates from 11 per cent to 13 per cent. The move is part of the lager plan that seeks to mop up excess liquidity from the money market so as to curb the runaway inflation.
The government is also optimistic that the Shilling will soon be lifted as the petrol dollars begin to flow in. Uganda has an estimated 2.5 billion barrels of oil, with about 1 billion in proven reserves, according to Tullow. It is expected that by 2012 the country would have started pumping oil for commercial purposes.
fonte www.monitor.co.ug - Othman Semakula & Agencies

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FIRMS RAISE PRODUCT PRICES, CUT JOBS TO STAY IN BUSINESS
25 july 2011

Manufacturers and service providers are taking extreme measures as they seek continued business operation, amid worsening economic conditions. The measures that have been adapted to cut costs include; raising product prices, cutting jobs, reduction on noncommercial costs and a cut in product quantity.
This comes at a time when Uganda is facing an unending fuel crisis, skyrocketing inflation, heavy depreciation of the Shilling and continued power outages. A survey conducted by Daily Monitor among business leaders, indicates that the situation is indeed dire.
Counting loses – Last week, Mr Dawuda Viney, the managing director of Britannia Industries, told Daily Monitor that if the government does not intervene when it is still early, it will count heavy losses in the long run. “There is a drop in market demand. This is forcing us to have intervals of plant shut down since we can’t continue to produce goods that will just stay on the shelves” Mr Viney said. He said the increasing fuel prices and power outages have shot their budget by about Shs60 million on a daily basis as the firm seeks to keep their plants running on generators. Mr Josephat Ochieng, the Monitor Publications chief accountant, said last week that the power outages are costing the company heavily, which has almost tripled its expenditure on power. “We use generators, which are very expensive to maintain thus heavily affecting our budget, operations and cash flow” he said.
Weak Shilling - Mr Ochieng added that the depreciating Shilling is another burden to the business since most of the firm’s production inputs are dollar denominated. For instance a 500 kilogramme newsprint that used to cost about Shs1.4 million in January has increased by over Shs144,000. Currently it costs Shs1.54 million.
The price of the newsprint is dollar denominated and has since January been selling at $600, but, the weak local unit, forces firms to spend more Shillings while buying dollars for imported commodities. However, Mr Elliot Mwebya, the Bank of Uganda head of communications, assured businessmen that the central bank is doing all it can to stabilise the Shilling which he says has been the root cause of most problems. “The central bank has put up structures to help improve the performance of the local unit, which we believe will calm the tension.”
fonte www.monitor.co.ug -Nicholus Kalungi & Jacinta Odongo

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UGANDA, L’INFORMATICA CONTRO ASSENTEISMO A SCUOLA
26 luglio 2011

Tempi duri per gli assenteisti – insegnanti e allievi – delle scuole ugandesi. Gli istituti scolastici di 20 province del Paese sono stati, infatti, dotati di un software che giornalmente rileva le assenze ingiustificate e immette i dati direttamente nel Sistema informativo nazionale del ministero dell’Istruzione. Questi potrà cosi’ intervenire quasi in tempo reale, disponendo le opportune sanzioni contro coloro che si sottraggono all’obbligo della frequenza.
Il presidente della società di informatica che ha installato il dispositivo, James Curry, ha assicurato che “una squadra speciale di tecnici controllerà regolarmente le apparecchiature telematiche per assicurarsi del loro corretto funzionamento“.
L’uso della nuova tecnologia è stato accolto con soddisfazione dai funzionari ministeriali, spesso accusati di rari e inefficaci controlli sull’effettiva frequenza di docenti e scolari.
fonte www.agi.it

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UGANDA, SARA’ AMMODERNATO GRANDE OSPEDALE DI KAMPALA
28 luglio 2011

La Banca africana per lo Sviluppo (AfDB) ha erogato all’Uganda un prestito per un valore complessivo di 463 milioni di dollari, da destinare allo sviluppo dei settori sanitario, idrico e delle infrastrutture.
In un intervento a una cerimonia pubblica, il rappresentante dell’AfDB a Kampala, Patrick Simiyu Khaemba, ha detto che i fondi “serviranno al finanziamento, nel prossimo triennio, di settori cruciali per l’economia” di questo Paese dell’Africa orientale.
Tra i progetti in programma, l’ammodernamento dei centri sanitari di Kawempe e Kirundu e del più grande ospedale del Paese, situato nella parte settentrionale della capitale Kampala.
fonte www.agi.it

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ETIOPIA-UGANDA, PIU’ STRETTA COOPERAZIONE BILATERALE
28 luglio 2011

Etiopia e Uganda hanno deciso di rafforzare le relazioni bilaterali e di condurre congiuntamente “una serie di azioni a favore della pace e della sicurezza nella regione, in particolare in Somalia, e di combattere il terrorismo“.
In un comunicato diffuso al termine di un incontro, svoltosi a Kampala, tra il Vice primo ministro e ministro degli Esteri etiopico, Hailemariam Desalegn, e il ministro degli Esteri ugandese, Sam Kutesa, si rileva che “la decisione di rafforzare la cooperazione bilaterale nei settori di politica, economia e sicurezza, è una conseguenza della consapevolezza della gravità della situazione in Somalia, in particolare l’attività dei gruppi armati degli Shabaab“.
fonte www.agi.it

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TURISMO IN AFRICA CRESCIUTO DEL 6% NEL 2010
28 luglio 2011

Nel 2010 il turismo africano è cresciuto del 6 per cento rispetto all’anno precedente, toccando il traguardo, importante anche psicologicamente, dei 50 milioni di presenze. Lo ha reso noto a Dakar il Commissario alla Gestione di territorio, trasporti e turismo dell’Unione economica e monetaria dell’Africa occidentale (Uemoa), Ibrahim Tampone’.
Intervenendo a un convegno dedicato all’attuazione del Programma regionale per lo Sviluppo del turismo, Tampone’ ha detto che l’Africa “l’anno scorso ha beneficiato, tra l’altro, anche delle ricadute dei Mondiali di Calcio in Sud Africa“.
Al convegno ha partecipato oltre una trentina di esperti e dirigenti della Federazione delle organizzazioni di albergatori e operatori del turismo dell’Area Uemoa.
fonte www.agi.it

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Cambio valuta: in data 29/07/2011 1 dollaro USA è pari a 2606,5 scellini ugandesi, 1 Euro è pari a 3724,8166 scellini ugandesi

UgandAbout è un servizio dell’Associazione Italia Uganda Onlus a cura di Simona Meneghelli

Tag:Africa, AIDS, etiopia, food prices, HIV, inflation, Kampala, Kizza Besigye, LRA, maize, Museveni, neurosurgery, Silvia Ochen, sugar, tourism, turismo, Uganda, university, vocational training, Walk to Work

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