Uganda: Ministry of Health – Update on the COVID-19 Outbreak in Uganda (18.05.2020)

Opinion: UGX 10k donation drive from COVID-19 Fund is just distasteful…

In a Republic, where the Members of Parliament just delivered 20 million shillings either to pet projects in their communities or directly back to the state. In the same Republic, where the MPs got 40 million shillings to vote in favour of praising the President. The COVID-19 Fund is asking all employees to contribute 10,000 shillings to the COVID-19. These are ordinary working folk, the ones who cannot even touch the NSSF Fund and get payback on their contributions there for their retirement. As in the time of need and during lockdown, the workers have been stifled and eaten beans.

Therefore, its mighty rich of the COVID-19 to ask the Chief Executives to stifle the workers and give them less salary so they can over the COVID-19 Fund. Just as the State is getting loans and grants from everywhere. From the World Bank, from the IMF and elsewhere. There is piling in money to cover the costs of the pandemic. Surely, this money will got 4W Drive SUVs for RDCs and High Ranking Officials. Not like this money will go to PPE, Nurses Salaries or anything substantial in the midst of a global pandemic.

So, its really disgraceful and distasteful to do this. To send a letter asking the Chief Executive to shave off salaries of the workers. Who has already struggled and need every shilling for their day to day expenses. Let’s be clear, let the wealthy, the factory owners, the foreign investors and the State House pay-off this. Lets use the Confidential Expenditure to cover the COVID-19 Fund. Instead of spending on side-dishes, ammunition and whatnot.

The COVID-19 Fund should appeal to the President and the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Economic Development (MoPFED). Not ask for donations from the average workers. That is like a volunteer tax. The state either taxes it directly or they get wealthy donations to the COVID-19. However, when the MPs and other state officials are eating large.

This sort of enterprise is insincere and disingenuous. Yes, the COVID-19 Fund is meant well, but what its asking for and the way they do it isn’t it. The state who has begged international donors to save its budget. Should use that to salvage this fund, not ask workers who couldn’t get monetary help during the lockdown. That is not right, but just deceitful. Peace.

Uganda Media Centre: Process to Repartriate Ugandans Stranded Abroad due to COVID-19 (15.05.2020)

Opinion: 3 VIPs get special treatment

There been leaked a two letters exposing that three persons are allowed to enter the Republic and get quarantined after entering the Republic. First Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa wrote to Ethiopian Airlines on the 13th May 2020. On the 14th May 2020 the follow up letter from Director General of Health Services Dr. Henry G. Mwebesa to Minister Beti Kamya.

Both this letters shows that three persons are getting Very-Important-Person treatment. This the ones that getting bottle-service both in Church and in the Club. These are the sort of people that should be in the midst of the Presidential Convoy. They should be so unique, that next line of currency coming up. Their mugshots should be on it.

Since, they can consistently enter the Republic in the midst of the worldwide pandemic. They get the use of the state from all parts of it apparently. Soon, they might be greeted by Vice-President Edward Ssekandi on arrival with the Ethiopian Airlines.

I don’t these people are front-line workers. Neither do I think this needed services of the state. This is the same state that has blocked Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine to get Ugandan citizens home from China. However, that hasn’t been a priority, even with the outcries and open racism towards African Nationals in China.

Still, these people are left behind. Being students and foreign workers of Ugandan citizens. Whose stuck there and not helped to return home. Nevertheless, these VIPs get the full-house and get paid-in-full.

The sort of suction they have and ability shows their of a certain stature. They are eating of the plates of Kings. Since, they can get Foreign Minister Kutesa to move, and also get the Director General of Health Services Mwebesa to move.

There are clearly some people who doesn’t need to adhere to Presidential Directives and who has the back of the state. These three are clearly those, who apparently, doesn’t need to adhere or act like the rest. They can live lavish, travel as they please and get the high ranking officials to vouch for their actions. While other people are lingering abroad… and has no shot of getting home in the midst of this pandemic. Which is so rich, ironically.

So, let me stop there, before I repeat myself to much and that’s give the me the jitters. So, with that in mind. Peace.

Today it’s Zaake, tomorrow it could be you…

Let’s be clear, when the authorities can torture, detain and charge someone as easy as they did with a Member of Parliament. Than you know, that they can touch anyone for no apparent reason. They will make up one after the fact and try to defend their actions. If not, they will blame the person they tortured and left behind to rot in his home after blatant impunity towards him.

We know why Francis Zaake MP was targeted. His an direct opposition MP and a voice of reason. He directly enforced local food distribution from his home in the midst of a pandemic and a lockdown. While NRM MPs has done it with flash and fury, they have been in the middle of it and even commercialized their donations in their respective districts. While they are taking the bashing sun and the PR. Zaake was being tortured, detained and in legal jeopardy. That shows how unfair and unreasonable, there is no common sense in this Republic.

Zaake was an easy target. His been there before. He has gotten tortured, arrested and had to become a medical tourist to India to heal his wounds. Therefore, this man knows the drill and knows what capacities the state has. He knows the risk of standing out and being obliged to stand-up to the regime. Still, with that knowledge he still does it. That’s the sort of character Zaake has.

But… you should know. Right now it was him. Next up could be anyone daring to question or challenge the high above.

If someone dares to push the envelope. Dares to insult the intelligence of the State House and the Presidential directives. If not, if a person really undermines and makes it look like dumb fools. You can be captured, taken away and intimidated. There will no line they will not cross to stop you. You are neither the first nor the last.

These people don’t care. If you think your voice is unique, special or even worth it. Know that without any warning, the CMI, ISO or UPF could suddenly knock on your door. You could end up in one of them ungazetted “safe-houses” and be there for days. Especially, if your some small-time activists and organizer. You could be gone for long. Nevertheless, they will not stop with that.

The big-men and leaders like Zaake ends up in SIU Kireka, Nalufenya or something alike. While a small-timer will end in a safe-houses without any blinking lights or warrants. They are just cast-a-ways for the authorities.

There will be more cases. Suddenly someone goes missing. Suddenly, somebody whose an activists or part of the opposition. Will not be found for while or known knowledge of their current location. People will wonder and speculate. The authorities will play dumbfounded and disingenuous about it.

Don’t be shocked, expect more of it. Especially ahead of the elections. During last campaign season, lots of youth leaders, activists and people in connection with FDC’s Moses Byamugisha suddenly was arrested and detained for longer time than constitutionally correct. So, expect this and be sure.

The ones pointing at the Leopards Anus will be burnt, it is just a question of how and when. Peace.

A look into the Parliament Report from the Sub-Committee on Health on COVID-19!

Today the Parliament dropped the “INTERIM REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SUB-COMMITTEE ON HEALTH ON COVID-l9” . This is interesting that it comes now. As there are MPs whose busy praising the President and his work on it. While this interim report says a lot about what is lacking. The Report is only 14 pages, so its not a deep dive, but a small fragments of what is out there. This gives an indication of how it really is.

PPE:

Whereas personal protective equipment is the only guarantee for health workers and security personnel’s protection against viral transmission, there is acute shortage of masks, hand gloves, foot ware, disposable aprons, disinfectants and sanitizers across the board. In some facilities, health workers buy their own items for example at Kawempe National Referral Hospital. At Masaka Regional Referral Hospital which has five (5) COVID-l9 cases was supplied with only two (2) pieces of N-95 masks, Bwera Hospital has never received any supplies while in some facilities, health workers improvise through recycling of masks for days as supplies have not been received” (Interim Report, P1-2, 12.05.2020).

So, when the public, MPs and others praise the President and his team for the response to how they handled the COVID-19 pandemic and the needs. This here is showing how the Parliament could easily see that the Ministry of Health and the Hospitals doesn’t have enough PPE. Which is needed to secure the health-care workers and patients. That says a lot about how the state has dealt with this. Because, this should be one of the first priorities to secure the front-liners in the battle.

Quarantine Centres:

All districts visited have established quarantine centres which are mainly in schools” (…) “The centres lack water, mattresses, access to sanitary facilities and people in quarantine centres buy their own food. None of the quarantine centres had received any material or financial support from the centre” (Interim Report, P: 2, 12.05.2020).

It’s good that the districts has made quarantine centres. This is good work by the state and in such a haste. While, they should have provided food, water and sanitation for the ones quarantined. That should be essential to ensure the food safety and proper shelter, as they are not allowed to leave the premises and not spread the virus. Therefore, its a lack financial support is dire and should be a priority, Unless, they want to risk these people to breach the quarantine to buy matooke, posho and beans. Then, its sort of pointless!

On testing:

A11 facilities visited had systems in place to screen people. However, most facilities lacked the equipment such as temperatures guns” (…) “Testing Kits are also in short supply and transportation of the samples is a challenge. There have been efforts to trace the contacts however, full contact tracing is difficult to achieve” (Interim Report, P: 3, 12.05.2020).

This here is the key to understand how the spread is moving. When you struggle with testing. You struggle with the basics. This is not a unique issue, even the United Kingdom and United States struggles with this. Therefore, Uganda isn’t alone, but its a worry that its like this. When this is the key to figure out how rampant it is and where the virus has been spread. This should be the thing that opens the door and secure society. As the Ministry of Health would have an understanding of how grand scale the testing is and what scope it has. As there is questions about how big of a scope the state has done, when they struggle to have enough testing kits and transport it.

Human Resource:

Much as Ministry of Health was given money to recruit staff, save for Jinja and Mbale RRHs, the recruited staff are not yet deployed meaning that the existing staff is stretched. Most facilities have re-deployed staff from different departments of their units to specifically manage COVID -19 in some health facilities” (…) “Despite Parliament approving UGX 80,000 per person per day as risk allowance, most Health Workers and security personnel at the forefront of handling COVID-19 related issues have not received their allowances to date” (Interim Report, P: 3-4, 12.05.2020).

Again, the state haven’t done what they need to do to recruit needed staff to run sufficiently. Both the Health Care Centres and Hospitals need help from the Ministry to do this. Instead, they have the staff stretched and that will weaken the performance. This combined with the other reports shows the lack of work put into it.

I just looked at the issues directly hitting the Ministry of Health, the front-liners and the ones who has the challenge directly. I have not looked into the financial part of it. As that has been discussed elsewhere and this seems more as a priority. While the accountability and transparency is important. That is why the state should be transparent, but don’t expect that. As there is a wastage of funds and suddenly it disappears. That always happens… Just await another tender scandal in the making soon.

Therefore, this is enough for now. The report states the needs for a more thorough plan, more focus on details, procurement and securing the ones in need. Because, this hurts the whole system and only showing the weaknesses, which are there. Peace.

Opinion: 5 Hungry MPs Making a Praising Motion to the Fountain of Honour!

There is a motion made by Bonny Desales Okello MP, second by Veronica Bichetero Eragu Isala MP, Jacob Markson Oboth MP, Simon Oyet MP and Keefa Kiwanuka MP. All of this from various of parties has decided to praise the old man with the hat. They know doing this is showing him a favour. A proof that the micro-managing and sudden directions on a whim is a good thing now. At least in their eyes.

It is hard to phantom where we are at this time. That these people are actually using their time in office. Praising the wastage of the COVID-19 Fund, the billions in Classified Expenditure, the questionable tenders for the COVID-19 Fund and every little regulation put hasn’t really been accounted for. Because, there is very little legislation and also just the voting on the budget for COVID-19. So, it’s hard to see much to praise, unless you loves the directions made after the 2 hour speeches on live television. Maybe they enjoy the old man on NBS Television or on NTV. Even they are the few who actually looks at UBC, when they are not eating samosas at the local restaurant.

Well, they named the motion this: “ MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT PAYING TRIBUTE TO H.E THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA FOR HIS CONTINUING EXEMPLARY AND INSIGHTFUL LEADERSHIP DURING THE COVID.l9 PANDEMIC IN UGANDA” (Okello, 12.05.2020).

So, they are really willingly to praise the man for his “insightful leadership”, a leadership where they had to react to this decrees on TV and suddenly ensure the drivers with correct stickers. Where the same President had to ensure the powers of the RDCs and elsewhere, as they couldn’t manage all the calls to be allowed to drive their cars. Thirdly, the exemplary acts of begging for cars maybe?

Or was it greatness when he wanted to pay for a goat, that his convoy knocked down?

I really don’t get it, maybe I am foolish like that. However, I haven’t seen exemplary acts by the President. He did the right thing to ensure a lockdown. He was slow with ensuring food for poor and the ones living day-to-day. He was slow enforcing security for the tenants, who cannot manage pay, because they are not able to pay rent at this given time. Also, the sudden announcements of extensions, people are grasping at the screen awaiting to see if he says it or not.

APPRECIATING THAT the exemplary leadership of H.E the President has seen Uganda become a beacon of hope in the fight against Covid-19 and other deadly viruses and has mitigated the social and economic effects of the virus on Uganda compared to other countries which have all reported far worse Covid-l9 statistics, including infections and deaths compared to Uganda” (Okello, 12.05.2020).

Yes, he acted upon it, by using more funds and even pushing to use it for pet-projects. That is why the President is great. He is saved by International Monetary Fund and their efforts to mitigate the economies. It is not that President Museveni found new ways of revenue or streams to boost the economy directly. No, his taking up new loans to beat the invisible virus. A virus he has not doing big testing off. The extension is that Uganda cannot know how many cases there is out there. Since, they are testing the borders, they have gone after people coming into the country from abroad since April, but they are not testing big locally. Even if there is cases and even barracks. Where there been found cases and they got quarantined. Therefore, there are bottlenecks and uncertainty.

Yes, the numbers are small of cases. Also, very little testing, unless your a truck-driver passing through one of the entry points of Uganda. That is why these MPs see the need to do this:

NOW, THEREFORE, this House unanimously:

1. pays tribute to H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his exemplary, visionary, insightful and decisive leadership during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Uganda;

2. Expresses its appreciation to Parliament, the National and District Taskforces on the COVID-19 pandemic, Ministry of Health, scientists, security for their tireless efforts in working towards protecting Ugandans;

3. Recognizes the adherence of Ugandans and the private sector to His Excellency the Presidents guidelines to combat the COVID-l9 pandemic;

4. Recognizes the tremendous response by Ugandans and the business community to His Excellency the Presidents call for contributions towards the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic” (Okello, 12.05.2020).

So, these 5 MPs want to pay tribute in the House. A House he uses to rubber-stamp his endeavours. It’s like they want to sing songs for him. They want to serenade him and smooth him for his work. Seems like they want to give him glory and give him worship. Surely, ahead of elections to secure the bag.

Because this man knows they are useful to him. He will ensure their future, they will not have to worry. Since, they shown him the ultimate loyalty of singing praise. Even where there is little to praise about. Peace.

Uganda Police Force: Joint Task Force refutes claims of torture by Hon. MP (08.05.2020)

Opinion: UPF blames Zaake for the torture, how convenient right?

Today, Police Spokesperson went in-front of the Press blaming Member of Parliament Francis Zaake is indirectly to blame for the torture he had while he was arrested. They are blaming him for previous things too. Just piling on blame on the man that couldn’t at one point open up his eyes and who had blunt-forced trauma. That was stated by one doctor during last month.

Therefore, rich of the Uganda Police Force to pin everything on Zaake. Like its his fault he cannot open up his eyes or chemical conjunctivitis and got blunt-forced trauma. It is really rare that a person get both of these illnesses on his own.

Especially, when the Police Force states this:

We would like to strongly dismiss these allegations as false and misleading. And the reason we are responding is to counter the sophisticated propaganda aimed at negatively portraying security forces as brutal and further tarnish the image of Uganda as a country. Investigations into his allegations have shown the following” (UPF, 08.05.2020).

In this regard, the image of the security forces is already breached abroad, by also knowing the European man lingering in Luzira and dying in Court yesterday, while fighting skin-cancer. This is the sort of action the security forces of Uganda does. Zaake is just your own and you trying to dismiss your actions towards people.

Allegations are true, the Hospital would make up what sort of illness he had and that they wanted to transfer him to another hospital. You instead moved him from Courts to Courts and dropped him off in SIU Kireka. Instead of giving him treatment for the illness he got by being with the Police Officers. He didn’t catch this at home giving food to boda-boda’s, but by the actions made by the Police Force.

The statement from the UPF ends with this:

Although the specific allegations of torture in his affidavit are not consistent with the physical evidence gathered thus far, the Leadership of the Joint Security agencies remain committed to protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Ugandans as guaranteed in the Constitution. We remain confident that once the facts gathered are presented before the Civil Court, our officers will be considered to have carried out their duties in accordance with the law.” (UPF, 08.05.2020).

Well, about evidence, do you have anything on Ziggy Wine or MP Ibrahim Abiriga? Is there anything in the works on the other weird deaths in the recent years, whose not solved or resolved? Just a bunch of cold-cases in the freezer and nothing happening, because when they are dead. The people will not cry and the families will not speak out either, because they don’t want to die as well.

So, in this regard, what about Bobi Wine’s fake arms in Arua? Is this the same sort of collected evidence, since your disregarding the findings of the doctor in your statement and politicising the arrest itself.

It is funny talking about the Constitution and the Courts, when the Police Force keeps people arrested without producing them in Courts with time. Neither warrants nor Court Orders to arrest them. They can just be pick people up and make-up charges later. Then, the family members or trusted people can pay bonds a few days later. This has happen so many times, that I cannot even count. So, don’t use the 1995 Constitution, when you use the Penal Code like a man-whore dipping into every ocean you can and hope you don’t catch an STDs.

So, in this regard, the UPF cannot play this one out. The documents from Iran-Uganda Hospital is clear. It’s not like hospital would make up illnesses and ask for him to be transferred elsewhere for treatment. Not for more days in custody of the coppers. Let’s be clear about that.

This was just so convenient …. so easy access and you could blame Zaake. His the bastard, the arrogant ass-hole and a man who should know his place. He shouldn’t even do anything, but a be silent as a grave. However, that is not the man Zaake is. What he has done again is to show the real side of UPF. He has shown your actions towards your own citizens and that has made headlines abroad. Because it is special, that you does this to representative of the Parliament. That is rich. Really Richie Rich. Peace.

Uganda: Amelia Kyambadde statement on the new guidelines during the lockdown (05.05.2020)