Health experts in the Ankole sub-region have asked the government to prioritize malaria prevention alongside curative measures in the fight against malaria in the region.
The call follows concerns over a surge in malaria cases in several districts in the region amidst persistent drug stock outs in most parts of the country.
The Board Chairperson National Drug Authority (NDA), Dr.Medard Bitekyerezo who said prevention against malaria will minimize malaria cases also attributed the malaria up surge to self-medication of people.
Bitekyerezo noted that this cripples the fight against malaria despite efforts by the ministry of health to have zero malaria cases.
He further appealed to the general public to sleep under treated mosquito nets.
Authorities in Ibanda district have called upon local leaders to join the campaign to increase awareness about the dangers of self-medication and the need for clean environments.
Speaking to journalists, Dr Julius Bamwine, the District Health Officer revealed that there has been a registered surge in Malaria cases in the district.
Dr Bamwine noted that Ishongororo town council, Kicuzi and Keihangara sub-counties as well as Bisheshe Division in Ibanda Municipality are the areas with the highest number of malaria cases in the district.
According the DHO, the other areas with high malaria burden are Bufunda and Kagongo divisions, as well as Ishongororo and Rukiri sub-counties, among others.
The DHO attributed the increase partly to the fact that many people don’t want to use treated mosquito nets, while others use ineffective mosquito nets.
Mother and her baby sleeping under a mosquito net (FILE/COURTESY PHOTO)
Dr Bamwine further said that many people also live in dirty environments surrounded by garbage, bushes and stagnant waters.
“These provide perfect breeding places for the mosquitoes,” said Dr Bamwine in an interview.
The DHO urged local leaders to always encourage residents to use treated mosquito nets and clear bushes and stagnant water in their neighbourhoods as preventative measures.
Dr Bamwine said 24 people succumbed to malaria last year, higher than the previous year.
Meanwhile, the district has not received drugs and other supplies from National Medical Stores (NMS) for about four months now, which has affected the fight against sicknesses like malaria, said Bamwine.
He however advised residents to avoid self-treatment and always visit health centres for proper disease diagnosis and management.
The Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, Bishop Johnson Twinomujuni has challenged Sacco management to employ technical and competent staff for the safety of the member’s savings.
Speaking at the 17th annual general meeting held at Tuzza hotel in Bushenyi town, Bishop Twinomujuni who doubles as patron for Jubilee Sacco West Ankole noted that several people are willing to join Saccos, but don’t want to risk because they think their funds may not be safe.
Some of the members who performed well during the course of the year receiving gifts prepared by the Sacco.
The Bishop hailed board members of Jubilee Sacco and their staff for good work which has led them to improve on performance regardless of post-COVID-19 challenges.
Jonas Tumwine, the chairman board Jubilee Sacco revealed that in the year 2022, the Sacco has made over UGX 480million in profits and increased membership from 2,015 in 2021 to 2,867 members in 2022 making it a total of 11,003 general members.
Tumwine urged the management to strengthen mobilization to increase membership which will in turn increase share capital in the Sacco and meet the targets.
Kenneth Matsiko, the general manager Jubilee Sacco attributed the achievements to cooperation among members, staff and the board saying this year, the Sacco has progressively improved compared to last year.
Residents of Nsiika and Kahiihi cells in Nsiika Parish, Mbarara district have embarked on working on their own road that is in a very sorry state.
Residents say the Ruhumba-Bwengure road connecting Rubindi-Ruhumba town council which they use to transport their agricultural produce to market is in a sorry state that’s why they decided to do communal work as they wait for the government.
Loydah Twinomujuni, the district lady councilor for Rubaya sub-county who contributed trips of murram to work on the road, speaking to journalists during communal work.
Loydah Twinomujuni, the district lady councilor representing Rubaya sub-county revealed that she received a call from the chairperson LC III for Kagongi sub-county asking for the contribution to work on the road and she decided to contribute trips of murram to work on the road.
Residents who blame the government for neglecting them have also called upon their leaders to work on the other roads that are in poor state.
Loyce Mpumwire, the district lady councilor representing Kagongi sub-country noted that they are still waiting for funds from the government but as of now they have collaborated with other leaders who extended the helping hand.
The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Betty Kamya has warned Saccos against using COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to mismanage the people’s money.
Kamya made these remarks on Saturday while officiating the annual general meeting of Butuuro financial services held at the college view, Nyakabirizi division, Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality.
Mary Karoro Okurut, the senior Presidential advisor on media(left) and the IGG Betty Kamya(right) during the AGM of Butuuro financial Serviceson Saturday.
Kamya noted that Saccos are now attributing their poor performance to challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic yet all financial activities continued.
She hailed Butuuro management for working tirelessly to ensure safety of people’s money and making profit regardless of the COVID-19 challenges.
Derrick Kabuura, the Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality Member of Parliament urged members to always borrow money and invest into productive ventures.
Mary Karoro Okurut, the senior Presidential advisor on media asked members to stop the vice of despise the small beginnings calling upon people to utilize PDM money because Butuuro founders used to UGX 1m to establish the multi-billion institutions.
Peter Tumuhimbise, the general manager Butuuro financial services said that the institution in moving forward and soon will be recognized as Micro-deposit Institution.
The Minister of education and sports and the first lady, Janet Kataaha Museveni has challenged Universities to intensify research in order to solve community problems.
In her Speech at the 18th Graduation ceremony of Bishop Stuart University read by Minister of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance Chris Baryomunsi, the first lady said, problem based research will distinguish Universities from other educational institutions and this will contribute to transformation of the society.
Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance Commissioning the Science Research and Laboratories at Bishop Stuart University.
Meanwhile, in his own remarks, Baryomunsi challenged graduands to uphold the value of this country and be at forefront of fighting homosexuality noting that most of the people involved in this act do so because of economic reasons adding that the government will not be intimidated by any form of threats.
His remarks were prompted by the words of the Chancellor Rt Rev Bishop Sheldon Mwesigwa who applauded the parliament for passing anti-Homosexuality bill last week.
On this graduation ceremony, a total of 1661 students graduated with different honors in various disciplines with 918 being males and 743 being females.
Five hundred freehold land titles have been handed over to residents of Sanga town council and Kanyaryeru sub-county in Nyabushozi county, Kiruhura district.
Wilson Kajwengye, the Nyabushozi county Member of Parliament said the land titles were freely processed by the government under Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Development Program (CEDP) in the ministry of lands housing and urban development.
Residents receive their freehold land titles at Kanyaryeru sub-county offices in Nyabushozi, Kiruhura district on Thursday.
While handing over one hundred titles at Sanga town council offices and four hundred at Kanyaryeru sub county offices in Nyabushozi, Kiruhura district, Kajwengye appealed to the beneficiaries to guard their land titles jealousy and keep them safely.
Kajwengye told the beneficiaries that they should never give out these land titles to money lenders for mortgage to get peanuts but aim at getting loans from trustworthy financial institutions for economic development and transformation.
Kajwengye appreciated officials from the ministry of lands, housing and urban development for coming to sub-counties and delivering the land titles to the beneficiaries.
Following the outbreak of Marburg fever in Bukoba district, Kagera region, north western Tanzania, few kilometers away from Uganda –Tanzania Border, members of the public have been called upon to remain vigilant.
The Isingiro District LC V chairperson, Aaron Turahi confirmed that one person was on Friday Isolated from public and is now being monitored from Rubondo HC III after showing signs and symptoms similar to those of Marburg Fever.
Turahi urged people of Isingiro to remain vigilant and report any suspected case to Health Authorities than keeping quiet.
The Ibanda District Health Officer, Dr Julius Bamwine intimated to our reporter that the disease is viral hemorrhagic fever hence urged people of Ibanda to remain observant since Isingiro District is not far from Ibanda.
According to Dr Bamwine, in 2012, the Marburg fever claimed 37 lives in Ibanda District and this has forced them to have a strong surveillance team in place immediately before the outbreak.
Uganda’s ministry of health has also ordered screening and testing at its southern border following an outbreak of Marburg virus that has since killed five people in Tanzania.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a highly fatal, zoonotic haemorrhagic disease caused by the Marburg virus.
WHO explains that Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids from infected persons, or contact with equipment and other materials contaminated with infectious blood or tissues, body fluids of infected people, and contaminated surfaces or materials.
Mbarara City Council leaders have expressed disappointment of failure of the contractors to meet the deadline to complete the construction of three city roads.
In May 2021, Multiplex Limited and Ditaco International Trade were awarded a joint contract to construct three roads in the city under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development-USMID.
The roads include; Major Victor Bwana measuring 0.95 km, Galt Road measuring 0.65KM and Stanley Road measuring 0.78 km in Mbarara City all at the cost of UGX 23 billion.
The road construction which was supposed to end in April 2022, was extended three times but still it’s not yet completed.
Mbarara City Mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi said that much as they are waiting for Parliament to approve a supplementary budget of UGX 20 billion, the contractor may not beat the deadline to complete the works.
The Mbarara City Clerk, Assy Abireebe Tumwesigye noted that the contractor stands to be fined UGX 2.3 billion if he fails to meet the deadline because the city council has fulfilled all its obligations in the project.
Efforts to contact Isaac Kalule, the Multiplex Limited head engineer were futile as he did not answer our reporter’s calls.
Pentecostal church leaders in Mbarara city have applauded the parliament of Uganda for passing the anti-homosexuality bill.
Bishop Nassan Ibrahim Turyamureeba of Daystar cathedral ministries revealed that he is happy with the parliament for vehemently passing the bill adding that Uganda will never stand on homosexuality because God created man and woman.
Bishop Nassan appealed to the teachers to come out and do their job openly, perfectly and fight all evil acts concerning homosexuality and never accept any form of financial support that manipulates sexual orientation.
Pastor Katambara Abel of Kiswahili Full Gospel Church requested the government to provide the spiritual church leaders with free airtime on radios and television stations to mobilize and sensitize the public against evil acts and behaviours associated with homosexuality.
Pastor Edith Kyambade of Mbarara Christian Fellowship Church also appreciated the members of parliament for passing the bill and asked the president to assent to it as soon as possible.
Pastor Willy Tumwine of Holy Spirit Fire Church Mbarara says as Pentecostal spiritual church leaders don’t hate homosexuals instead they are telling them to repent as they tell night dancers, thieves among other criminals.
Pastor Devis Arijuna the Overseer for National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal churches for Greater Mbarara called upon the people not to be misled with money due to poverty.
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