Author: Simon Mbago
The government of Uganda has pledged to increase the resource envelope for hospitality and tourism institutions across the country, aiming to enhance the workforce in the country’s pivotal sector. This development was revealed by Rtd. Col. Tom Butime, the Minister for Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, on Friday, November 8, 2024, while presiding over the 15th graduation of the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) in Jinja City. Minister Butime stated that the government is committed to undertaking various measures to ensure proper training for the industry workforce. “I want to affirm that the government will continue to prioritize and…
Jinja: Police in Jinja District have arrested and detained John Ssabagabo, 20, and Patrick Obbo, 40, both employees of Wolves Security Company, in connection with a deadly attack that left one person dead at an MTN Service Center in Buwenge Town Council, Jinja District. On Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at around 1 a.m., two assailants, who have not yet been identified, attacked and shot Calvin Abia, a private security guard attached to Ultimate Security Limited. According to the police, the attackers opened fire on Abia after he had left his assigned post at EV Assets Management Company Limited to check…
Jinja: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has ranked Busoga, Bunyoro, and West Nile subregions among the leading areas with the highest malaria-related deaths. Together, these subregions contribute 11% each to the 60% of malaria deaths in Uganda. Uganda is the third-highest contributor to global malaria cases, accounting for 5.1% of cases in 2022, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). During an orientation meeting for Busoga cultural leaders at the Source of the Nile Hotel on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Ms. Elizabeth Kaijuka, a public health officer with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), stated that malaria is responsible for…
Namayingo: The Ministry of Health, in partnership with nonprofit organizations, has unveiled the “Bold Campaign” aimed at adapting and enhancing Social and Behavioral Change (SBC) interventions to tackle adolescent health challenges in Uganda. Launched on Monday, November 4, 2024, at Banda Secondary School in Banda Town Council, Namayingo District, the national adolescent health initiative uses a human-centered design approach to combat the growing challenge of teenage pregnancy and other related issues affecting young people. The project is designed to equip adolescents with the knowledge and life skills to reduce the risks of pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, school dropout, drug abuse, and mental…
Cassava, a staple food for many families in Busoga, is anticipated to become a commercial crop in the region as new developments indicate significant progress in the cultivation of this root tuber. Ms. Eseza Airo, the cassava ambassador for East Africa, has revealed the government’s future plans to construct a cassava factory in the Eastern Region. During the annual Meet and East Cassava Festival on Saturday, November 2, 2024, in Kampala, Airo encouraged Ugandans to engage in mass cassava production, highlighting the bright future of this cash crop. “Sometimes we Ugandans can be lazy about certain issues, but this is…
Jinja: Dr. Jane Fualal Odubu, the chairperson of the Uganda Medical Board, has announced that all surgeries will now be carried out in Uganda, as the country has trained its own surgeons to conduct these operations. The senior consultant surgeon made this statement on Friday, November 1, 2024, during the graduation ceremony of 21 surgeons who successfully completed a six-month laparoscopic training course at Kyabirwa Surgical Center in Northern Division, Jinja City. The hands-on surgical course covered advanced laparoscopic procedures in gynecology, urology, and general surgery. Dr. Fualal asserted that the modern skills acquired by the surgical trainees in dissection,…
Financial deceit, weak regulatory systems, and various financial crimes are causing Uganda to lose about 6% of its GDP, experts say. Despite claims of reaching middle-income status, economic analysts argue that this remains a pipe dream, as the country is heavily reliant on debt and struggles to combat commercial tax evasion, corruption, money laundering, and terrorist financing. These assertions were made during a media training on covering illicit financial flows, organized by the African Center for Media Excellence (ACME) in collaboration with the Southern and Eastern Africa Trade and Information Negotiation Institute (SEATINI) and Oxfam Uganda. “Tax evasion is partly…
Jinja: The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, made a courtesy visit to the Madhivani Group on Monday, October 28, 2024, touring the renowned sugar mill plant in Kakira, Jinja District. Kaziimba commended the Madhivani family, founders of the Kakira Sugar Factory, for their role in the socioeconomic transformation of the country. He praised them for supporting the Church in numerous initiatives both within the Busoga Diocese, where the factory is located, and at the provincial level. In his holy constituency of Busoga Diocese, the Archbishop held a meeting with management led…
Jinja: Art and culture are integral in advocating for animal welfare. This is evident from the just-concluded Jinja International Art Festival, which commenced on October 24, showcasing an incredible array of artistic talent from across the globe. Artists from Rwanda, Comoros, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe came together to celebrate cultural diversity and advocate for animal welfare through their creative expressions. World Animal Protection, an international civil society organization advocating for animal welfare, organized the annual event at Hem Gardens in Jinja city on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Ian Muriu, the Digital Content and Communication Officer at World Animal Protection,…
Iganga: Hundreds gathered in somber unity to celebrate the life and legacy of Mary Owori, mother of UPDF officer Col. Rogers Gabriel Owori, at her burial in Namasoga village, Iwawu Bulamagi Sub-County, Iganga District, on Saturday, October 26, 2024. In a poignant address, General Edward Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport, urged Ugandans to cherish their parents, especially their mothers, whose sacrifices, he said, are the bedrock of Uganda’s future. Owori, who passed away at 88 after a courageous battle with throat cancer, was remembered as a matriarch devoted to nurturing her children and instilling values that would…