Friday, March 29News That Matters

Tag: Office of the Prime Minister

Ex-OPM Principal Accountant Kazinda Jailed 15 Years  Over Corruption, Gov’t To Seize His Property

Ex-OPM Principal Accountant Kazinda Jailed 15 Years Over Corruption, Gov’t To Seize His Property

FEATURED, NEWS
By Keefa Nuwahereza Geoffrey Kazinda, the former Principal Accountant of Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has been sentenced by the Anti-Corruption court to 15 years in prison on three counts of forgery, illicit wealth, and financial loss to government. Kazinda, who was a few months ago freed from jail, after serving  8, years at Luzira Prisons  following his conviction on several charges of corruption, is set to return to jail following his recent conviction. Besides being convicted over forgery, illicit enrichment and causing financial loss to government, Kazinda was also found guilty of living a life beyond his means. Kazinda’s troubles started in 2012 when he was arrested and paraded before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kololo, where he was charged with abuse of...
South Sudanese Refugees to be Relocated within Uganda’s Rhino Camp

South Sudanese Refugees to be Relocated within Uganda’s Rhino Camp

FEATURED, NEWS, Politics, TRAVEL
Ugandan authorities said over 3,000 South Sudanese refugees will be resettled in a new camp within Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in Uganda’s West Nile region, away from where deadly clashes took place last month between the host community and the refugees. The clashes which began after a disagreement over grazing land left 10 South Sudanese refugees dead and nine others injured.  Speaking to reporters on Monday, the refugee desk focal person at the office of the Prime Minister, Solomon Osakan, said they have identified a new resettlement camp and have started working on demarcating and opening roads leading to the new camp Solomon said the move came after the refugees demanded to be relocated away from Tika 1 camp where the clashes erupted earlier last month.  “As of...
Republic of Korea Provides rice and Funds for Refugees and Ugandans Threatened by Locusts

Republic of Korea Provides rice and Funds for Refugees and Ugandans Threatened by Locusts

FEATURED, Latest News
By Keefa Nuwahereza The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed 5,000 metric tonnes of rice and us$3,000,000 in cash from the republic of Korea to provide much needed relief assistance to 781,000 people including refugees and Ugandans threatened by locusts. “WFP is extremely grateful for the continued generosity of the republic of Korea since 2018 and its appreciation of the immense humanitarian needs in Uganda, which were suddenly made even more complicated but COVID-19,” said WFP Officer in Charge Ryan Aderson. “This contributed of 5,000 metric tons of rice found us at a cross road when we were considering whether to make deeper ratio cuts for refuges because of a shortage of funding, even as we have evidence that they already face high food insecurity,” he ad...
Death Toll in Clash in North-western Uganda Climbs to 8

Death Toll in Clash in North-western Uganda Climbs to 8

FEATURED, NEWS, Politics
The number of refugees killed in a clash with locals in northwestern Uganda has reached eight, a police statement said here on Sunday. According to the statement issued here two more South Sudan refugees died in the Friday incident that happened at Rhino Refugee Settlement in Madi Okollo district. "One more body of a refugee by the names Abraham Angeth Micheal, male adult, 23 years was recovered very far in the bush. Meanwhile, one Amat Garang, 15 years, who was injured and admitted to Olujobo health center, Madi Okollo district died today (Sunday)," the police added. The clash started when a local was allegedly assaulted by the refugees. "It is alleged that on Sept. 11 at about 17:30 local time, one Ajute Rahman Yassin was looking after cattle near the resettlement camp a...
Kyangwali Refugee Camp Locked Down Due to COVID-19 Surge

Kyangwali Refugee Camp Locked Down Due to COVID-19 Surge

FEATURED, Health, NEWS
 Uganda and the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) have placed one of the largest refugee camps in Africa, Kyangwali, under lockdown after a jump in confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The refugees there say they are feeling the pinch. Kyangwali, in southwestern Uganda, is home to more than 120,000 refugees. The lockdown is due to a rising number of coronavirus cases among both aid workers and refugees. Rebecca Noel, a Congolese national and mother of two, has lived at the settlement in Kikuube district for 11 years. To supplement the monthly $6 cash for food money given to her and others by the World Food Program, Noel says she does casual labor and trades in shoes and clothes. With little food to put on the table, Noel says she too could be at risk of contractin...
Min. Of Health Confirms First COVID-19 Death In Uganda After Medic Dies Of Deadly Virus

Min. Of Health Confirms First COVID-19 Death In Uganda After Medic Dies Of Deadly Virus

FEATURED, NEWS
By Elite News Reporter The Ministry of Health has confirmed the first Coronavirus death in Uganda, after samples from the corpse of a paramedic who died in Mbale District on Wednesday tested positive for COVID-19. According to sources, the deceased, was rushed to Joyce Hospice Health Centre in Mbale city after being picked up from Mabyale Sub-county. After she breathed her last, medical experts quickly rushed her to Mbale Regional Hospital where preliminary tests conducted by the Ministry of Health have since confirmed that she died of COVID-19. Speaking about the matter, Dr Diana Atwine, said that the deceased was a Village Health Team (VHT) worker, who had been traversing several villages with other Health Teams in Eastern Uganda.      “The deceased wa...
PM Rugunda Goes In Self Isolation Over COVID-19 Fears As Uganda’s Cases Rise To 557

PM Rugunda Goes In Self Isolation Over COVID-19 Fears As Uganda’s Cases Rise To 557

FEATURED, Latest News
By Keefa Nuwahereza There is untold fear and caution at the Office of the Prime Minister after Dr Ruhakana Rugunda went into self isolation because some of his contacts had tested positive for COVID-19. Rugunda is head of the national task force for COVID-19 and has been at the forefront on fund raising and distribution efforts to contain the pandemic. “Friends, I have gone into self isolation after some of my contacts tested positive for COVID19. My own test result is negative, however, I have taken this decision as a health recommended measure,” he said in a tweet, shortly before news circulated that he had gone in isolation. Julius Mucunguzi, his Communications Advisor confirmed the development. Statement from Ministry of Health about COVID-19 updates in Uganda Howeve...
Huawei Boosts Uganda’s COVID-19 Fight Digitally By Donating Video Conferencing Equipment To State House

Huawei Boosts Uganda’s COVID-19 Fight Digitally By Donating Video Conferencing Equipment To State House

FEATURED, NEWS
By Abel Kawere State house has received video conferencing equipment from Huawei to enhance communication in the management of the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The equipment including 2 sets of video conferencing systems was donated by the international telecommunications giant to facilitate the effectiveness and efficiency of communication and data sharing which is critical in the pandemic containment. Receiving the donation, Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, who heads the National COVID-19 Task Force, said the digital facility will enable meetings between State House and government arms to take place at a time when social distancing is exercised to control the spread of COVID-19. The Team from Huawei Uganda hands over Video conferencing Equipment to PM Dr Ruha...