Displaying items by tag: Uganda

On 11 February a magistrate’s court ordered opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye to appear and explain his absence in a case where he is accused of inciting violence during 2022 protests against rising living costs in Kampala. In a handwritten letter, Dr Besigye had stated he was ‘currently indisposed’. The magistrate emphasised the importance of personal liberty and scheduled the next hearing for 14 February. Notably, it was observed that there is no remand warrant currently justifying his detention, indicating he is being held without clear legal grounds. This development follows a recent supreme court ruling halting the trial of civilians in military courts. Dr Besigye has begun a hunger strike to protest against his continued detention, and there are concerns about his health: see

Uganda, in partnership with the WHO and other health organisations, has launched its first-ever vaccine trial for the Sudan strain of Ebola. The trial began just days after a nurse succumbed to the virus, with additional cases confirmed among his relatives. Researchers at Makerere University and the Uganda Virus Research Institute expedited the process, ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory standards. The candidate vaccine, donated by IAVI and funded by international partners, aims to improve pandemic preparedness. Over 2,000 doses are available, though the manufacturer remains undisclosed. Uganda has a history of Ebola outbreaks, including a deadly 2000 epidemic. Contact tracing remains essential in containing the disease. This outbreak comes amid US funding freezes following the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the WHO. The region has also faced recent outbreaks of Marburg virus in Tanzania and Rwanda. Officials hope the vaccine will be a breakthrough in combating future Ebola epidemics.

The mental health crisis at Kiryandongo refugee camp is escalating, with suicides and suicide attempts surging. Between January and October 2024, 41 suicides and over 130 attempts were recorded, highlighting the profound psychological distress faced by refugees. Many are haunted by memories of past trauma, such as bombings. These ongoing fears disrupt daily life and contribute to widespread mental health struggles. Despite the existence of psychosocial support programs, resources at the camp are insufficient to meet the overwhelming demand. With over 1.7 million refugees in Uganda, local healthcare services are under immense pressure, but specialised care is often inaccessible due to high costs. The UNHCR is calling on governments, the private sector, and international donors to increase funding for mental health programs to address this urgent need.

A study conducted in Bangladesh reveals that owning a pair of reading glasses might increase earnings by a third. Researchers found that average monthly earnings rose from $35 to $47 within eight months for participants over 35 with poor eyesight. Presbyopia, the loss of closeup vision, costs the global economy over $25bn annually in lost productivity. However, in low- and middle-income countries only about 10% of people have glasses to correct the problem. The study, involving 824 individuals, has highlighted their significant impact on improving quality of life and productivity. The story of Sarah Nakalyowa, a basket weaver from Uganda, illustrates the transformative effect of glasses on productivity and income. Spectacles enabled her to regain lost income and even start a mushroom-growing business.

Uganda’s main opposition party, the NUP, has said its leader Bobi Wine was detained upon returning from a trip abroad. The singer-turned-politician arrived at Entebbe airport on 5 October after visiting several countries, including South Africa. A photo appeared to show two men seizing him by the arms on the tarmac. However, the police said he was ‘successfully escorted by our security team’, and urged people to disregard rumours of his arrest by ‘propagandists’. In September the police announced they were banning rallies being organised by the NUP across the country because of public order issues. There is a long history of authorities using so-called ‘preventative arrest’ to detain opposition leaders, often holding them for several hours before returning them to their homes so as to stymie mass demonstrations. Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, is a prominent critic of President Museveni’s government. He ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2021 against Museveni, who is serving a sixth term in power.

Recently, a joint military operation between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo successfully rescued over one hundred civilians who were being held hostage by the Islamic extremist group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The military task force launched airstrikes on the ADF rebel camps for over two months before the rescue operation. One of the rescued women said, ‘The soldiers arrived when we were praying. They fired several bullets, which allowed us to flee to the middle of the bush.’ The ADF started as a force opposing the alleged mistreatment of Muslims by Uganda. It later expanded to the DRC, where it has grown and spread. It is the most violent of 120 armed groups in eastern DRC and has committed crimes against Congolese civilians, including many Christians.

Uganda has recorded 141 infections since the outbreak of Ebola was declared on 20 September. President Museveni has extended by 21 days a quarantine placed on Mubende and Kassanda districts, at the epicentre of the outbreak. Movement in and out of central Uganda is restricted up to 17 December. The aim of this extension is to sustain the gains in control of Ebola which have been made, and to protect the rest of the country from continued exposure. Mr Museveni said, ‘It may be too early to celebrate any successes, but overall, I have been briefed that the picture is good.’ 55 people have died since the outbreak was declared. Although it is gradually being brought under control, he said the situation is ‘still fragile,’ adding that the country’s weak health system and circulation of misinformation about the disease were still a challenge.

Uganda’s education minister has decided to shut all types of schools from 25 November after 23 Ebola cases were confirmed among pupils and eight children died. The virus circulating in Uganda is the Sudan strain of Ebola, for which there is no proven vaccine, unlike the more common Zaire strain which spread during recent outbreaks in neighbouring DR Congo. Ebola is spread through bodily fluids; common symptoms are fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea. Outbreaks are difficult to contain, especially in urban settings. Ebola generally kills about half the people it infects. The decision to close all schools came because densely packed classrooms were making students highly vulnerable to infection. On 5 November the three-week lockdown on Mubende and Kassanda districts, which are at the centre of the outbreak, was extended. The measures include dusk-to-dawn curfews, banning personal travel, and closing markets, bars and churches.

On 20 September, Uganda’s health authorities declared an Ebola outbreak after a Sudan strain was confirmed in central Uganda. Five days later 36 people had Ebola, 26 had died, 399 contact cases were identified, and 104 were in follow-up. Symptoms take two to 21 days to develop. Uganda's excellent road infrastructure allows infected people to travel in any direction for some time before becoming symptomatic, making tracing known contacts significantly more difficult. Pray for the national task force, meeting every day. Pray for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) as they set up an Ebola treatment centre. Pray for WHO as it deploys medical supplies and provides logistics and more staff, to help Ugandan authorities to halt Ebola’s spread. Pray for those setting up isolation units to have all the equipment and protective clothing they need. See also

Islamic teacher, Hiire Sadiki, was poisoned on April 2, shortly after his wife learned he had converted to Christianity. He put his faith in Christ on March 27 after several months of discussions with a Christian pastor. After he didn’t observe the Ramadan fast and his wife noticed him praying in the name of Christ she questioned his mode of praying. He told her he believed in Issa (Jesus]). His wife had studied the Koran and knew verses about apostasy punishment. She left the room and began phoning Muslim leaders, then returned and prepared supper. ‘After 30 minutes, a neighbour arrived, went to the kitchen and then immediately left. After supper Sadiki suffered convulsions and vomiting and phoned the pastor who took him to hospital. Tests indicated his food was tainted with insecticides used to kill rats. The assault was the latest of many instances of Christian persecution in Uganda.