RDC WARNS AGAINST POLIO SABOTAGE

By MORIS MUMBERE
e-society

RDC WARNS AGAINST POLIO SABOTAGE

As the country prepares for the next round of polio immunization this weekend, the Kasese Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Justine Muhindo, has thanked the residents in the district for their cooperation in the previous exercise held earlier this year.

The next polio immunisation is scheduled to take place from this Friday, March 28^th ending with mop-up activities on Monday, 4ht April, 2016.

The Deputy RDC, Justice Muhindo, however, noted that there are still elements with tendencies to sabotage the national programme.

Muhindo warned that such elements risk coming into conflict with the law of the land should they attempt to sabotage the national programme because that amounts to destroying the future of the children.

Justine Muhindo was this morning closing a polio immunization preparatory meeting held at the Kasese District Health Department Board Room at the district headquarters.

The preparatory meeting was chaired by an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO), Mr. Johnson Mutungwanda.

Mr. Mutungwanda urged all the residents and leaders at all levels to help in mobilsing the community for the polio immunization.

The Acting District Health Officer, Dr Yusuf Baseka, called to team work.

The National Immunisation Days Supervisor from the Ministry of health, Mr. Fred Mulabya, said the forthcoming polio immunization will be door-to-door.

Mr. Mulabya said the immunisation will involve dropping the polio vaccine into the mouths of children aged 0-59 months.

Mulabya said the purpose of repeated polio immunisation in Uganda is because the country is still under threat of polio infections from some neighbouring countries.  

He said the repeated polio immunization is aimed at ensuring that the country kicks out polio by 2018.

He further said unlike the previous exercise, which involved sixty distorts, the forthcoming round will cover all the 112 districts of the country.

The meeting was also attended by the District Internal Security Organisation (DISO) boss, Nicholas Mugabi, the O.C Ibuga Prison, Ivan Sseremba, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Alison Arinda among others.

                                                                         ENDS                             

 

Stakeholders in Kasese trained in ICT-Enabled information Accesss

 By: Samuel Mumbere -E-society

A group of stakeholders including the media in Kasese Town underwent a one day training on how ICT can facilitate accountability and service delivery in Kasese District. the training which was organized by Kasese District Local Government in partnership with The collaboration on ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) sensitized the participants on a number of online and offline  platforms which can be used to track service delivery and share information and therefore holds public Officers to account. a number of pretensions were made by the ICT Officer, The District Information ,....detailing  information access platforms that are used in the district to share information. these platforms include websites, social media.

KASESE TO HOST THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL WORLD AIDS DAY COMMEMORATION ON 1ST DECEMBER

By; John B. Thawite

Kasese has been selected to host this year’s national function to commemorate the World AIDS Day on 1^st December 2015, the Uganda AIDS Commission has revealed.

A document from the office of the Director-General of the Uganda AIDS Commission Director-General, Dr Christine Ondoa, says His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda will grace the function as the chief guest.

The day, which is held rotationally in different district each year, will be marked under the theme: “Getting to Zero, My responsibility,” which is within the Global theme for the World AIDS Campaign of “Zero new HIV infections, zero stigma and zero AIDS-related deaths.”

Chairing the first meeting of the Kasese District Organising Committee on Monday, an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Johnson Mutungwanda, said the function will be held at Nyaksanga Play Ground in Kasese Municipality, because the venue is central and spacious enough.

In a press statement issued statement issued Thursday 5^th December, 2015, the Kasese District Information Officer and District HIV Focal Person, John B. Thawite, urged general public has been urged to re-examine their roles and commitments to the prevention and control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“We appeal to all leaders at various levels - civil society, private sector and faith-based organisations, groups and individuals - to cooperate and embrace the campaign and as one way of preventing further transmission of HIV and to mitigate its effects among the infected and the affected,” John Thawite said.

He said the World AIDS Day theme is meant to remind us that getting to zero will be realised only if individuals take measures to protect themselves and their loved ones from getting infected and to ensure that those infected and affected are not demonised.

In the press statement, Mr. Thawite, therefore asked the general public to turn up in large number to accord the commemoration the importance it deserves.

Significance of World AIDS Day

World Aids Day is one of the most recognized international health days in the world.

It serves as a platform and an opportunity to raise awareness and advocacy, community mobilisation and re-energising the role of leaders at household, community and national levels towards HIV prevention and control.

World AIDS also serves to take stock of the achievements, challenges, commemorate those who have passed away and to re-dedicate ourselves to the fight against the epidemic.

Government improves road network in Kasese rural and mountainous areas

By; Samuel Mumbere

The government of the republic of Uganda through the Community Agriculture Infrastructure improvement programme (CAIIP) has embarked on improving the road network in mountainous areas. A program that started in the district in 2014 has so far rehabilitated 67.6km roads in 4 sub counties of Bwesumbu, Kilembe, Kyarumba, and  Nyakiyumbu where Rukoki and Munkunyu sub counties benefit as neighbor sub counties of Kilembe and Nyakiyumbu respectively. The programme has connected very may hard to reach areas across the district mainly in mountainous areas and coffee growing areas where coffee processing machines are also being constructed.

          

The RDC,CAO,Dist.Chairperson
,Civil servants & CAIIP 
Engineers inspecting the
 Kilembe-mbunga Nyakazinga road and a machine 
working on the Mahango road

LCV inspecting projects in Karambi S/C

Over this year 2015, the District Chairperson Lt. Col (Rtd) Mawa Muhindo has been Launching the construction of a number of roads and the District Resident Commissioner Mj. (Rtd) James Mwesige has been commissioning these roads in different areas of the district.

D/CP Mawa Launching a road in
Kyarumba in Oct 2015

The RDC James Launching the
 Kilembe Mbunga road in jan 2015

  

In 2014 Phase I of the project started where they worked on the 17km Munkunyu-Nyakiyumbu road, the 18.5km Rukoki-Kilembe road through Mbunga, Nyakazing was launched and is complete.

Dist. Engineer & Late. Hon.Mathew inspecting the Munkunyu road in jan 2015

Currently, phase II of the project has started where a total of 49.4Kms are to be rehabilitated in the same sub counties adding on what had been worked on.  On 21^st Oct 2015, the 12.7km Bwesumbu-Lhume-Kihangwe-Kibuta road and the construction of a coffee processing plant was also launched in Bwesumbu Sub County by the representative of the District Chairperson Hon. Bomera Richard who is also the Chairperson social services committee in the district council, the 10.7km Kilembe-Kibandama road and the construction of a coffee processing plant was also launched in Kilembe Sub County by Hon. Bomera.

Hon. Bomera Launchig a road in Bwesumbu

On 22^nd Oct 2015, the construction of the 10.9 km Kabimba, kitabu, Nyakakindo road in Kyarumba sub county and more three 15.1km roads in Nyakiyumbu sub county  were launched by the District Chairperson Lt. Col (Rd) Mawa Muhindo.

This has marked tremendous developments in these areas. The District Chairperson and the RDC have encouraged the community members to use the roads areas improve production and marketing of agricultural products and also utilize services like schools and health facilities in these areas well since transport has been made easy in these areas.

The projects have been closely monitored by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mr. William Kanyesigye.  The District Chairperson, The RDC and the CAO have strongly teamed up to make field tours to each and every project to ensure good works to be done the team greatly thank the Cao Mr. Kanyesigye for the good cooperation and lobbying techniques and advises.

LCV,RDC,CAO & Civil servants
 sharing with Mahango residents

Dist. Officials sharing with
 contractors in Kyarumba

  

LCV,CAO & RDC sharing before
addressing a dialogue meetin in Mbunga

During their field tours, they have held community meetings to explain to the community members on the importance of infrastructural development in their areas and how best they can utilize the opportunities.

The CAO sharing with a pupil in Mbata

The Dist. Sn Enginer & CAO inspecting a
 bridge under construction in mbata

Internet is a right to everyone

East Africa, across all countries in and outside Africa. The two day forum in internet freedom has come to an end in Kampala. a number of issues, initiatives on promoting, guiding and protecting internet users have been discussed. according to hon. Vincent Bagiire, the chair of ICT committee in parliament of Uganda has advised all internet users that, internet can only be useful if its used well. All people are encouraged to exercise their freedom, access and share information through the internet. the forum.There are a number of policies and laws that protect the internet users in Uganda.All citizens of Uganda, the media are all encouraged to use the internet through all the available resources. however, we are encouraged to not to misuse it because this could lead to leagal implications. great thanks to CIPESA, Open technology Fund, Hivos, Ford Foundation, UNESCO and many more organizations for organizing, facilitating and moderating the Forum

Are people free to use the internet

By; Samuel Mumbere

Throughout Africa, there has been a question of Internet freedom especially the social media. A two day Forum on Internet freedom in East Africa is on going at Kampala Golf course Hotel. a number of delegates across Africa and outside Africa have gathered and a number of issues are being discussed on how there can be freedom of expression through the social media (Facebook, whatsup, blogs, twitter etc) and some issues have been pointed out.
1.Across African countries, there has been some suppression, threats and intimidation on some people while expressing their view over the internet especially issue pointing out government performance in different sectors.

2. I has been seen in some countries where internet, Facebook and other online systems have been disabled during elections.

3. Torture of journalists has also been seen as another problems, in short

4. Many social media users especially on Facebook and whatsup get exited and end up posting wrong Or Insulting Or bad information on the media.

Heads are being put together on how people can be empowered with freedom of using well the social media on how to positively share their views with out interference especially during such sensitive times of elections.

You can follow the discussions on https://twitter.com/hashtag/fifea

People’s livelihood in villages

By; Samuel Mumbere

On a 5 days home to home visitation, last week from 17^th August to 21^st August 2015 Kasese District Local Government, was conducting a survey in different areas across the district. The survey that covered at least 20 sub counties, Kasese Municipality and Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town council was more focused on reproductive health, Child health, people’s awareness about Malaria, STIs, HIV/AIDS, sanitation and infrastructural development.

Seven categories of people were interviewed in every village by random sampling. The categories are; an OVC, a mother on a child 0-11 months, a youth 15-24years, a woman 15-49 years, a man 15-49 years, a mother of a child 12-23 months and a mother of a child 24-59 months

Among sub counties in Bukonzo west that were visited are

;

S/N	Sub county	Villages visited	Number of household visited
1	Mpondwe-Lhubiriha TC	River Mpondwe Kaserengethe	14
2	Isango S/C	Isango I Rusese A	14
3	Bwera S/C	Nyakimasa Kisabu II	14
4	Ihandiro S/C	Bubutyo Ihango	14
5	Karambi S/C	Kyamuhamira Ø  Kiyinzo	14
6	Kitholhu S/C	Ø  Kisebere Ø  Buhuruthi	14

Most of these areas are mountainous. During my visit to these sub counties, I made the following key observations

Most of the villages especially mountainous areas have a health Centre nearby, a school both government and private with in at least 2km vicinity, have good marrum access roads nearby and piped water within at least 2Kms of every village.

It was also observed that at least more than 70% of the people live in permanent and semi-permanent houses with at least a well-built pit latrine.

It was observed that most of the people i.e the youth, men and women know about HIV/AIDs, STIs and malaria, but are so reluctant on issues of prevention and cure

It was observed that there are less cases of mal nutrition in both children and the old though people do not care much about good feeding.

It was observed that at least the biggest percentage of the mothers go for anti-natal care and give birth in health centres.

It was observed that people careless about personal and hygiene, but are averagely healthy on their bodies.

It was also observed that more than 90% of the people take un boiled and un treated water.

It was observed that people eat at least 2 meals a day and have a few economic activities that sustain their livelihood.

According to the Sub county chief of Karambi Sub county Mrs. Masika Ruth, Most of the people in Bukonzo west are a little bit better off only that community needed to be sensitized more to take issues of education and hardworking more serious because most of the youth are still getting very much engaged in alcoholism, sexual promiscuity, early marriages, school dropout rates and laziness.

We therefore need to thank government for the good works and standards of living. We encourage everyone to take concern on participating in improving people’s livelihood to the grass root.

Ends