Kabale reports over 1300 teenage pregnancies in 11 months

Kabale, Uganda | Close to one thousand four hundred (1396) girls aged between 15-19 years in Kabale district were impregnated between July 2023-June 2024. According to Monica Muhumuza Nzeirwe, Kabale District Senior Probation officer, among the impregnated include four girls who are aged below the age of 15. Muhumuza revealed the data as the district on […]

Denmark, Ireland to partner with CSOs in Karamoja on human rights

Moroto, Uganda | | The Royal Danish Embassy in Uganda together with Ireland, the Netherlands, and Sweden have launched a partnership with civil societies in the Karamoja sub-region. The partnership was launched on Tuesday in Moroto district, focusing on promoting accountability, civic engagement, and Human Rights. Partners who will benefit from the program include RiamRiam Civil […]

‘Cut meat production to reduce climate change’

Global scientists want farmers to cut back on livestock production in next 12 years Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | For a long time, much of the political focus on climate change has been on the global energy transition. What is also needed, however, is a food transition – especially away from high greenhouse gas emitting livestock […]

Education experts skeptical of guidelines for boarding schools

SPECIAL REPORT | THE INDEPENDENT | Several academicians and education experts have cautioned that the newly issued guidelines concerning boarding sections in schools and other institutions are unlikely to bring about the anticipated changes. The “new tough guidelines” in question were issued on Wednesday after a ministry circular alerting school administrators to the rigorous enforcement of […]

Report: Lack of gov’t-funded pre-primary education in Uganda creates lifelong consequences

EDUCATION–> A report released by Human Rights Watch and the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) reveals that Uganda’s lack of government-funded pre-primary education is causing significant lifelong negative consequences. The report, titled “Lay a Strong Foundation for All Children: Fees as a Discriminatory Barrier to Pre-Primary Education in Uganda,” emphasizes that fees charged […]

Lack of dormitories blamed for pregnancy cases at Ariwa SS

EDUCATION–> Courtesy Photo Female learners at Ariwa Secondary School in Bidibidi refugee settlement in Yumbe District are struggling to complete their studies due to the absence of dormitories. The situation has forced students to rent houses within the community, something the school authorities say has exposed the female learners to the risk of teenage pregnancy […]

Stock-outs of crucial HIV medicines

Survey exposes extent of danger to children in Kenya and Uganda ANALYSIS | MERCY SHIBEMBA | A recent survey which assessed the availability of paediatric antiretroviral formulations across health facilities in Uganda and Kenya has revealed that recommended medications for children were only available in 52% and 64% of Kenyan and Ugandan health facilities. In the […]

Low-cost tech program supports healthcare

The initiative delivers free information to health practitioners in the form of PDFs and audio files via tiny raspberry-pi computers and auto-running USB drives ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | A program to sustainably deliver medical education in three African countries is proving to be a hit among doctors thanks to low-cost technologies and student volunteers. Associate Professor […]

UHI, Jinja hospital give free cardiac surgeries to infants

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Heart Institute (UHI), in collaboration with Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, has launched a five-day camp to provide free cardiac surgeries to 11 infants from various districts across the Busoga sub-region. The camp, running from June 17 to 21, began with patient admissions for thorough examinations last week, ensuring […]

Entebbe to close open air markets, ban fresh food vending

Wakiso, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Entebbe Municipal Council will from effective July 1st, 2024 close all weekly open air markets popularly known as “kabubbu” except for one in Kitooro, Mayor Fabrice Lurinda has announced. Also banned are mobile delivery vans or trucks vending food stuffs, which he said will be impounded and their owners charged […]