According to an official with the World Health Organization, two treatment units have been established in the western border districts of Kasese and Bundibugyo to respond to any deadly Ebola outbreak,

“Ebola Treatment Units are where patients can get the best care possible with access to rehydration methods and protection from infecting their family and community,” Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, Uganda’s WHO Representative said.

Woldemariam said the treatment units were fully equipped and ready to manage any Ebola cases in the East African country. Although there are no confirmed Ebola cases in Uganda, the country remains on high alert following an outbreak in the neighboring Congo.

Ebola is highly contagious and can cause a range of symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain and in many cases internal and external bleeding. The WHO says as of Aug. 21, there are 103 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC, with 61 deaths 32 were confirmed and 27 were probable.

Mortality rates of Ebola, according to WHO, are high, with the human case fatality rate ranging from 50 percent to 89 percent, depending on viral sub-type.

The current Congolese outbreak mirrors the 2014 West African outbreak that saw more than 11,000 deaths, mostly in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Liberia. There were also 11 cases of Ebola in the United States tied to the outbreak, including four deaths.

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Over 25 candidates have come-up to show interest in the presidential seat of the Democratic Republic of Congo

According to the file pictures made on August 8, 2018, leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UPDS) opposition party Felix Tshisekedi , former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary (R) and Democratic Republic of Congo former vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba are among the interested candidates.

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The governing coalition has nominated former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary has been a key supporter of President Kabila to be its candidate.

The governing coalition has nominated former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary to be its candidate

Kabila’s second term ended in 2016, but elections have been delayed and there had been speculation that he would run again. Eight other candidates have registered to run ahead of Wednesday’s deadline.

Shadary will face former Vice-President Jean Pierre Bemba, who returned to DR Congo last week after being acquitted of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Bemba was greeted by a mammoth crowd on his return to the country after 11 years.

Shadary will face former Vice-President Jean Pierre Bemba

But another favourite, Moise Katumbi, the former governor of the mineral-rich Katanga province, who has been on a self-imposed exile, will not take part after being blocked by authorities from entering the country.

His tenure as interior minister was marked by a violent crackdown on opposition politicians and their supporters, and the arrest of activists.

Moise Katumbi the former governor of the mineral-rich Katanga province is also a favourite

He is among eight senior DR Congo government officials targeted by European Union sanctions last year, our correspondent adds.

Joseph Kabange Kabila became president when his father Laurent Kabila was assassinated in 2001. He was elected in 2006, and secured another term in controversial elections in 2011. The 47-year-old leader refused to leave office when his term expired in December 2016.

The country’s electoral commission said at the time that it could not organize elections until 2018 because violence in the eastern Kasai region had impeded registration of voters. Opposition groups however saw it as a ploy by Kabila to extend his time in office.

Laurent-Désiré Kabila (left) was succeded by his son Joseph Kabila (right) in January 2001

An anti-Kabila protest in September 2016 was violently repressed leaving dozens dead. The government then banned public demonstrations.

Amnesty International lead researcher in DR Congo, Jean-Mobert Senga, welcomed Kabila’s plan not to seek a third term but added that his government must now ensure that people can freely exercise their voting rights during the election period.

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ADF soldiers: Internet Photo

The deceased were ten men and four women.  “The 14 people who were abducted were found dead and buried” an army source told AFP.

“We deplore the fact that despite warnings about ADF activism in the Beni region, there is still no major military operation to clear the area and dismantle their strongholds,” Kavota told AFP.

Omar Kavota,the head of local NGO Center for Peace, Democracy and Human Right: Courtesy Photo

Three civilian sources who were witnesses to the discovery of the bodies and attributed the attack to  (ADF) rebels.

The ADF is a militia created by Muslim rebels to oppose Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni although, according to the findings of the New York University Study Group on Congo, the group has some influence from the army.

 

 

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20 people have been reported dead from the epidemic in the Beni region of North Kivu -which homes the Ugandan-linked Islamist militia called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

   

The WHO unlicensed vaccine, rVSV-ZEBOV, which had proved to be highly effective was given to frontline workers in the DRC. AFP PHOTO

 

“At this point, there is no indication that these two epidemics, which are more than 2,500 kilometres (1,500 miles) apart, are connected,” he said.(Daily monitor, August 2, 2018)

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The Committee chaired by Hon. Reagan Okumu (Ind., Aswa) also directed the Arua district Accounting Officer to immediately recover four motor cycles allocated to various staff but went missing in a period of one financial year.

The Yamaha motorcycles each valued at UShs14 million were given to the staff in different departments to facilitate service delivery. A review of Arua Municipal Council’s fixed assets and an audit verification carried out revealed that the motorcycles purchased in March 2015 were stolen outside council premises and beyond working hours.

The Committee, which camped in Arua 5 – 8 July 2018 summoned Accounting Officers from the Arua Audit Region to answer queries raised in the Auditor General’s Report for the financial year ended 30th June 2017.

Arua Audit Region includes Arua district, Arua Municipal Council, Maracha, Yumbe and Koboko districts, Koboko Municipality, Nebbi district and Nebbi Municipal Council. It also includes Zombo, Moyo and Adjumani districts.

Hon. Okumu doubted claims that the motorcycles had all been stolen in period of less than a year.

“This must be a syndicate by officers to steal these motorcycles,” said Okumu.

Arua neighbours the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan which are both safe heavens for stolen motorcycles and vehicles. The 2016 crime report released by the International Police (Interpol) Directorate in Kampala shows that 516 cars and 395 motorcycles were sneaked into DRC, as the go-to destination, by cross boarder criminals.

The Committee observed that the low recovery adversely impacts on government’s objective of setting up the program as a revolving fund. File photo

Arua Municipal Council Town Clerk Jamil Kairu, who is less than a year in the position, attributed the messed up accountabilities and wasteful expenditure to the former accounting officer.

He also admitted that some Municipal staff had opened a side and unauthorized bank account where they were depositing revenue collections.

“The under declaration of local revenue is due to a false collection bank account and over estimation of local revenue from markets, licences, taxi parks and land management dues,” said Kairu.

Meanwhile, districts in the region have registered low recovery of funds lent out to youths under the Youth Livelihood Project. West Nile district are faced with low recovery of youth livelihood funds, especially Arua and Koboko districts.

The Committee observed that the low recovery adversely impacts on government’s objective of setting up the program as a revolving fund.

Arua district Accounting Officer Ismael Onhengel admitted that recovery of funds under the Programme remains a challenge.

Whistleblowers however intimated to the Committee that some beneficiaries of the funds in West Nile Region were Congolese who crossed back to DRC through the porous border after receiving the money.

In Koboko district where UShs 179 billion was advanced to youths, less than half had been recovered by 30 June 2017. In the same district, it was reported that UShs 10 million under the Universal Secondary Education was released to Koboko Modern Secondary School, which had been closed over land disputes with the neighbouring community.

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Closing date 16.7.2018

Contract length 2 years

Date needed by as soon as possible

New post or Replacement New post

Based in Kampala with frequent travels to field programmes

Oganization

The World Service is the internationally recognized humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), assisting people in need irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or gender. We implement programs worldwide, working with both local and international partners, helping communities achieve their full potential and advocate for their universal rights. Our partners include Lutheran Churches and their related agencies, the European Commission (ECHO), the US Government (BPRM) and UNHCR, for whom we are key implementing partners. For additional information please see www.lutheranworld.org.

Purpose of the position

LWF Uganda is deeply involved in refugee response caused by a refugee influx from Uganda’s neighboring countries, particularly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Over 1 million South Sudanese refugees are settled in Northern Uganda and LWF Uganda is UNHCR’s main implementing partner. Since 2017, there has been a sharp increase in the rate of influx of refugees in Western Uganda following fresh inter- communal conflict in DRC. UNHCR and the Government of Uganda have requested LWF Uganda to respond to this acute situation. At the same time maintaining LWF’s extensive response to the South Sudanese crisis in the north remains a priority.

As the refugee emergency continues to heighten, it has become necessary to bring in capacity at high level, hence the creation of a position of Support Services Manager in LWF – Uganda.

Under the leadership of the Country Representative, manage and supervise LWF World Service Program in Uganda ensures implementation of projects, programs, policies and guidelines for the achievement of goals and objectives as outlined in the LWF Global Strategy and the Strategy for World Service. The Support Services Manager serves as principal support and advisor on the overall management of the operations in the Uganda Country Program (CP) , in particular monitoring and enforcement of DWS and the in-country operations policies and regulations at national and sub-national level to support the delivery of results in accordance with the LWF- Uganda Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework, ethics and integrity.

Required qualifications

University degree in Business Administration, HR, Procurement or in another relevant field.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Significant work experience (at least 5 years) at managing the support functions of a humanitarian assistance and/or development program within an international environment.

Strong demonstrated leadership and people management skills.

Good conceptual and analytical, and decision making skills.

Knowledge and experience of the policies and procedures of bilateral as well as multilateral entities such as the United Nations, European Union, US government and others in the field of humanitarian/development assistance is essential.

Team-oriented yet firm and with high integrity to ensure that rules and procedures are respected.

Strong experience with compliance and complaints handling mechanisms.

Excellent ICT skills and ability to integrate IT innovations/tools in the operations for better data management.

Strategic thinker that is able to cope in high pressure environments.

Strong networking abilities.

Excellent communication and writing skills.

Experience of working in multicultural environments.

Approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Language skills

Advanced spoken and written English.

Main duties

On Support to the Country Representative on managing LWF Uganda Program

May serve as officer in charge in the absence of the Representative.

Monitor and assess operations and provide advice on best and innovative management practices to enhance operations.

Advise the Representative on CP annual work planning, setting priorities/targets and

establishing performance measurements. Monitor implementation and progress of work plans; collaborate with colleagues to assist, advice and guide to ensure achievement of results according to targets and performance standards.

Take timely decisions to achieve results and/or alert the Representative for timely action on the operations of the Uganda CP.

Establish clear individual performance objectives, goals and timelines and provide timely guidance to his/her team to enable them to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Plan and ensure timely performance planning, management and assessment.

Work collaboratively with the Representative, the Program Coordinator and Finance Manager and the various sectors to facilitate/contribute to the preparation of CP budget proposal. Monitor critical issues to resolve problems and/or recommend to the Representative appropriate action to ensure appropriate and optimum use of resources.

On Senior Management

Participate in the management of the country programme’s strategic issues as a member of the Country Core Management Team (CMT).

Assess the structure and effectiveness of systems functions in LWF Uganda and lead on implementing a systems strengthening plan.

Promote a “value for money” good stewards of funds approach through analyzing systems costs centers, identifying potential savings and implementing cost saving measures.

In collaboration with CR, address systems weaknesses identified through audit, review and report on progress at CMT level.

Lead on the integration of accountability commitments across systems functions and Uphold scrupulously organizational values and comply with the all LWF Policies relevant to support functions.

On Complaint and Response Mechanism

Take lead in reviewing and handling of the top complaints and allegations against LWF and its staff.

Enforce LWF accountability commitments with particular focus on ensuring zero tolerance towards abuse of power, sexual exploitation and harassment, child abuse, fraud and corruption.

On Monitoring and quality control of programs

Monitor operations of the Uganda program; identify weaknesses, bottlenecks and potential problems. Collaborate with the sectors and/or other partners and stakeholders to resolve issues and/or advise the Representative on resolutions to ensure delivery of results as planned and allocated.

Monitor the optimum and appropriate use of program resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) and verify compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity. Approve disbursements and allocations in accordance with delegation of authority established by the Representative.

Coordinate and/or provide advice on the preparation of mandated program and operational reports.

Coordinate Proposal Development

Support Program in the development of proposals to strengthen quality of work, innovations and ensure integration of operational needs.

Work closely with the Grants Manager in ensuring efficient and effective implementation of programs.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

Advice the Representative and other internal colleagues in the CO on the conceptualization, development and implementation of policies and procedures, use of latest information technology and introduction of innovation and best practices in the CO to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy in programming and operations.

Coordinate the collection, institutionalization and sharing of lessons learned to enhance operations and in particular use of IT for data management.

Applicants are required to uphold the core values of our organization.

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The magnificent Kigali Convention Center from outside.

As the one week shaky ceasefire seems to hold on in Juba, South Sudan, African leaders sitting at an AU summit in Kigali on Sunday agreed to re-enforce the UN-Mission with a regional force under IGAD if they are to save lives and pacify Juba.

IGAD called on the UN Security Council to give it a mandate that would allow it to separate the parties to the conflict and “pacify Juba”.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had the inception of the recent conflict called for an arms embargo on South Sudan. This however did not get past the AU summit because of opposition from Uganda, which has strong ties to Kiir.
The recent clashes in Juba and other parts of South Sudan are believed to have claimed over 300 lives after forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those supporting his rival Vice-President Riek Machar got engaged in a four-bloody battle.

The violence raised fears of a breakdown in protracted efforts to end a civil war that began in December 2013 with battles in Juba between the same rival groups.

As discussions went on at the meeting that ended on Monday, IGAD Executive Secretary, Mahboub Maalim, proposed a three-fold approach to addressing the South Sudan crisis.

“First, impose an immediate arms embargo on South Sudan. Second, enact additional targeted sanctions on leaders and commanders working to unravel the peace process. Third, fortify the UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS,” the IGAD Executive Secretary said.

Many member states argued that it was better to have an African constituted armed force that can be used to handle conflicts like that in South Sudan.

“The UN doesn’t have the mandate to impose peace,” African Union (AU) Peace and Security Commissioner Smail Chergui said at a summit in Kigali.

“They are there where there is peace to keep. African troops are ready to engage in very difficult situations. It is our responsibility,” he added.

There is currently a 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, which has however  faced criticism on many occasions for what critics say is it’s for failure to stem the latest bloodshed or fully protect civilians during the fighting.

Chergui said the mooted force for South Sudan would be modelled on the 3,000 strong Force Intervention Brigade deployed within the UN’s mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which proved decisive in neutralising the M23 rebellion in 2013.

IGAD, a bloc of east African states and the key player behind the proposed force, on Sunday Chergui said the international community would have to persuade Kiir to drop his opposition to the deployment of the new force.

The summit also endorsed a plan for the AU to start withdrawing its 20,000 troops deployed in Somalia in the UN-endorsed AMISOM mission starting from October 2018.

Before that date, there would be “very robust and collective attacks” on Shabab insurgents in the south of the country.

South Sudan warring factions have received the decision to deploy a regional peacekeeping force in the country with mixed reactions.

The new developments have however been received with mixed reactions especially from the 2 warring parties with a government official from Prseident Salvar Kiir’s faction calling it “Unfortunate ” and that it “will not work”, in reference to the decisio taken by Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

“That proposal will not work, because a problem is not solved by another problem and this thinking is unfortunate” said Minister Martin Elia Lomuro in an interview with Sudan Tribune.

Meanwhile the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In opposition (SPLM-IO) under it’s leader Dr. Riek Machar welcomed the move saying it would guarantee security of its officials who feel threatened by attacks from government forces.

Machar’s Spokesperson James Gatdet told the media earlier that a peacekeeping force was long overdue.

“President Kiir is not in control of incidents that occur around him. He is not in control of his army commanders and other organized forces. So how do you trust protection from a leader who is not in control, or who might have been blessing violent actions of his commanders or security personnel?” Gatdet wondered.

IGAD in a statement asked warring factions in South Sudan to demilitarize Juba and give way for regional forces to harmonies relations in Juba.

Earlier, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta told UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon that the region, would urgently provide more troops to the UNMISS and provide protection to leadership and the citizens.

“We have all watched events in South Sudan with sorrow. Our youngest brother has fallen, yet again, into division and violence. It is our responsibility – all of us, but especially those in the region – to restore peace, and to restore it durably,” said President Kenyatta according to the statement from his office.

“Let me be clear: those of us in the region have primary responsibility for peace and security here. But that responsibility is also collective – all of us must think carefully, and work hard, in the cause of peace,” he added.

Kenyatta asked UN Security Council to modify the mandate of UNMISS “so that it can separate those who have turned to violence, so that it can protect the infrastructure South Sudan has built, and so that it can enforce the peace. That is what collective responsibility means.”

The top regional official said that the chiefs of staff from five countries comprising Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda have proposed reinforcement of UNMISS troops from the region under the same UNMISS mandate.

Among the proposals was to task the south Sudan government to give way to humanitarian assistance to reach people in need.

“The government must uphold it responsibility and open up corridors to allow UN and humanitarian actors to provide vital supplies and other assistance to the affected civilians, as well as access for medical evacuations,” sounded the call from UNMISS.

Welcome back Morocco?

The summit also saw the first steps of the possible return to the AU of Morocco, the only African state that is not part of the union.

Morocco quit the bloc 32 years ago in protest at its decision to accept Western Sahara as a member.

Morocco maintains that Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is an integral part of the kingdom even though local Sahrawi people led by the Polisario Front have long campaigned for the right to self-determination.

“For a long time our friends have been asking us to return to them, so that Morocco can take up its natural place within its institutional family. The moment has now come,” King Mohammed VI said in a message sent to the summit.

“We consider Morocco a brother country and would be very happy to welcome them back,” said Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama.

“But I think a lot will also depend on the terms on which Morocco would like to come back,” he cautioned.

The heads of state failed to name a successor to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to become the AU’s new commission chair.

None of the three candidates garnered the two-thirds majority necessary, and a new ballot will be held at the next AU summit, due in January 2017 in Addis Ababa.

The leaders did agree on financing the bloc through a 0.2 percent levy on imports, so as to reduce its dependence on donors, who currently contribute 73 percent of the $781 million (708 million euro) budget.

Rwanda’s Finance Minister Claver Gatete said this could bring in as much as $1.2 billion (1.1 billion euros).

Dlamini-Zuma welcomed the “historic landmark decision” as “an unprecedented leap forward for African self-reliance and dignity”.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, hosting the summit, said the plan “puts responsibility and ownership in our hands”.

“We need to start doing things differently, and better,” he told delegates at the opening ceremony.

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Ambassador Kinobe said most of these arrested Ugandans cannot be helped quickly out of jail because DR Congo is too big to move in all prisons where Ugandans are detained. He noted that many of these Ugandans are in jail over rebel cases while others are facing charges of illegal entry, stealing cars and conning. Kinobe who is the former Minister for Youth and Children Affairs warned youth against being tricked that in Congo there are jobs, saying many are taken to Congo for rebel activities; in Kinshasa alone there 100 youth in prisons.

Members of Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs represented by the Permanent Secretary Ambassador James Mugume agreed with the committee to ensure that Goma and Bunya consulates are reopened. They asked Parliament to first approve 1.8 billion shillings for re-opening Goma consulate so as Ugandans in Eastern DR Congo are given assistance on different issues as they wait for more fund allocation for Bunya consulate

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The US soldiers helping Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and the Central African Republic to hunt Kony would have bombed the place where Kony is hiding but doing this would lead to death of many people he is surrounded with.

A source in the UPDF further tells us that US wants to have Kony arrested alive such that he is taken to the International Criminal Court.

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