Hepatitis B has again broken out in Uganda, killing over 10 people in less than a week, officials in the ministry health in the government of Uganda have said.
Tens of people infected by Hepatitis B are admitted at various health centres across the Republic of Uganda. But the sad news reaching our health desk indicates that there is not enough drugs for Hepatitis B in Uganda hospitals.

The most affected areas are sub counties and districts of northern Uganda. The government of Uganda is now carrying out massive senstization campaign about Hepatitis B. The health officials in Uganda told journalists that massive sensitization is in Olufe and Yivu sub counties. Most Ugandans are ignorant of the causes, spread, symptoms, signs and treatment of Hepatitis B.

One of the health officials in Uganda’s ministry of health, Ronald Ocatre, says that Hepatitis B has killed people including children.  Other sources told us that there is high spread of Hepatitis B in Uganda because the districts have no money to carry out vaccination. Hepatitis B is one of the dangerous diseases in the world.

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The ministry of health in collaboration with the Uganda National Drug Authority has started recalling all HIV testing kits which are on the market illegally.

This is after getting information that the kits that are only meant to be used under the guidance of professional medical personnel are now accessed easily by across the counter in drug shops.

The ministry’s public rations officer Rukia Nakamatte says it prohibited to for anyone to test him or herself HIV without undergoing counseling.

Nakamatte says they always have to do pre and post testing counseling which a person cannot do on their own.

She says anyone caught selling HIV testing kits will be prosecuted.

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In a rare move Uganda’s oldest opposition political party, the Democratic Party (DP) has backed the national army (Uganda Peoples Defence Forces) to take over the national identity cards project.

The ministry of Defence recently expressed interest in taking over the national identity cards projects following the botched deal in which  the Government had contracted Muhlbauer Technology, a German firm, at 64.2m Euros (about sh230.9b) to supply technology and other related services for the National Security Information System, which was being handled under the internal affairs ministry.

The army leadership claims that it has all the necessary capacity to be in charge of capturing data of Ugandans and processing their identity cards.

The spokesperson of DP, Kenneth Kakande says that the army takeover of the identity cards project is a good idea as long as there is accountability and transparency.

Muhlbauer Technology was contracted to print 34 million cards but it managed only to produce 400 cards. Out of the 400 cards, it was only President Museveni, First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni, and Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi who got their cards.

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Speaking to the press after a long closed door meeting the MPs say they have decided to go to court as the way of helping the Speaker and Parliament in making future decisions of that nature.

Last week, the Speaker turned down the petition on grounds that 10 MPs had withdrawn their signatures and one complained that his signature was forged.

They say if the decision is left without being interpreted it might affect future important decisions in parliament.

The MPs also have written to the Speaker to give them the list of those who withdrew their signatures and one that claimed forgery in order to go on with the court process.

They also noted that they will move a motion on the floor of parliament the moment parliament resumes to discuss the matters that were in the petition.

The MPs wanted parliament to be called from recess to discuss the separation of powers by the arms of government and the circumstances surrounding the death of Butaleja woman MP CerinaNebanda.

This followed the arrest of some MPs and President Yoweri Museveni’s tough warning against some MPs who were making comments on Nebanda’s death.

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Last week the ministry of health took samples to the research institute to establish whether the disease that has so far claimed is killing people in Hoima district measles.

The Hoima district health inspector Fredrick Byenume says victims develop red eyes, general body skin rash, cough, diahorrea, vomiting and a running nose but did not have the exact diagnosis to prove the disease.

Speaking to the journalist after receiving the results, the ministry’s public relations officer Lukia Nakamatte said they have intensified treatment to ensure that the disease does not spread to other parts of the country.

Nakamatte adds that they continue to trace for patients with symptoms and subject them timely medication.

Meanwhile the outbreak is now said to have spread to neighboring Buliisa district.

The acting Buliisa district health officer, Robert Mugabe says that 15 cases have so far been reported at the various health facilities in the district.

The affected sub counties are Buliisa, Kigwera and Butyaba all in Buliisa district.

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They have given the ministry of health upto the end of this month to repair the x-ray unit that was closed two months ago due to a mechanical breakdown.

Kawolo hospital that also handles patients from Buvuma, Mukono and Kayunga districts, has not been offering x-ray services to patients for the last 2 months.

The hospital administrator Haruna Wamala said the hospital requires 3 million shillings to have the machine fixed.

He adds that the money they receive from government is conditional and cannot be diverted.

Patients that require x-ray services are now referred to Rippons, a private unit in Jinja, which many say is very expensive.

The ministry of Permanent secretary Dr. Asuman Lukwago tells KFM that they have already contacted Phillips, the supplier of the machine to have the fault fixed.

Kawolo hospital built in 1968 is in the sorry state with many inadequacies including shortage of water as well as dilapidated structures.

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While appearing before the public accounts committee of parliament that is investigating financial mismanagement in the office of the Prime Minister Bigirimana said that it was the decision of the ministry of finance to transfer Wejula.

He however admitted that he reported the matter to the former prime minister who advised that the matter should be referred to the ministry of finance.

He says that it’s him that reported to the ministry of finance for action but not the former prime minister as it has been claimed.

Last week the deputy secretary to the treasury Keith Muhakanizi while appearing before the committee said that the decision to transfer Wejula came as a result of constant phone calls that he received from the Bigirimana and Apollo Nsibambi.

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State minister for Karamoja affairs Babra Nekesa says the ministry is working on rehabilitating the Koblin reception centre after getting mandate from the ministry of gender.

She says the ministry wants the centre functional for skills development before real settlement of street children is made.

Nekesa however adds that when that is done the ministry is then to handle the individuals who have been ferrying the karamoja children onto the city streets for their selfish gains.

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Teachers have threatened to lay down tools if the ministry of public service does not clear their salary arrears.

Speaking to journalists at parliament, Alupo said that she had spoken to officials in the public service ministry who assured her that the money would be paid today.

She acknowledges the mistake and apologizes for the deletion of some of the teachers’ names from the pay role but adds that everything is being done to rectify the problem;

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According to the auditor general’s report of 2009/2010 the ministry officials  failed to produce the progress reports even after claiming to be having the performance report.

Members of the committee including Paul Mwiru, Vincent Kyamadidi and Henry Musasizi say that from the progress and performance report one can be able to find out more information about the delay in the project.

The permanent secretary for the ministry of internal affairs Steven Kagoda says that all the reports are with the electoral commission since it was the major implementer of the 1st phase.

He however promised to ensure that the electoral commission hands over the said reports to the committee.
Meanwhile the ministry is still looking for 110 billion shillings for the phase 2 of the project.

Kagoda says that the money will be used in paying off all contractual obligations, procurement of premises and installation of equipments and mass registration of all the citizens.

He however says that phase1 of the project was completed but phase 2 has failed to take off because there are no funds to kick start the process.

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