Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda and the Chinese Minister for State Forestry Administration, Mr. Zhang Jianlong with their delegations

The Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has applauded the existing cordial and mutually beneficial relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Uganda. Dr Rugunda said Uganda was happy to benefit from China’s expertise in environmental conservation and technology.

The Premier made the remarks while receiving the visiting Chinese Minister for State Forestry Administration, Mr. Zhang Jianlong who called on him at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday. The Chinese Minister was in the country to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China and Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment. The cooperation will enhance technology transfer, research and development, institutional capacity building and information sharing between the two countries.

China and Uganda will work together to promote afforestation, sustainable forestry management and development of the forest economy. The partnership will also focus on bamboo growing and boosting of community forestry. The Premier said Uganda was happy to embrace bamboo development which was critical in environmental conservation and income generation. Bamboo is one of the most important agricultural plants in the world with hundreds of uses. It is a source for construction materials, household items such as furniture and decorations, food, medicine and musical instruments among others.

The Chinese Minister welcomed the partnership and urged government to develop capacity in the forestry sector, adding that the private sector could be brought on board especially in bamboo development. He said China was ready to introduce new species of bamboo trees in the country. Almost every household in China has something made of bamboo such as beds, chairs, baskets and chopsticks.

The Meeting was also attended by the Minister of State for Environment, Flavia Munaaba Nabugere and the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhao Yali.

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The Committee further recommends that the Director General health Services shall head the Tobacco control Committee comprising of 9 members and will be mandated to see that the law is put to use in order to save the lives of Ugandans who are non-smokers.

The mover of this private member’s, Bill who is the Shema Woman MP Rose Nyakikogoro, called on members to overwhelmingly support the bill into an Act saying Tobacco has engaged the young generation in doing all the work during Tobacco growing seasons and have missed out on Education.

She said there is need for Parliament to look at Health issues that are affecting the generation as one way of controlling it.

The Tobacco control Bill 2014 seeks to protect the right to health and the right to life as fundamental human rights.

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The forum while at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala and in meeting organized by UNICEF resolved to engage the government concerning this matter saying these policies are needed urgently.

The Members of the forum who include the Shadow Minister for Children and Youth Bernard Atiku, Woman Member of Parliament Kyegegwa Flavia Kabahenda, Hanifa Kawooya and Latif Sebagala said the government should start budgeting for the Early Childhood Development Programme in the next financial year.

The legislators said the country needs infrastructure, child care givers, instructors and a curriculum in place as well as a robust policy to achieve the purpose of Early Childhood Development.

Kabahenda said the Office of the Prime Minister should expedite the formulation of Early childhood Development and Nutrition policy and bring it to parliament for approval.

She said that due to lack of a nutrition policy many children have become victims of Malnutrition and many have lost lives which necessitates that the government intervenes and creates guidelines for feeding the children.

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Rugunda said 95% of the road accidents could be prevented if only the people followed the road traffic regulations.

The Premier made the remarks while meeting a cross section of stakeholders on road safety who were led by Alex Ruhunda, Member of Parliament for Fort Portal Municipality and Member of Parliamentary Forum on road safety at the Office of the Prime Minister .

“The weaknesses and loopholes in the implementation of these measures need to be addressed,” said the Premier.

Ruhunda noted that it is time the government drew a roadmap for establishing the National Road Safety Authority, adding that all relevant laws should be expedited and brought to Parliament.

The head of Accident and Emergency at Mulago hospital, Dr Alex Bangirana said boda boda (Motocycle Taxi) injuries account for up to 50% of the road traffic crashes.

According to Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative (UHVI), use of helmets reduces the risk of severe head injury by 69% and risk of fatality by 42% while the annual crime and Police report, estimates that 18,368 crashes were recorded in 2013, while 19,870 were recorded in 2012.

Another study carried out by researchers from Uganda Christian University and Makerere University(2014), involving 1600 boda boda riders in Kawempe and central divisions of Kampala estimates that 55% of Boda Boda  riders had ever been involved in an accident.

The research also revealed that it costs up to 7 million shillings to treat cyclists with serious injuries and that the economic burden of motorcycle accidents in Uganda was estimated at US$3.6 million (about 9 billion shillings) annually.

Research also indicates that Uganda is among the seven African countries responsible for 64% of all road deaths. Others are Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2011-2020 the ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety.’

Other road safety stakeholders represented at the meeting were; Safe Way Right Way Uganda, Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative, Mulago hospital Accident and Emergency centre, Crossroads and Uganda Christian University, Mukono.

Dr. Rugunda as well paid tribute to health workers and the Uganda Police Force for their role in saving lives of road accident victims.

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The government of Uganda, represented by the office of the prime minister has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the second Northern Uganda Social Action (NUSAF2) project. The permanent secretary of the prime minister’s office Pius Birigimana says that the government intends to apply part of the proceeds for the consultant services for carrying out annual tracking studies under the public works programme (PWP) of NUSAF2 project.

He says that the activities are aimed at assessing how income earned through PWP impacted on the participants’ livelihoods, particularly on education, health, agriculture, water, sanitation, nutrition, and care for vulnerable people.

Pius says that the consultant shall carry out assessment in selected districts of Uganda that will be agreed upon by the prime minister’s office, prepare and submit the report of its findings as its major out put.

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 The new building which is going to house CBS FM is called ‘Muganzirwaza.’ A source inBugandaKingdomconfirmed the development and said that the Kabaka wants to completely eliminate politics from Mengo.

 The source says that the Kabaka wants Bulange building to house only clan offices, county and sub county offices, offices of Buganda land board and offices of the ministers inBugandakingdom.

 The source in the office of the Prime Minister (Katikkiro) ofBugandagovernment told us that the building which is now under construction may be completed in April this year. Meaning that if the programme remains as it is CBS FM may be shifted between May and June this year.

By Moureen Nakyanzi

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