Kadaga made the remarks while officiating at the parliamentary dialogue on HIV vaccine research in Uganda on Tuesday, 5 June 2018, where she said that the need for the vaccine was urgent.

“We have committed our advocacy on issues around HIV, so we will be happy to walk with you all the way to ensure this service comes to the people. I am delighted that you are in Masaka and I am praying that you also go to fishing areas where HIV is most prevalent,” she said. 

The Head of Research at Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP), Dr Francis Kiweewa, said that the high prevalence rates of HIV has pushed the Vaccine Interest Group to continue looking for a cure.

Speaker lauding HIV vaccine research

“Since 1999, we have had only five vaccine candidates reaching phase three, which leads to licensing. Currently, we have four clinical trials in phase three, meaning that the candidates are beginning to show progress,” Kiweewa said.

He added that if there is no vaccine by 2020, the findings would help them have clearer knowledge on how to improve the next clinical trials.

“We believe that the vaccine is not far from us. Once we get the vaccine, we shall start by testing on animals, study its side effects before it’s tested on humans,” said Dr. Kiweewa.

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MUWRP’s Executive Director, Dr Hannah Kibuuka, said the 2020 target might not be met since the prevalence rate of new infections is not decreasing as desired.

“We have had HIV for decades and still struggling with it. Globally, 36.7 million people are living with HIV and we had 1.8 million new infections in 2016,” she said.

“In Uganda, HIV prevalence has declined to 6.5 percent, which is still significant because by 2016, only 67 percent of adults on Anti-Retroviral therapy, had access to treatment,” she added.

Dr. Kibuuka called for support towards HIV research through advocacy and adequate funding.

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About 430,000 women have benefited from the women enterprise fund since 2015. Internet Photo

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has directed government to stop using funds meant for the Women Enterprise Fund to train local government officials about the project.

Kadaga made the directive at a workshop that was updating members of parliament on the implementation of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship programme at parliament.

She said that the local government officials have got much training and should not waste the women fund.

She was also angry that 10 million shillings was cut from the women enterprise fund in the budget cuts and alerted MPs to ensure that this money is returned.

She said that money of the Women Enterprise Fund should be increased to a meaningful amount to cover more women.

She said that there should be an agency facilitating the marketing of the products and items produced by women groups benefiting from this fund so as they service the loan without difficulty.

Members of parliament who include the for Gulu District Woman MP, Betty Aol ,MP for Bubulo West, Rose Mutonyi and Mitoma district woman MP, Jovah Kamateka,  complained of disparities in giving out this Women Enterprise Fund who said that some districts were not benefiting equally as some were receiving much funds compared to others .

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Pius Birigirimana called for the amendment of the PPDA Act to have a special treatment of women while procurement is being done in the women owned projects,

He asked MPs to ensure that the women projects are given priority during tender procurement so as are not left out basing on the law to access the required funds needed to start an enterprise for income generation while handling the amendment of the PPDA ACT.

He encouraged women groups which have already accessed the women enterprise fund to pay back to enable other women groups in the country to access the same fund to start their projects,

He stated that the districts which will have big numbers of women returning the funds will have a chance of receiving more funds for other women groups.

The minister of State for Gender, Peace Mutuzo, noted that there are number of women groups whose projects had funds approved but have never received this fund asking them to be patient saying they will get their money any time.

The Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) is an initiative by the Government of the Republic Uganda to improve women’s access to financial services, equip them with the skills for enterprise growth, value addition and marketing of their products and services.

About 430,000 women have benefited from the women enterprise fund since 2015.

In 2015 1.9 million shillings released, 2016,29 billion ,201730 billion and 57 billion is for the financial 2018/19 for this project.

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MP Sam Lyomoki battles for a microphone with the sergeant-at-arms as Hon Odonga Otto takes on NRM’s Solomon Silwanyi in a duel after a mild round of chaos in the chambers.

Parliament proceedings on day two of the Second Reading of the presidential age limit bill was suspended to 2 pm on Tuesday to ascertain whether there were alleged soldiers in the parliamentary chapel.

The woman Member of Parliament for Amuru district Lucy Akello said she had found soldiers occupying both the Catholic and Anglican Chaplaincy prayer places at parliament.

Bukoli central MP Somon Silwany was confronted by Hon. Odonga Otto defended the soldiers, saying that they were praying prompting the speaker to suspend the proceedings to 2 pm to establish who the people in the chaplaincy were.

ALSO READ:Speaker suspends six MPs

However, in the course of the lunch time recess, “I also got complaints from the Anglican chaplaincy; i got complaints that there were also plates. I want the Minister of internal affairs to explain who those people are. I want an explanation.” The speaker of parliament said.

Last week The Speaker gave a directive that non-Parliament security be withdrawn from the precincts of Parliament. It would be an abuse of the authority of the Speaker, if indeed it’s confirmed that there were other security personnel in the precincts. Chris Obore parliament spokesperson said.

ALSO READ:Netherlands grants 1.8B to KCCA for the expansion of Kyanja Agriculture Centre

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Speaker Rebecca Kadaga

The speaker of parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, in Tuesdays parliament sitting issued new security guidelines at parliament that will ensure members of parliament are protected against unauthorized security personnel ordering the withdraw of other security agencies other than police from parliament.

The speaker also closed one of the presidential entrances into parliament on the fourth floor on basis that it has been abused by some people entering without being checked by security.

She also directed parliamentary police to wear police uniforms that bear their names.

Kadaga asked the clerk to parliament to submit names and ranks of police officers attached to parliament in her office.

ALSO READ:MPs push for mobile money regulation

Hon Kadaga also banned MPs wearing caps while in the chamber, after the Member of Parliament for Kampala central Mohammed Nsereko cited Arua municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga with a cap to which the speaker ruled that all MPs who had caps to  remove them.

Meanwhile, Makindye west MP Allan Ssewanya was ruled out of order and sent out by the speaker after he was sighted dressed in a red overall in the chamber.

ALSO READ:MPs should avoid luxurious life – Deputy Speaker Oulanyah

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Speaker Rebecca Kadaga

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has called on Ugandan Universities teach more foreign languages so that their graduates can favorably compete for international jobs.

Rt. Hon. Kadaga made the call in her keynote address at the Sixth Annual Vice Chancellors Conference at the Silver Springs Hotel in Bugolobi on Saturday.

The Speaker said that teaching of foreign languages is important in competing for international job opportunities citing Somalia which has many job openings for those who can speak Arabic.

“Is there any university here that is training our children in French, Arabic, or Chinese? I want to interest you in thinking about training our students so that they are able to compete for jobs in any part of the world,” she said.

Kadaga also cited the fast growing Chinese economy as another area that should be targeted as the students pursue their university education.

“Teaching the Chinese language to students has a very big advantage when it comes to international trade and job seeking,” she added.
The Speaker lashed out at universities that produce students who cannot practice what they have learnt citing engineers whom she said acquire theoretical knowledge they can’t use.
“We recently acquired a ferry but for two years, there were no Ugandans to operate it. We have been talking about the oil sector but I doubt if we have any students tried in that area. The Chinese will come here and take our jobs and Ugandans will start complaining,” she said.
Prof. Mauda Kametenesi, the Vice Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University said that the Forum has resolved to have students trained so that they can compete on international job market.

“We have chosen a theme with a purpose to raise students who matter in Uganda, the region and globally. I am sure these Vice Chancellors came together today to show their commitment to serve this nation as far as raising national leaders is concerned,” she said.

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