SciDev.Net to provide media training to Science Granting Councils in Africa

SciDev.Net are to help members of the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI) in sub-Saharan Africa better communicate their research to the media, policymakers and wider public. SciDev.Net – whose Script training programme already provides free training and networking resources for journalists, scientists to communicate science in an engaging and accurate way – will deliver training…

Education Expert Argues Against Blanket Ban on Smartphones in Ugandan Schools

Dr. Stephen Ndawula, an expert in Educational Communication and Technology from Kyambogo University, has advocated against a blanket ban on smartphones for students in Ugandan schools and other countries. Despite concerns about potential negative effects on education and students, Dr. Ndawula emphasizes the positive aspects of smartphones that can be harnessed for educational purposes. His…

Rwanda’s Removal of Science Practicals Due to Lab Shortage Offers Insights for Uganda

Rwanda’s Ministry of Education has taken a significant step by deciding to eliminate science practicals from their national examinations. The move comes as a response to long-standing concerns about the lack of well-equipped laboratories in schools across the country. Starting this academic year, science practicals will no longer be a mandatory requirement in national exams…

Thefts Threaten Gulu University’s Living Gene Bank

Theft and vandalism by the community are affecting the growth of a variety of herbs at Gulu University’s Department of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Studies (PharmBiotec).  The department initiated the traditional medicines unit in 2017 to help the community get alternative treatment to conventional medicine.  Dr Alice Veronica Lamwaka, a senior lecturer in the Department of Biotechnology…

Ministry of Health Raises Corncern Over Deprived Handling of Lab Results

The Ministry of Health in Uganda is concerned about the way laboratory results are being handled. They say that some lab experts are issuing results negligently, which could have serious consequences. For example, during the recent Ebola outbreak in Mubende, there were cases where results were being thrown around, creating unnecessary fear. The MOH also…

Ministry of Health Gets UGX 700m Mobile Laboratory

The Ministry of Health has received a mobile laboratory worth 700 million Shillings to strengthen surveillance of infectious diseases and healthcare systems along the borders. The lab which will be stationed at the Central Health Laboratories in Butabika National Referral Hospital in Kampala was donated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in partnership with the…

East and Southern Africa Grapples with Persistent Food Insecurity Amidst Environmental and Economic Challenges

East and Southern Africa are facing an ongoing food crisis, with widespread food insecurity affecting millions of people due to a combination of drought, flooding, conflict, and economic hardships according to a World Bank report. The situation is particularly dire in Ethiopia, where Emergency (IPC Phase 4) conditions persist, and parts of Somalia and South…

Northern Uganda Schools Address Drug Abuse Crisis in the Aftermath of Covid

Educational institutions are still grappling with the aftermath of the CoVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Northern Uganda, where schools are facing challenges in rehabilitating learners dealing with drug and substance abuse disorders.  When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, the government closed all educational institutions to control the spread of the virus, affecting around 15 million…