Uganda’s Sexual Offences Bill 2024 Expands Liability for Harassment

Reproductive Health Uganda has welcomed the enactment of the Sexual Offences Bill 2024, emphasizing that it expands accountability for sexual harassment beyond employers to include employees. Unlike existing laws, which primarily hold employers responsible, the new legislation criminalizes sexual harassment at all levels, ensuring that both employers and employees can be held liable. Speaking before…

Mbale Hospital Receives $50M Mobile Lab for Ebola Testing

Mbale Regional Referral Hospital has received a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory worth over $50 million from the Russian government to enhance testing capabilities for Ebola and other infectious diseases. Daniel Mwayafu, the Acting Director of the hospital, confirmed the development on Thursday, noting that the Ministry of Health deployed the facility in response to the recent…

Uganda Ebola Health Workers Demand Unpaid Wages Since 2022

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has downplayed the pay demands from health workers involved in the treatment of individuals infected during the 2022 Sudan Ebola virus disease outbreak. The outbreak, which originated in Mubende District, spread to neighboring districts, causing widespread concern. The health workers, under their umbrella organization, the Uganda Medical Association, have expressed…

Uganda Discharges Sudan Virus Patients, But Outbreak Not Yet Over

Uganda today discharged eight patients who had been receiving treatment for Sudan virus disease—a member of the Ebola virus family—marking a significant milestone in the country’s response to the outbreak. The recovered patients had been treated at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. However, health authorities caution that the outbreak…

Funding From Global Fund to train community health extension workers in Kitgum

The Ministry of Health and the AIDS Support Organization (TASO), with funding from Global Funding, has launched a training program for community health extension workers in Kitgum district. The training, which kicked off at Kitgum Technical Institute in Pager Division, Kitgum Municipality, aims to equip 166 community health extension workers with the necessary skills to…

Health Ministry, MP Clash Over Community Health Worker Allowances

A heated exchange erupted between Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, and Nakaseke Central MP Allan Mayanja Ssebunya over the allowances for Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs). The clash occurred on Monday during the passing-out ceremony of 152 CHEWs at the Nakaseke District headquarters after six months of training. CHEWs, who…

Cholera Outbreak Confirmed in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Two Dead

The Ministry of Health has confirmed a cholera outbreak in Panyadoli Refugee Settlement, Kiryandongo District, following the deaths of two South Sudanese refugees. The victims, both female adults aged 40 and 49, died last Thursday at Panyadoli Hill Health Center III and Panyadoli Health Center IV after arriving in critical condition with cholera-like symptoms, including…

Nakaseke Suspends 20 Health Workers Over Chronic Absenteeism

Nakaseke District has suspended 20 health workers from receiving their January salaries due to chronic absenteeism, a persistent issue that has severely affected service delivery in government health facilities. Despite multiple warnings and even salary increments for health workers, absenteeism has remained rampant, forcing Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Sarah Nakalungi to take disciplinary action. Nakalungi…