Uganda has five million child wives, 1.3 million of whom were married off below fifteen years of age, a UN official has disclosed. Speaking at the launch and dissemination workshop of the second National Strategy to end Child Marriages and Teenage Pregnancies (NSCMTP) in Entebbe, Vedasto Nsanzungwanko, the Chief of the section of Child Protection,…
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has directed the Committee on Education Committee to expeditiously investigate allegations of homosexuality in schools across the country. Tayebwa issued the directive in his communication to the house during plenary on Tuesday. He pointed out that the country is concerned about the increasing cases of homosexuality and lesbianism in schools that…
Butabika National Referral Mental Referral Hospital has explained the complaints of alleged maltreatment of patients at the facility raised by several social media users. Dr. Juliet Nakku, the Executive Director of the hospital told journalists at a press briefing on Monday that the treatment mechanisms employed by the hospital are guided by the mental health act,…
At least 60 refugees committed suicide in refugee settlements across Uganda last year, according to a report by UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. Hanging by a rope, poison and drug overdose are the leading methods used by the victims of suicide in the settlements. Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement in Kamwenge District recorded the highest number of suicides…
The Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting a 10-day door-to-door vaccination drive in districts that recorded cases of Ebola virus disease in the latest outbreak. The exercise which will be going on until January 30, will be conducted in Kassanda, Mubende, Mukono, Kampala and Wakiso Districts. It will target children below five years of age,…
The Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) have cited constant concerns of illegal blood sales as one of the reasons given by some possible blood donors for not taking part. Michael Mukundane, the Coordinator for the National Blood Bank said despite increased awareness and change in blood collection strategy from mainly targeting schools, they continue to…
Experts have said the speed at which the coronavirus is mutating giving rise to new and more transmissible variants is very worrying. This they say could soon render vaccines currently in circulation useless if nothing is done to improve them. Rachel Achilla, a technical officer Laboratory, Emergency, Preparedness, and Response Program at the WHO Regional…
A large-scale HIV vaccine efficacy study also known as the Mosaico study has been stopped for non-efficacy. This study which has been taking place in several countries in North and South America and Europe sought to test the safety and efficacy of the adenovirus26-based vaccine regimen among 3,900 cis-gender men and transgender individuals who have…
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has unveiled plans to speed up the licensing and use of effective novel vaccines against tuberculosis (TB), the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 and the 13th leading cause of death worldwide. TB, also known as consumption, is caused by bacteria that mostly affects…
The persistent vandalism of the incinerator at Walukuba health center IV incinerator in Jinja district has raised concern among health workers. The bricks meant to enclose the incinerator from direct exposure to the surrounding communities were dismantled before being stolen between December 2022 and early January 2023. The chimney which would limit exposure to poisonous smoke…