VIDEO: Pastor refuses to refund Shs2.4m sent by church member in error, claims the money belongs to God

Police in Nigeria have arrested a pastor for refusing to return N900,000 (about Shs2.4 million) that was mistakenly deposited into his account by a church member. Local reports indicate that the church member intended to transfer N100,000 (about Shs260k) as part of his pledge but accidentally sent N1,000,000 (about Shs2.6 million) instead. Realizing the error […]

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Innovation hubs are providing space for technological innovations and digital skilling

In a move signaling a new era in Uganda’s commitment to digital innovation and youth empowerment, the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, designed the National ICT Initiatives Support Programme (NIISP) to facilitate the creation of an ICT innovation ecosystem and marketplace for Ugandan innovative digital products.

The NIISP tackles bottlenecks to creating a digital ecosystem by promoting the development and deployment of applications to create an open ecosystem in Uganda that shall enable the government, companies and individuals to innovate and reach new markets.

The ministry, therefore, started the National ICT Innovation Hub Uganda at the Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) Nakawa campus in 2019. However, the hub was revamped and redesigned to make not just a center for technological innovation, but to also serve as a fertile ground for nurturing the talents of Uganda’s young innovators and entrepreneurs.

With state-of-the-art facilities and an environment conducive to creativity and collaboration, the innovation hub is poised to become a key player in driving the country’s digital economy forward.

ADDRESSING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

During the launch of the newly transformed hub in January this year, the state minister for ICT, Hon. Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, in her address, emphasized the critical role of the innovation hub in addressing the nation’s youth unemployment crisis.

“In Uganda, we face a daunting challenge with over 9.3 million young people disengaged from the workforce,” she noted, adding, “The National Innovation Hub is our answer to this challenge. It is here that we will cultivate the skills, ideas and innovations that will not only create jobs but also propel our nation into a new era of technological advancement.”

Echoing the minister’s sentiments, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, shed light on the transformative impact of the hub’s renovation.

“This is more than just a facelift. It is a strategic reimagining of how we engage and support our youth. Since the revamp, we have seen an increase of over 190 percent in youth- led enterprises and innovators utilizing the hub. This surge in engagement is a clear indication of the hub’s vital role in empowering the next generation of digital leaders in Uganda.”

In addition to serving as a center for innovation, the hub has also become a vibrant community space, hosting 2,825 events, 751 business meetings and empowering 6,531 individuals through digital skilling, capacity building and mentorship programmes. These activities are not just numbers, they are a testament to the hub’s role as a catalyst for change and a driver of economic development.

Community museums lead way into deeper research about Ugandans’ way of life

When we talk about museums in Uganda, many minds will be drawn to the Uganda museum in Kampala.

However, in recent years, there has been development of over 25 community museums across the country which mainly showcase the cultural heritage of the places they are located in.

As Uganda joined the rest of the world on May 18 to celebrate the International Museum day under the theme “Museums for Education and Research” in Soroti, the Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) organized a two-day exhibition for community museums at the National theatre in Kampala prior to the main celebrations.

The exhibition aimed at creating awareness among Ugandans about the importance of community museums and the role they can play in promoting our diverse cultural heritage. According to CCFU, in many parts of Uganda, community museum owners, supporters and managers, passionate about culture and heritage, have collected artefacts, oral history and other elements of the local culture.

Community museums also link the past and the future through their collections, which are accessible to schools, local residents and those from farther away. Barbra Babweteera, the executive director of CCFU, said they are putting focus on community museum because they want to promote learning by putting a link to our past, the present and preserving it for the future generations.

“Museums are centres for preserving our cultural heritage; you will find all the different explanations about our ways of life, how we used to live, and how we live today. This exhibition is largely to create awareness about the role that community museums play in contributing to the development discourse of our country,” she said.

Babweteera, however, noted that these museums are facing numerous challenges such as little or no government support, negative attitude of Ugandans who tend to think these museums are displaying old irrelevant items, lack of sustainability whereby  if the founding person dies, the museum also collapses and conflict between culture and religion where sometimes people think that our own culture is satanic.

Rachel Magoola, chairperson of the parliamentary forum for creative industry, while presiding over the exhibition, underscored the important role played by community museums.

“I have come to learn that community museums are still perceived by a large section of Ugandans as representing largely irrelevant pasts and it is our job to make sure people know why they need to know their past.

“My appeal is that let us all support community museums as centres for research and heritage education, cultural rights expression, enjoyment and access,” she said.

Among the museums which exhibited was St Luke Community Museum in Kyotera district which was initiated by Brother Anatoli Wasswa of the Bannakaroli Brothers of Masaka Catholic diocese to preserve and showcase objects, mostly received from traditional medicine practitioners who have discarded their belief systems as being unchristian.

The museum teaches healing methods that do not involve worshipping ancestral spirits. The museum is also linked to a ‘hospital’ where herbal medicine is prescribed and administered.

The Uganda Railway museum located along the Jinja-Iganga highway at the railway station in Jinja city also exhibited. The museum is housed in one of Jinja’s oldest and historical buildings constructed in 1928; the museum contains artefacts from the days before the railway in Uganda, the life during the early days of the railway development, the era of colonial expansion, and the railways after independence.

The East African Revival museum founded by the Ankole diocese with the aim of preserving the history and paying homage to the leaders and believers who played pivotal roles in the East African Revival Movement which started in the 1930s. Visitors to the museum can expect to delve deep into a rich trove of artefacts, photographs, personal testimonies and interactive displays.

The experience aims to transport them back to the era of the revival, making them feel the fervor and zeal that characterized the movement. Hamu Mukasa museum in Nasuuti, Mukono promotes and preserves the legacy of Hamu Mukasa, one of the first scholars in Uganda and secretary to Sir Apollo Kaggwa, the then katikkiro of Buganda.

Koogere Foundation museum in Fort Portal promotes community education on the value of traditional knowledge and cultural assets in Tooro kingdom and also inspires community members to remember the forgotten glory of the knowledge of their forefathers.

Kigulu Cultural museum in Iganga town preserves and promotes the cultural heritage of the Basoga. It is housed in one of the historical buildings previously owned by the chief of Kigulu.

Other community museums which exhibited include Madi- Lugbara Cultural museum, Buddu Cultural museum, Obundingiya Bwa Bamba museum, Madi Community museum and The Great Lakes museum.

Understanding pre-eclampsia: The hidden killer in pregnancy

About 200 mothers and their newborn babies die annually due to pre-eclampsia from all health facilities within the country, yet these deaths are preventable, said Dr Richard Mugahi, the commissioner of Reproductive and Child Health.

“Last year alone (2023), we lost over 1,300 mothers from all health facilities in the country, and 15 per cent of these mothers (200 mothers) died due to pre-eclampsia,” he said.

According to the study, pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that causes dangerously high blood pressure levels. In rare cases, it can lead to a liver and blood-clotting disorder called HELLP [Hemo- lysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets] syndrome, which can be fatal to both mother and baby.

The causes of pre-eclampsia and how to treat it are still not fully understood. However, the simplest and most effective treatment for pre-eclampsia is delivering the baby as soon as possible. Dr Mugahi also noted that while a significant number of mothers recover from pre-eclampsia, they often do so with permanent disabilities.

“Pre-eclampsia affects the kidney, liver, lungs, and brain, and many mothers who survive end up with strokes and lead lifeless lives,” he explained.

He highlighted the alarming impact of pre-eclampsia on maternal and newborn mortality in Uganda. He stated that over 1.6 million babies are delivered annually in all health facilities across the country, and out of these, 1,300 babies die along with their mothers due to pre-eclampsia.

“Most of these mothers and their babies would have survived if they had visited hospitals early during their pregnancies to monitor their blood pressure and start the pre-eclampsia treatment immediately.

“However, most of these mothers reach hospitals when it’s too late to save them, after their blood pressure has already increased significantly. Pre-eclampsia mainly occurs when a mother develops high blood pressure during pregnancy, which then damages most of her body organs, including the liver, kidneys, brain, and lungs, causing death,” he explained.

“This pressure also affects the baby inside the womb, often leading to premature birth and death,” added Mugahi.

According to a recent study conducted in three referral hospitals in Uganda, severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia comprised eight per cent of cases of severe maternal morbidity. In another study conducted at Mulago hospital, it was found that severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia accounted for 12 per cent of maternal deaths among women with severe maternal morbidity.

The permanent secretary of the ministry of Health, Diana Atwine, emphasized the importance of timely medical intervention for pre-eclampsia, noting that some women spend time in witchcraft and churches praying, claiming that they have been bewitched. By the time they reach hospitals, it is often too late to save them from pre-eclampsia.

“Recently, they brought a woman to Kawempe hospital who collapsed, convulsed, and had fits in the church, but people continued praying to cast demons out of her without knowing that she had pre-eclampsia. By the time they brought her to the hospital, it was too late, and she died,” Atwine recounted.

She highlighted the public’s lack of awareness about the dangers of pre-eclampsia and announced the launch of a campaign to reduce the maternal mortality rate and encourage mothers to seek early antenatal care.

“We are informing the public about the burden of pre-eclampsia, sensitizing them that any pregnant woman can get it, but it can be treated and managed in hospitals if you go there early. The baby can also be saved and grow, and pre-eclampsia is not witchcraft,” she said.

Atwine announced the distribution of over 200 ambulances to lower-level health centers to ensure that pre-eclampsia first-aid treatment is always available across the country.

“The medicine and all treatments for pre-eclampsia are free of charge and available in all health facilities within the country. Our facilities can respond to emergencies at any time, and if they can’t handle a case, they will refer you to bigger hospitals,” she said.

Atwine also advised men to support their pregnant partners to help reduce stress, which can lead to high blood pressure and result in pre-eclampsia.
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We want husbands to provide for their pregnant partners by buying them medicine, food, clothes, attending antenatal care together, and helping with housework,” she said.

Dr Emmanuel Byaruhanga, director of Kawempe hospital, highlighted the severity of pre-eclampsia, identifying it as the leading cause of death for mothers and their babies in major health facilities. He noted that it is the second leading cause of maternal mortality in the country and globally, following postpartum haemorrhage.

“At Kawempe national referral hospital, we admit over 150 mothers each month with pre-eclampsia, and out of these, 10 mothers are in a severe condition, experiencing fits,” he stated.

Dr. Byaruhanga emphasized that many mothers die of pre-eclampsia because they arrive at hospitals too late. Often, these women are unaware they have high blood pressure during pregnancy until they experience convulsions.

“The only way to save a mother in a severe or fit condition of pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby, even if it is pre-mature. We advise pregnant mothers to visit antenatal care as early as possible to avoid pre-eclampsia,” he said.

Professor Annet Nakimuli, a gynaecologist at Mulago hospital and chairperson of the Pre-eclampsia National Committee, stressed the importance of research and awareness to reduce maternal and newborn deaths due to pre-eclampsia.

“In order to reduce the deaths of mothers and their newborn babies due to pre-eclampsia, we conducted research on how to manage it in hospitals, as it was little known in the community and often confused with witchcraft,” she explained.

She outlined the symptoms of pre-eclampsia, which include swelling of the body, especially the legs, headaches, high blood pressure, protein in urine, fits, and organ injuries affecting the brain, liver, kidneys, and lungs.

She advised women to undergo routine blood pressure checkups, even if they feel fine, as blood pressure can rise abruptly, leading to pre-eclampsia and sudden death.

“The drugs to manage pre-eclampsia are available at referral hospitals. If you suspect any discomfort during pregnancy, go to a big hospital immediately,” she urged.

Carbon credits and tourism are key to Uganda’s path to sustainable growth

Off the back of organising the recently-concluded East Africa Carbon Markets Forum (EACMF) in Kampala, Uganda, where the themes of carbon markets and climate financing in East Africa were brought to the forefront, The Observer caught up with ANETE GAROZA.

Garoza is an international public speaker, climate lawyer, Forbes 30 Under-30 awardee, and co-founder of 1MTN, a company dedicated to high-quality carbon removal. As the organizer of the inaugural event, she shared insights on climate change, carbon markets, financing, and how Uganda stands to benefit from this movement.

What is 1MTN and why did you start it?

1MTN [One Million Tonne Nation] is a high-quality nature-based carbon removal project developer in Africa. We are on a mission to restore 1 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

We are planting polyculture native bamboo with an emphasis on biodiversity management. Our projects create thousands of jobs and a sustainable future for local communities. Join us on our mission. We started our company to tackle climate change through land restoration projects, starting with bamboo afforestation efforts in Uganda.

Our focus is on creating tangible, measurable impact by enhancing the ecosystem and community resilience.

What are carbon markets, carbon credits and why are they important for Uganda?

Carbon markets and carbon credits are tools that allow for the trading of emission allowances to meet international carbon reduction targets. In Uganda, they are essential for mobilising financial resources towards sustainable development and enabling the country to participate in global efforts to reduce emissions.

You created the East Africa Carbon Markets Forum in Kampala; tell us more about it. What does it aim to achieve?

The East Africa Carbon Markets Forum in Kampala is an initiative we started to foster dialogue among stakeholders about the benefits and implementation of carbon markets in Uganda. The forum aims to educate, engage, and create partnerships that leverage carbon markets for economic, and environmental benefits across the country.

For one who didn’t follow, or attend the just-concluded East Africa Carbon Markets Forum; in brief, outline the key takeaways from the event.

Transparent data disclosure, robust verification processes; strong frameworks for international cooperation. Engagement with local communities, innovative solutions like carbon credit ratings and insurance; links between carbon markets and sustainable tour- ism, and new financial products.

Why did you start the 10,000 hectares project in Uganda and not say, Tanzania that has a favourable land policy? And why Nwoya district in particular?

We chose to initiate the 10,000 hectares project in Uganda, particularly in Nwoya district, due to the unique combination of community readiness, land availability, and the urgency of environmental challenges in the region.

While Tanzania also has favourable land policies, Nwoya offered immediate opportunities to integrate community involvement with reforestation efforts.

The tree planting project you have embarked on in Northern Uganda is made up of bamboo trees. Why bamboo?

We selected bamboo for our tree planting project due to its fast growth rate, environmental benefits, and economic potential. Bamboo helps in soil stabilization, absorbs carbon quickly, and can be harvested for various uses, providing sustainable income sources for local communities.

Besides bamboo, we are introducing other practises like intercropping and food gardens that can coexist with the afforested areas, providing additional income and food security for the local communities.

You have mentioned before that the bamboo planting project has created more than 3,000 jobs; what type of jobs are these?

The bamboo planting project has created over 3,000 jobs in roles like: Planting and nursery management, community outreach and administrative support; plantation managers, security guards; fire monitors, GIS experts; and many more.

These jobs not only provide income but also enhance local capacities in sustainable agriculture and forestry management. At the moment, we have a 400-hectare afforested area with 17 permanent employees.

As a climate lawyer, what do you think are the weak links of the National Climate Change Act of Uganda?

I think the current Act developments are on the right track. In spite of that, there needs to be more enlightenment project monitoring, and community benefit accounting.

On climate financing, $100 billion a year has been set aside by developed countries to combat the climate change crisis. In your assessment, is East Africa benefitting from this?

In my opinion, there is currently only a small amount of money flowing into East African carbon markets. This situation will scale only when climate regulations are passed in all East African countries. The money is available, but it’s not being deployed in the right place. We need to advocate for trust in the market and for faster investments.

Many people are joining climate change activism because of the doors it opens. Unlike 1MTN, their work on the ground isn’t felt. Have you come across this problem?

Every action counts. We are a commercial company who believe in a 3P model — people, planet, and profit. Climate action projects will be sustainable if we find a way to make them profitable for every stakeholder.

Which sectors can carbon markets directly impact in Uganda?

The tourism sector. Uganda is a land of breathtaking beauty and vibrant ecosystems. Be that as it may, sustainable tourism in Uganda is not just about enjoying the natural wonders our country offers; it’s about preserving them.

Tourism commitment to sustainability ensures that future generations can also experience the majestic mountain gorillas of Bwindi, the sprawling savannahs of Queen Elizabeth national park, and the mist-covered peaks of the Rwenzori mountains.

However, the challenge of climate change looms large. Carbon markets, an innovative tool for reducing global carbon emissions, can be a crucial ally in our efforts. By valuing the carbon stored in our forests, wetlands, and protected areas, carbon markets incentivize conservation, and provide financial mechanisms to support our local communities in their efforts to protect these habitats.

In practice, how will a tourist’s visit earn the sector carbon credits?

Imagine a scenario where every visit to Uganda national parks contributes directly to conservation efforts through carbon credits. This not only helps mitigate global carbon emissions but also transforms our visitors into active participants in our sustainability journey.

What can the ministry of Tourism do to integrate the sector with carbon markets to access carbon credits?

The ministry should implement three key strategies. First, it should Integrate carbon credits by incorporating them into the tourism sector; this would create a direct funding stream for conservation projects. By doing that, tourists will see the tangible impact of their contributions, fostering a deeper connection with the land and its preservation.

Next, the establishment can engage the community. It’s essential that the benefits of both sustainable tourism and carbon markets reach our local communities. They are the stewards of our land and must be at the forefront of conservation efforts, empowered by fair compensation and employment opportunities.

Ultimately, policymakers can go ahead to form innovative partnerships by collaborating with international environmental organizations, governments and the private sector .

These partnerships will provide the necessary resources and expertise to maximize the benefits of carbon markets and sustainable tourism.
In conclusion, the synergy between sustainable tourism and carbon markets opens a promising pathway to environmental preservation and economic sustainability in Uganda.