NAIROBI, 28 April 2009 (IRIN) – The East African region is generally not well prepared for a pandemic like swine flu which has killed more than 100 in Mexico and is spreading to other countries, an expert said.

Most people in the region do not have access even to basic health care and many die from preventable diseases. The main problem is a critical shortage of health workers. While there are 250 doctors per 100,000 people in the UK, Sudan has only 16, according to the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF).

In Addis Ababa, a meeting of African humanitarian NGOs, Red Cross actors and diplomats discussed pandemic preparedness. “We are using Mexico as [a] teaching opportunity to promote planning in this region,” said Gregory Pappas, senior coordinator and technical specialist for pandemic preparedness at InterAction, the American Council for Voluntary Action.

Swine influenza or “swine flu” is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low, according to WHO. The viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, but they sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.

“This region cannot even handle cholera,” the Nairobi-based pandemics expert said. “An outbreak or pandemic flu would be catastrophic.”

Responses to date

Here is how some East African countries are responding so far:

- Somalia: No capacity to deal with such pandemics due to the prolonged civil war and destruction of medical facilities. “We are not prepared for anything like the swine flu; we don’t have the means to deal with it,” Awad Abdi, adviser to the Somali Health Ministry said. “God help us if it reaches here.”

- Rwanda: Mobile clinics set up for screening visitors at airports and other entry points; pork imports from European countries suspended; sale of grilled pork in cafes prohibited; epidemiologists deployed to work on preparedness in main health facilities and information points set up in 143 centres. However, according to WHO, there is no risk of infection from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products.

- Uganda: All districts are being put on alert. “We met last night and are going to handle this with the ministries of tourism, agriculture and health,” Paul Kaggwa, Health Ministry spokesman, told IRIN. “We have contacted airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority and Uganda Revenue Authority to be alert. We are going to screen all entries into the country.”

- Kenya: Health facilities around the country have been directed to screen patients suspected of showing symptoms. Preparations to start screening people at all border and other entry points have started. “The government has set up teams for surveillance purposes – [we] had already set up teams to deal with the threat of bird flu a while ago. It is these that we are beefing up to deal with the threat of swine flu,” said Shahnaz Shariff, director of public health in the Ministry of Public Health.

- Southern Sudan: Surveillance has been increased at the airport. A meeting between the Health Ministry, NGOs and other health agencies is due to be held on 28 April. “We are doing the necessary information-gathering and disease surveillance,” John Runumi, director-general for preventive medicine, told IRIN. At this point, WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders, but encourages people who are ill to delay international travel.  To read the full article go to http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=84144

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afrol News, 28 April – The Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the flag to be lowered in the disputed Migingo island in Lake Victoria to maintain neutrality as teams of experts on borders demarcation are expected to meet early next month, the government spokesman has said.

Kenya and Uganda have been in a bitter spat over the ownership of one of the smallest of the Migingo islands which Uganda has laid a claim on since 2008 though it is closer to the Kenyan borders.

“In keeping with the spirit of East African Community cooperation and integration, President Museveni directed, after consultations, that the Ugandan flag be lowered on Migingo island,” the Uganda official said.

The Ugandan government issued a statement last week saying Uganda and Kenyan surveyors are meeting early May for the border survey and remarking of the disputed Migingo, though it said Uganda will continue to administer the island until the remarking of the border is complete.

Last week Wednesday, the Uganda national broadcaster reported president Yoweri Museveni saying in his statement that the island is located in Kenya but its western shore is in Uganda, a statement according to local analyst that could mark the end of a tussle between the East African neighbours.

Uganda has occupied the island since 2004 but Kenya maintains that it is on its side of the border. Tensions began to rise when Ugandan security began charging Kenyans residency fees on the island.

Waters around Migingo are rich in fish, whereas other parts of Lake Victoria have been decimated by over-exploitation.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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F Mugira, AfricaNews reporter in Kampala, Uganda
Uganda estimates an overall economic loss of between USD 2 to 8 billion in the last 10 years to the Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW) disease. Scientists further estimate a production loss of about 53% in cooking bananas in the next 10 years in the country if the disease is left unchecked, a plant journal said.
According to a study published in the May issue of the Plant Disease Journal, food security for about 100 million people and income to millions of farmers in the Great Lakes region of East and Central Africa face great threat from the deadly disease.

BXW, a bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum was first reported in Uganda in 2001. It has since been reported in DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Burundi, which together constitute the largest banana-producing and consuming region in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“BXW attacks all banana varieties resulting in absolute crop loss in some cases. Its impacts are both extreme and rapid,” says Dr. Leena Tripathi, the study’s corresponding author and a scientist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The study, entitled Xanthomonas Wilt – A threat to Banana Production in East and Central Africa, was jointly undertaken by researchers at IITA and Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO).

The disease causes yellowing and wilting of the leaves, uneven and premature ripening of the fruits and eventually, the plants rot to their death as the deadly BXW bacteria overwhelms them.

Causes

In Uganda, between 2001 and 2007, BXW spread from central parts of the country where bananas are grown for subsistence, into more than 35 districts in areas of intensive banana production. In some parts, the disease attacked 60% of the bananas grown.

BXW is spread by insects, wind-driven rainfall, infected planting materials and contaminated planting tools.

The disease can be contained through improved agricultural practices – planting clean materials, disinfecting farm tools and early removal of male flowers. However, once a field is infected, all banana plants should be uprooted and buried and the land left fallow or planted different crops for six months.

Awareness campaigns, advocacy and support from policy makers and the donor community are critical to help mitigate its impact on affected farmers and their households, the study says.

A task force set up by the Ugandan government in 2001 in response to the outbreak of the disease reduced the disease incidence to less than 10% in areas where farmers adopted these measures. However, the implementation is not sustainable due to the high costs.

Development of disease resistant varieties is another cost-effective and sustainable way to manage the disease. However, traditional breeding methods are less profitable as they take longer to achieve usable output.

According to the study, genetic modification offers a low-cost and timely solution to the farmers who are reluctant to use labor-intensive control measures.

Researchers from IITA in partnership with NARO-Uganda, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and Academia Sinica, an academic research institution in Taiwan, are working on improving the resistance of the local farmer’s preferred banana varieties to BXW attack by introducing disease resistant genes derived from sweet pepper. Testing the resistance of these improved bananas under laboratory conditions is underway.

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Kwanele Sibanda, AfricaNews contributor in New Castle, UK
Famous for his “trade mark” song “umshini wam,” vernacular for “my machine gun,” Jacob Zuma, the incoming president of South Africa is easily tempted, just like Nelson Mandela to join and dance to choral music. The charismatic Zuma has traveled a long and treacherous walk to the position he is about to hold.
Jacob Zuma, born in 1942, became an active member of Umkonto we Sizwe in 1962 after joining the ANC in 1959. In 1963 he joined the South African Communist Party and in the same year was arrested with 45 other activists in Zeerust (now known as the North West Province) and charged with conspiring to overthrow the Government of the time.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, which he served in Roben Island with other notable ANC activists including Nelson Mandela. In 1975, after his release, Zuma crossed the boarder into Swaziland and then Mozambique.

By 1977, Zuma was a member of ANC’s National Executive and the Deputy Chief Representative of the party to Mozambique.

On the 16th of March 1984, the Mozambican government under the leadership of Samora Machel, signed a non-aggression agreement with the South African government led by PW Botha. It was the birth of the Nkomati Accord.

After signing the Nkomati Accord, Mozambique was put under considerable pressure by the South African government not to habour the ANC, who were seen as terrorists and viewed as a threat to the government of South Africa.

Apartheid government

The Nkomati Accord ceremony that was only signed by the two parties was witnessed by no other head of State from within the SADC. It was only meant to benefit the Apartheid government that was also supplying the ReNaMo bandits that were causing so much damage and crippling the infrastructure of Mozambique and also destabilising Mozambique’s political environment.

In January 1987, Zuma was forced to leave Mozambique, he headed up north to the ANC headquarters in Zambia where he was appointed Head of Underground Structures and then Chief of the Intelligence Department.

After the ANC ban was lifted by the Apartheid regime, in 1990, Zuma returned to South Africa where he was duly appointed Chair of the ANC in the then volatile Southern Natal region. He played a very instrumental role in bringing almost all waring KwaZulu Natal parties to peace.

In the following year he was elected to Deputy Secretary General of the ANC. After winning the historic 1994 general elections, Zuma was elected to Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) of Economic Affairs and Tourism of KwaZulu Natal.

In the same year he was appointed National Chairperson of the ANC and retained his position as the Chair of KwaZulu Natal.

Top post

In December 1997 at the National Conference of the party, he was elected to Deputy President of the ANC and then South Africa’s Executive Deputy President in June 1999.

On the 14th of June 2005, then President Thabo Mbeki relieved him of his duties amidst allegations of his involvement in the US$5 billion arms deal. The majority of the ANC remained determined to support Zuma and was voted in as the party’s President on the 18th of December 2007, beating Thabo Mbeki with about 850 votes.

On the 28th of December 2007, he was served with indictment papers to stand trial by the Scorpions, on charges of corruption, racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

Zuma walked out of his house as a free man after all charges were dropped by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on the 6th of April 2009 citing serious flaws on the prosecution.

This decision by the NPA, however broadly criticised, thrust Zuma into the picture as the definite next President of South Africa.

South Africa has just conducted its 2009′s democratic general elections on the 22nd of April and again for the fourth time, it has waltzed its way to victory thereby realising Jacob Zuma’s dream of being the country’s next President.
Source : www.africanews.com

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Refugees in Uganda: Some Rwandans who fled their country after the 1994 genocide are reluctant to return home – file photo
MBARARA, 27 April 2009 (IRIN) – Pontein Karegyeya, 32, has lived at the Nakivale refugee camp in Uganda since he was a teenager and is unwilling to return home to Rwanda.

Karegyeya, an ethnic Hutu, made his way into Uganda in 1995, fleeing political turmoil after the 1994 genocide in which an estimated 937,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.

“We were told that the Tutsis would kill all of us,” Karegyeya said. “My entire family fled to Uganda; some of my relatives went to Tanzania.”

Now married with two children, Karegyeya said his main concern was to ensure he worked harder to feed his family; he did not see himself returning home soon. He is constantly looking for casual work outside the refugee camp.

Karegyeya said some of his relatives had returned to Rwanda only to be taken before local traditional courts, known as gacaca, over “unfounded” genocide charges, and most of them were now in jail.

Karegyeya is one of at least 20,000 Rwandan refugees, mainly ethnic Hutus, who have lived in Uganda since 1994 and are reluctant to be repatriated despite years of relative stability in Rwanda. The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has been running a voluntary repatriation programme for Rwandans for the past decade.

Rising camp population

The Rwandan refugees in Uganda are in two camps – Nakivale and Nshungerezi – which, in the past two years, have recorded an increase in their population due to renewed violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Consequently, camp officials and government authorities are anxious to decongest the camps.

On 20 April, Rwanda’s Local Government Minister Protais Musoni, who is in charge of refugees’ repatriation and resettlement, led a government delegation to western Uganda and held talks with Ugandan authorities and the UNHCR over repatriation.

“As far as we know, all the Rwandan refugees in Uganda are willing to be repatriated home; we want them to contribute to the economic development of their country,” Musoni said, adding that the delay in repatriation was partly due to logistical problems as well as a lack of proper communication between Rwandan local authorities, UNHCR and refugees.

He said the Rwandan delegation established that some refugees did not know much about new developments in Rwanda due to lack of sensitisation. To read the full article go to  http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=84126

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KAMPALA, UGANDA – Airlines in the region have expressed impatience over delays in instituting a single EAC visa.

The delay is blamed for interfering with the flow of tourists. Majority of tourists in East Africa are from outside the region and so have to rely on air transport.

Sources in the airline industry said tourists that would like to visit more than one East African country find it cumbersome and expensive to get all the appropriate visas.

“We are really crying for one visa. Ministers are only talking but not acting,” an airline offical said.

“ They should act on what they discuss. You the media should push them. Otherwise, they are not making it a priority,” Pierre Declerk, the SN Brussels Airlines Uganda Country Manager said last week.

A single tourist entry visa for the five-member state East African Community is expected to be addressed at the next heads of state summit, according to current chairman, President Paul Kagame.

Kenyan Minister for Tourism, Najib Balala recently echoed these concerns of tourists and airlines.

Balala argued a single entry visa would make the region a competitive destination the way it has done to central American states.

The idea of a single entry visa was mooted last year and when it was announced, it became an instant big hit among international tour operators and a hot story in the media.

On November 10, 2008 Uganda’s Trade minister Janat Mukwaya, Kenya’s Najib Balala, Shamsa Mangunga of Tanzania, and Rwanda’s Monique Nsanzabaganwa addressed a press conference on the fringes of the 2008 World Travel Market (WTM), to announce their decision to make the EAC a single visa destination.
To read the full article go to http://www.busiweek.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1440&Itemid=1

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Egypt has extended humanitarian assistance to the government of Uganda targeting areas of the country that are severely affected by food shortage and food security. This was revealed by the Egyptian Ambassador to Uganda, Reda Bebars, who paid a courtesy call on Janet Museveni at State House, Nakasero.
The areas to benefit are especially Karamoja Sub-region and Northern Uganda.

The food stuff that will go to Karamoja includes 70 tons of corn flour, 30 tons of sugar, 100 tons of salt and 999 cartons of vegetable. Kitgum district will, under the same arrangement, receive 13.3 tons of corn flour and 17.5 tons of salt.

In her speech, Museveni thanked the Egyptian government for the positive gesture which, she said, showed ever more the spirit of brotherhood that exists between the two countries.

She was confident that this gesture will go even further to cement the co-operation between Egypt and Uganda.

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Hi Guys, here is an update as promised.  I am switching gears: I will be making the updates as video diary segments so you can get a better feel of what a day is like in the Production of Galiwango: Obulamu Bwe Kisodde.  In this Video Diary segment,  I introduce several team members: Omega Okello, Patrick Ssozi and Fyonna Nsubuga. Fiona has taken on the role of Voice Acting Galiwango’s mom. Fiona is a talented Musician who is based in the UK.  Continue Reading

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Joyce J. Wangui, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
South Africans headed to the polls today, to elect their national and provincial leaders. Voting began as early as 7am and was characterised by long queues and an enthusiastic mood. About 23 million voters including 1.5 million new voters are expected to cast their ballot today in 20,000 polling stations.
Security has been beefed up in all the polling stations and the voters as well as local and international observers expect a smooth exercise.

ANC leader Jacob Zuma cast his ballot at exactly 11am in his home town Province of Kwa Zulu Natal. Opinion polls have already pitted him as the next President of South Africa.

Zuma, whose corruption charges against him were dropped two weeks ago, is optimistic of victory. Analysts say that his tainted past has done little to dent the popularity of the ANC, still revered by many for its fight against apartheid.

The chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Dr Brigalia Bam has termed the elections as historic.

“These elections are very different from the rest. This time round, we have a huge voter turn out among the youth,” she said adding that the elections have been characterised by enthusiasm and interest not only by South Africans but also by international observers and visitors.

Analysts believe that this is an election expected to preserve the dominance of the African National Congress despite the strongest opposition challenge since apartheid ended 15 years ago. The ANC, whose anti-apartheid credentials make it the choice for millions of black voters, is expected to win between 60 and 66 percent of the vote.

President Kgalema Motlanthe has termed the elections as ‘simple and straightforward.’”I think it’s important for all registered voters to cast their vote, because at the end that is going to matter, everyone who participates in this election strengthens our democracy.”

Congress of the People Party leader Mosiua Lekota cast his ballot in Bloemfontein Province and assured voters of his victory. The first credible black opposition to the ANC, COPE appears to have some support among South Africa’s growing black middle class.

The Democratic Alliance, another political nemesis of the ANC hopes to take home at least 10%. Its leader Hellen Zile said after casting her vote that she was hopeful of a good result.

“I think South African voters know what we need to do to save democracy. I know that they know what to do to prevent a criminal state, and they’ll go out today and do it,” she said at a polling station in Cape Town.

The Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) results centre opened its doors early today at the Tshwane Events Centre.

The Results Operation Centre will serve as the central management point for operational and electoral issues and a focal point for political parties, government, business leaders and the media to gather during the voting, counting and results phases of the elections.

Polls close at 9 p.m. and first results are expected to start trickling in later tonight.

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The Stigma and lessons learned from Idi Amin’s reign of terror 30 years later!

April 11th marks exactly 30 years since Idi Amin Dada was deposed as President of Uganda. This brought an end to what was termed and actually, the darkest era for the Pearl of Africa; an 8 year reign of extra judicial killings, the derailment of social and economic progress; and of course, the 1972 expulsion of Asians from Uganda.

My recollection of Idi Amin is quite scanty; but watching ‘Big Daddy’ in the different forms of media that captured his essence is still chilling. In my forays into the United Kingdom and the United States, I have been struck by a huge oxymoron: the developmental elements like prime locations for our embassies; and yet at the same time, the sheer number of Ugandans that fled his rule. Just ask Archbishop John Sentamu who transcended his exile to the United Kingdom and became the second most powerful man in the Anglican Church!

As the eternal optimist, I try to present Uganda as a prime phoenix that emerged from the ashes – even those as a result of a flame started by a despot like Idi Amin – and sometimes wonder about Dennis Matanda who presents Amin as the greatest Ugandan in our Amin expose! Being an academic, we can understand and allow him to be entitled to his opinion albeit the shock from everyone else. Of course, Arthur Mwenkanya’s own piece seems like an excellent middle ground; and so I urge you to read and contribute to the overall debate on both sides of the coin.

The truth is that the world is a very different place from Uganda and polarized globe of the Cold War in 1979. Various winds of change have blown across Africa and democracies have sprouted, grown and fallen on hard times on the Mother Continent. Apart from the things that bring us shame in Zimbabwe and helplessness when looking at the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia, maybe we can see a few signs of growth and germination in what was a sprawling desert of no good news!

And so, as we sadly relish Amin’s legacy and perhaps watch a documentary about the man [or even the fictional tale in the move, The Last King of Scotland], let us reflect upon the conditions that allowed people like Idi Amin or Jean-Badel Bokassa, so to speak, to grow in our societies, lead and ruin the elements within our communities and then emerge as the sad people that remind the world that Africa is not as civilized a continent as it ought to be. Only through this can we prevent senseless tragedies and viscous circles of bad news from the Dark Continent!

If South America can do something about their own sad stories – Peru’s former President Alberto Fujimori is being jailed for the death of about 25 people – then, maybe, we do not have to wait too long.

Ronnie Mayanja,
Editor-UNAA Times

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Film: Galiwango Genre: Animated Art  Director/producer: Solomon W. Jagwe
Voice of: Solomon W. Jagwe  Preview by: Vision Reporter

THE first ever animated film about Uganda is set for release soon. Written in Luganda and titled Galiwango: Obulamu Bwe Kisodde, (The life of a Gorilla), the film aims to sensitise the public about the plight of mountain gorillas in Rwanda, the DRC and Uganda.

The film creater, US-based artiste Solomon Jagwe, relies on his skills and African roots to create a sombre but humour-filled animated film. His goal is to draw attention to the existence of this unique natural resource.

Galiwango is a tribute to Jagwe’s grandmother whom he says taught him how to tell stories as a young boy. “I remember sitting by her feet and listening intently as she recounted stories of Waguluddene, Wakayima and Wango.” he says.

Jagwe tells the story of the struggles and triumphs of the gorillas from a captured gorilla’s point of view. He weaves into the tale a human element of interaction with technology, war and humour.

Galiwango’s story begins in the thick tropical forests of the Virunga Mountains. Jagwe traces the gorilla’s journey after it is taken from Uganda and illegally sold to a research facility in an undisclosed Western country.
Years later, Galiwango’s journey comes full circle to Uganda.

A plane carrying equipment and a crate housing Galiwango, is shot down over the Virunga Mountains.

At the crash site Galiwango meets two other gorillas, Muwanguzi, an aging Silver Back and Lutalo, who carries a rifle. The rest of the story explores the dangers of living in a forest that is full of conflict and greed.

Close encounters with poachers and rebels drive the need by Galiwango and his friends to stay alert.

Jaggwe hopes that Ugandans can appreciate the rare gift they have in the mountain gorillas and fight against the possibility of their extinction.

Link to Article Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/507/674424

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Unaa Times News Team & Agencies | With the national flag dancing on its mast in the cold New York winter evening wind, the thirteen story high Uganda House building sat like a proud and talented cousin amongst her much taller and glitzier siblings. That evening of Saturday February 28th 2009, Plot 336 East 45th Street, Manhattan, New York once again provided the fabled Ugandan hospitality to informally welcome Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda as Uganda’s New Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Continue Reading

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Hi Guys, this is an updated version of the Galiwango Trailer with the story developed a little bit more – Sneak Preview of the Film – Galiwango | Obulamu Bwe Kisodde | Directed and Produced by Solomon W. Jagwe | www.galiwango.com

Click on the HD to View Galiwango Update in High Quality  | For Viewers with Fast Internet Connections
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Episode One of Engero Enyimpi | Obulamu bwe Kisodde |

Art Direction and Production by Solomon W. Jagwe | www.soreel-mayas.com | www.sowl.com | www.unaatimes.biz

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