Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua | A senior Chinese diplomat has urged all countries, in the spirit of solidarity and international cooperation, to translate their commitment into actions and support timely access of COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries. Chen Xu, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG), made the …
Read More »Turkey announces phase III trials of indigenous COVID-19 vaccine
Ankara, Turkey, | XINHUA | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday announced the phase III trials of its indigenous COVID-19 vaccine named Turkovac. The vaccine, which is made with inactivated coronaviruses, is expected to be available for use by the end of this year, Erdogan said at an event …
Read More »Court Martial suspends operations
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda People’s Defense Forces General Court Martial has suspended its operations. The decision is in line with the new COVID-19 preventive measures announced by President Yoweri Museveni last week to contain the second wave of the pandemic which has seen a spike in …
Read More »Covid-19: Parliament to close for two weeks
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parliament is set to close for two weeks starting Monday, June 28, 2021 as Uganda battles the second wave of COVID-19. This is according to a June 22, communication addressed to members of parliament by Henry Waiswa, the Deputy Clerk to Parliament in charge of …
Read More »Sweden decides to cover people aged 16-17 in vaccination
Stockholm, Sweden | XINHUA | Unlike many other countries that have started to vaccinate people from the age of 12, the Swedish Public Health Agency announced on Tuesday that it has decided to vaccinate the 16-17 year olds, not below, against COVID-19. The agency said that all children aged 16 …
Read More »Mukono RDC rejects request by political leaders to join Covid-19 sensitization drive
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mukono Resident District Commissioner, Fatumah Ndisaba has rejected a request by political leaders to join the COVID-19 task force to sensitise residents on the implementation of the standard operating procedures-SOPs. A group of political leaders led by the district speaker, Betty Nakasi sought clearance to …
Read More »Lockdown: Health care, utility providers want 10 percent rule on staff revised
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Utility and health care service providers want the government to revise the directive requiring companies to retain 10 percent of staff during the 42 days lockdown. Last week, President Yoweri Museveni banned private and public transport as he announced a nationwide lockdown to contain the …
Read More »Parents cast doubt on practicability of radio lessons
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parents are raising doubts about the practicability of broadcasting radio lessons for primary school learners as millions remain grounded in homes. Schools and other educational institutions were closed by a presidential declaration made on June 7, 2021, following reports that they had become super spreaders …
Read More »Economy at crossroads
Can Mutebile’s latest announcement and government spending plan save the economy hurt by coronavirus lockdowns? | JULIUS BUSINGE | On June 16, Bank of Uganda Governor, Emmanuel T. Mutebile made a big announcement that many pundits believed would boost economic recovery. For the first time in many months, Mutebile cut …
Read More »Produce vulnerability register before starting Covid-19 cash transfers
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The country might see the same confusion with money transfers as seen with relief food distribution to the vulnerable people during the initial countrywide lockdown instituted to halt further transmission of COVID-19, experts predict. Following the new lockdown measures issued by the President on Friday, …
Read More »