Society catergory

COMMENT | PATRICK OYULU |  In Uganda, when someone wakes up with swollen legs or mysterious pain, explanations abound. In Buganda, they’d say, “Yalinye Etalo,” meaning they stepped on something supernatural. Among the Alur, it’s “Enyonu Tho,” an ominous declaration that someone has “stepped on an illness.” But in urban …

KAMPALA, UGANDA | Xinhua | Uganda’s Ministry of Health on Friday confirmed an outbreak of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in the western district of Kyegegwa. The laboratory results from samples taken from a 28-year-old male from Kazizi village in the sub-county of Kyatega, who is under isolation at Bujubuli …

CAPE TOWN | Xinhua | South Africa’s Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced on Tuesday that over 93 percent of identified pit toilets in public schools have been eradicated. Addressing the National Council of Provinces in Cape Town, the country’s legislative capital, Gwarube described the achievement as “a critical step …

Equity Bank Launches Second Edition of Abakyala Ku Ntiiko to Empower Women in Businesses Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Equity Bank has launched the second edition of Abakyala Ku Ntiiko, a flagship initiative dedicated to empowering women in micro and small-scale business. This exciting day of sharing and lessons …

Prof. Francisca Mutapi, a global health expert suggests 4 ways to end the dependence HEALTH | FRANCISCA MUTAPI | There’s been a global trend in the reduction of aid to Africa since 2018. Donors are shifting their funding priorities in response to domestic and international agendas. Germany, France and Norway, for …

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health Ministry officials have advised residents of Arua City to invest in mosquito-repellent plants as a cost-effective strategy to reduce malaria prevalence and treatment expenses. The call follows a report by William Ofuti, the Principal Maternal and Child Health Officer in Arua City, indicating …

GULU, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | Gulu District’s Health Department has announced plans to roll out the new malaria vaccine, R21Matrix-M, in April 2025 to support efforts in the fight against malaria elimination in the district. Yoweri Idiba, the Assistant Gulu District Health Officer, confirmed the news during a malaria …

The condition that’s put Pope Francis in hospital HEALTH | Pope Francis has been in hospital for more than two weeks with what some media reports are now calling “double pneumonia”. The Vatican released a statement on Feb.18 evening saying laboratory tests, chest X-rays, and the clinical condition of the Holy …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Education and Sports is reviewing admission requirements for nursing, midwifery, and other health-related certificate programs following recent changes in the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) grading system. Dr. Safinah Kisu Musene, the acting commissioner for Higher Technical and Vocational Education and …

GULU, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | Open defecation, poor hygiene, and inadequate sanitation remain major challenges in the Gulu district, posing significant public health risks. Despite repeated warnings from health experts, a troubling number of residents continue to practice open defecation, particularly in the sub-counties of Unyama, Pukony, and Patiko. …