Uganda

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandan pop star and opposition leader Bobi Wine, who released a song urging Africa’s people to wash their hands to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, is criticizing African governments for not maintaining better health care systems for the continent’s 1.3 billion people.

In his new song, “Corona Virus Alert,” Wine and collaborator Nubian Li highlight prevention measures against the virus, which now has been reported in at least 46 of Africa’s 54 countries.

27 March 2020; AFP: It was the promise of oil -- billions of barrels of black gold, discovered locked beneath Lake Albert -- and the riches to follow that brought electricity to Buliisa.

Roads, piped water, and other unthinkable luxuries came next, as the poor farming village on the great lake's northern shores transformed into a booming frontier town, and Uganda braced for newfound prosperity as an African oil giant.

But those fortunes never transpired.

KAMPALA, Feb 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — Health experts from 17 African countries met here to discuss strategies to eliminate yellow fever epidemic on the continent.

Ruth Aceng, Uganda’s minister of health, told reporters that most African countries are grappling with yellow fever outbreaks.

Among the strategies is to have epidemiological data that will guide the introduction of the yellow fever vaccine into the routine immunization for countries that are interested, Aceng said.

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda is “studying” the possibility of opening an embassy in Jerusalem, President Yoweri Museveni said on Monday, during a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Such a move would be seen internationally as a statement of support for Israel’s claim for the city of Jerusalem to be its capital, a potential political win for Netanyahu less than a month before a national election on March 2.

1 February 2020; AFP: After a racism debate in Davos on the invisibility of African climate activists, Greta Thunberg held a press conference Friday with fellow eco warriors from Kenya, Uganda and South Africa to stress the importance of their voices.

KAMPALA, Jan 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Ugandan Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said the country is on high alert as locusts draw close to the common border with Kenya.

All nine ministries have been instructed to work together to collectively heighten the country’s preparedness to prevent or handle the invasion, said Rugunda in a statement issued here.

The locusts have reached Kenya’s Samburu and Turkana areas, which are close to Uganda’s northeastern border, he said, citing relevant reports.

KAMPALA, Dec 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, reshuffled his cabinet, dropping some ministers and appointing new ones.

Museveni maintained most of the ministers. He also maintained the vice president, prime minister, ministers of defence and foreign affairs, and minister of finance, among others.

The president reassigned some ministers to other portfolios.

The president appointed Kahinda Otafiire as minister of East African Affairs, removing him from the position of minister of justice and constitutional affairs.

KAMPALA, Sept 12 (NNN-NEW VISION) — The asylum seeker and refugee population in Uganda has increased by about 48%, a report by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has revealed, indicating an increase in asylum seekers from Burundi, DR Congo and South Sudan.

According to Yonna Tukundane, the social media expert for UNCHR, by July, Uganda was host to 1,313,802 asylum seekers and refugees.

KAMPALA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. tourist and her tour guide who were kidnapped in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park on Tuesday by unknown gunmen have been rescued.

Ofwono Opondo, Uganda's government spokesman tweeted that the American tourist and her guide, who doubled as driver, were rescued on Sunday by the Ugandan security forces.

"Rescued alive from the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), safely back in Uganda. The kidnappers have escaped and operations continue," said Opondo.

KAMPALA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people on Saturday took part in a run in Uganda's capital Kampala aimed at popularizing China's proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China in 2013 proposed the BRI which refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa through the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road.