COMMUNITY NEWS Thursday, May 7, 2020 NV31 National COVID-19 fund gets more donations Former Lango Foundation Photo by Abou Kisige prime minister sues boss CENTRAL North By Nelson Kiva The Lango paramount chief, Yosam Ebii A day after the National Response Odur, has been dragged to court by to Covid-19 Fund made a his former prime minister, Dr Richard fresh appeal for support, several Nam, challenging him for appointing individuals and corporate Eng. James Ajal as the new premier. organisations flocked the Office Nam filed the notice to sue the of the Prime Minister (OPM) in Lango Cultural Foundation over Kampala to donate cash and non- irregularities in his dismissal from cash items. the position of prime minister by the “We remain committed to paramount chief. accord any necessary assistance Through his lawyer, Emmanuwel to fellow Ugandans and towards Egaru, Nam claims he was dismissed Government’s efforts to combat from office without following legal the coronavirus pandemic,” procedures. He argues that Chapter Sharon Kalakiire remarked while (4), Article 5 of the Lango Cultural handing over a consignment of Foundation constitution state that the items donated by SBC Uganda prime minister can only be dismissed if Limited to the Minister of General he is implicated in abuse of office or if Duties, Mary Karooro Okurut. he is mentally incapacitated. Karooro, who is also the political Minister Karooro Okurut (right) receiving relief items from employees of SBC Uganda advisor to the COVID-19 Fund, was accompanied by Dorothy Kisaka, the fund’s secretary and on Sunday indicated that they had chairperson of the fund, said. ERA communication manager, MP Basalirwa hands over administrator. received donations worth sh21b. NutriFish project donated 2.5 Julius Wandera, requested that SBC is undertaking the However, the plan is to collect tonnes of mukene and amaranth their support goes to the National construction of Hoima sh170b to be utilized by the health (doodo) seeds and enriched maize Union of the Disabled Persons of sh20m to COVID-19 team International Airport at Kabaale in ministry to procure test kits, flour worth sh22m. Uganda (NUDIPU). Hoima district. Personal Protection Equipment Dr Jackson Efitre, the principal The general manger of Chick The company donated four and other needs of the ministry. investigator of NutriFish project, Stax, Christine Nambarirwa, EAST tonnes of maize flour, 1.3 tonnes This means the members have a handed over the donations. donated 500kg of sliver fish of beans and 359kg of sugar. task of mobilising sh149b. The Electricity Regulatory powder for the COVID-19 The Bugiri Municipality MP, Asuman “If every Ugandan contributed Authority (ERA) staff contributed frontline health workers in Basalirwa, has instructed district Target sh10,000, it will go a long way,” part of their salaries and six Wakiso district. The lockdown officials to use the sh20m handed to The COVID-19 Fund leadership Emmanuel Katongole, the tonnes of maize flour. was extended for two weeks. the COVID-19 task force to buy maize for people affected by the current lockdown. pHOTO By John Thawite While handing over the sh20m that was given to all Members of Parliament, Basalirwa said he has Kasese medics received numerous phone calls from his constituents saying they do not have food to eat. “People are hungry and urgently need food aid. I expect the task force to give ask for support me accountability of all the money that has been given to them,“ Basalirwa to fight COVID-19 said. Mbarara journalists get from the Office of the Prime west Minister (OPM). COVID-19 food relief The food items delivered by the By John Thawite Kasese deputy Resident District Commissioner, Joshua Masereka, WEST Health workers at the Uganda- comprised 250kg maize flour, DR Congo border Bwera beans, salt, sugar and milk. Hospital in Kasese district say The donation is meant for the Journalists in Mbarara have received they are determined to fight the hospital staff and patients in COVID-19 food relief from the Youth for coronavirus despite challenges. critical need. Masereka handing over matooke to the hospital staff Development Uganda (YOPEDU) to help Their administrator, Pedison Masereka also delivered them during the lockdown. Buthala, said the medics face matooke from some communities Mpondwe border post, about more critical is the skills in using Edgar Buryahika, a senior sub-editor inadequate accommodation, of Busongora North constituency. 10km from the 150-bed capacity the equipment,” he said. with Orumuri newspaper, and Abdulkarim personal protection equipment Buthala said the screening hospital, is a high-volume transit Kilembe Hospital medical Ssengendo, a journalist with New Vision, and staff transport. points set up along various border point for truck drivers from Kenya, superintendent, Dr Edward through their organisation, YOPEDU, Buthala said only 8% of points also require more logistics, Tanzania, Uganda and the DR Wefula, underscores the need donated 400kg of maize flour to help in the hospital’s 250 staff are noting that the health workers Congo. for capacity training besides the the fight against COVID-19. accommodated at the facility. screen scores of truck drivers He said the health workers were provision of protective gear. He The two handed over the donation to “The 92% reside outside the there. also facing challenges of residents said the hospital had reserved a Mbarara COVID-19 task force chairman, hospital and we have to transport who keep crossing the borders. ward for COVID-19 cases. Lt. Col. James Mwesigye, at his office in them every day,” Buthala said. 42 truck drivers isolated “So long as we all abide by Mbarara on Friday. Some staff live in Kasese town He revealed that since the Protective gear is not everything the prevention guidelines by the Their donation was directed towards (60km away), while others reside pandemic broke out, 42 out of Dr Kapuru of Kagando Hospital health ministry, we shall overcome supporting journalists who have been in Kisinga and the mountainous the 56 people isolated at Bwera cautioned medical workers this pandemic,” Wefula said. rendered jobless due to the lockdown. areas of Kitholhu, he added. Secondary School were truck against over-dramatising the He hailed the health ministry for “We have realised the challenges our drivers. demand for personal protection training a response team at the fellow journalists are going through and OPM aids Hospital “The samples taken from the equipment. hospital and power-generating decided to stand with freelancers, who Buthala was briefing the media truck drivers have all tested “It is not the amount and even firm, EMS Nyamwamba, for earn per story published,” Buryahika shortly after receiving relief food negative,” Buthala said. type of gear that counts. What is various medical logistics. explained.