Uganda News

Authorities in Kampala, Uganda, are responding to a severe air quality crisis linked to over 7,000 deaths in the past four years. The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has installed 65 air quality sensors throughout the city to monitor pollution levels and inform response strategies, according to SciDev.net. Kampala's air pollution exceeds World Health Organization recommendations by eightfold, significantly affecting the health of its 5 million residents, with rising cases of heart disease, asthma, and other chronic conditions. Alex Ndyabakira, KCCA's head of air quality monitoring, highlighted plans to implement a train system on the Eastern route, which has been identified as heavily polluted. Key pollution sources include home energy use, transportation, and solid waste, with suggestions for mitigation such as transitioning to induction stoves or electric vehicles. Sumi Mehta, vice president of climate and environmental health at Vital Strategies, emphasized that advancements in technology make air quality monitoring more efficient and less costly, providing critical data for public health policies.

Kizza Besigye, a leading Ugandan opposition figure and four-time presidential candidate, was taken back to a maximum-security prison on Wednesday after appearing in a civilian court, where his health condition raised concerns. Lawyers attempted to secure his release, but a judge found him too frail to follow the proceedings, according to reports from local media. Besigye has been detained since November, leading to growing calls from supporters and human rights groups for improved medical care and his release. His family reported that he began a hunger strike in protest against his continued imprisonment. This came after Uganda's Supreme Court ruled that military tribunals lack jurisdiction over civilians, prompting legal arguments for his immediate release. As Besigye's situation worsens, observers warn that further deterioration could incite unrest in Uganda, where political tensions are high ahead of presidential elections next year. President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, dismissed calls for Besigye's release, citing serious charges against him, including treachery—a charge that carries severe penalties.

The iconic crested crane, a symbol of Uganda's national identity, is at risk of extinction, with its population plummeting from over 100,000 in the 1970s to just 10,000 today, according to Nature Uganda. Farmers in western Uganda report that the birds damage crops, leading many to disregard laws protecting them, which mandate life sentences or hefty fines for those who kill a crane. Local conservationists highlight that traditional beliefs once revered the bird, with a history of superstitions discouraging its killing. However, as crop damage rises due to an expanding agricultural sector, including encroachment into crucial wetlands, farmers increasingly resort to poisoning the birds. "One of the biggest threats against cranes is poisoning by farmers," noted Gilbert Tayebwa, a conservation officer. Despite conservation efforts and government rallies to restore wetlands, the situation remains dire. Adalbert Ainomucunguzi of the International Crane Foundation warns that without immediate intervention, Uganda faces the loss of this treasured species. The Ugandan government has declared 2025 a "Year of Wetland Conservation" to address the pressing crisis.

The recent halt of foreign aid by the U.S. government, announced by President Donald Trump, has severely impacted healthcare services in Uganda, particularly for individuals living with HIV. Mike Elvis Tusubira, a 35-year-old motorcycle taxi rider, shared that he can no longer access essential medications for himself and his wife, leading to the deterioration of their marriage due to the inability to practice safe sex. According to the BBC, Tusubira and his wife relied on supplies funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which closed programs crucial to their health after the abrupt aid freeze. Uganda, which received $295 million in health funding from USAID in 2023, is among the top recipients of U.S. aid in Africa, and the cutoff threatens to reverse progress in combating HIV. In Malawi, similar shutdowns have halted operations at health clinics and left patients scrambling for care. Experts warn the impacts of this funding interruption could result in an additional 6.3 million AIDS-related deaths globally within the next five years, according to UNAIDS' Winnie Byanyima.

The recent decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for 90 days has raised concerns about the resurgence of HIV/AIDS in Uganda, where the virus has been significantly controlled since high rates in the 1980s. According to reports, this funding freeze could jeopardize critical healthcare services, especially for those living with HIV, like 23-year-old Penelope Kyarikunda and her son Sheldon, who both rely on antiretroviral medications. While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured that life-saving programs would remain intact, the vagueness of the statements left many in Uganda uncertain about the future of their health services. Currently, USAID has been covering around 80% of Uganda's HIV/AIDS budget, as highlighted by health officials. The former President George W. Bush’s PEPFAR initiative reportedly saved 25 million lives globally, but local social workers, like Bill Ivan Tumwine, worry that the suspension might lead to deteriorating health conditions for patients previously supported by U.S. funding. With the looming possibility of medication shortages, healthcare professionals express deep concern over the long-term implications for Uganda's public health.

Uganda has declared an outbreak of the Ebola virus following the death of a male nurse at the Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, the health ministry announced on Thursday. The patient, who exhibited fever-like symptoms, died on January 29 after experiencing multi-organ failure. Post-mortem tests confirmed he was infected with the Sudan strain of Ebola. This marks Uganda's ninth Ebola outbreak since its first recorded case in 2000. Health authorities are now tracing 44 contacts of the deceased, including 30 health workers, though contact tracing may be complicated due to Kampala's densely populated environment of over 4 million residents. The virus is highly infectious, transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, and can cause severe symptoms including vomiting, muscle pain, and bleeding. To combat this outbreak, the World Health Organization has allocated $1 million to assist Ugandan health officials, and vaccination of all contacts of the deceased will commence immediately. Uganda had previously managed to control recent outbreaks effectively, with the last occurring in 2022, which resulted in 55 fatalities among 143 cases.

Uganda's health ministry has confirmed an Ebola outbreak in the capital, Kampala, after a male nurse succumbed to the virus on January 29. This incident marks the country's ninth recorded outbreak of the disease since its first case in 2000. The patient, who initially sought treatment at multiple facilities and with a traditional healer, was diagnosed with the Sudan strain of the virus following post-mortem testing. Officials stated that 44 individuals, including 30 healthcare workers, are being monitored as part of contact tracing efforts. The limited infrastructure in Kampala, which has a population exceeding 4 million, poses significant challenges for such initiatives. The World Health Organization has responded by allocating $1 million from its emergency fund to assist in controlling the outbreak. Vaccination efforts for the deceased's contacts are set to commence immediately. Although there is currently no approved vaccine for the Sudan strain, Uganda had received trial doses during previous outbreaks. Ugandan authorities are leveraging years of experience in managing Ebola responses to contain the situation efficiently.

Uganda has confirmed an Ebola outbreak in the capital city of Kampala, marking its ninth outbreak since 2000. The first case, a male nurse at the Mulago National Referral Hospital, died on January 29, 2024. According to the health ministry, he initially sought treatment for fever-like symptoms at various healthcare facilities and with traditional healers before succumbing to multi-organ failure. Post-mortem samples confirmed the presence of the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus. Following the death, authorities have initiated contact tracing for 44 individuals, including 30 health workers who may have been exposed. However, contact tracing poses challenges in the densely populated city of over 4 million residents. The World Health Organization has allocated $1 million from its emergency funds to assist Uganda in its response, while authorities plan to vaccinate all contacts of the deceased, despite the absence of an approved vaccine for the Sudan strain. Uganda previously experienced an outbreak in late 2022, which resulted in 55 fatalities out of 143 reported cases.

Eron Kiiza, a human rights lawyer representing Ugandan opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye, has been arrested and reportedly tortured following his detention by military personnel on January 7. Kiiza was entering a military courtroom to advocate for Besigye and his aide Haji Obeid Lutale when he was seized, subsequently convicted of contempt of court, and sentenced to nine months in prison on the same day. Reports from colleagues state that Kiiza displayed visible signs of abuse, including severe swelling on various parts of his body. Legal representatives who visited him in Kitalya prison cited routine violence against arrested individuals as a common practice within the Ugandan military justice system. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned his sentencing and called for his immediate release, arguing that it violates Ugandan law and international human rights standards. In response, a spokesperson for the Ugandan armed forces dismissed the claims of torture as false, asserting that Kiiza's rights have not been infringed and his detention adheres to Ugandan legal provisions. The environment for lawyers in Uganda has sharply deteriorated, with colleagues expressing shock at the attacks on legal professionals amid increasing governmental repression as the nation approaches general elections. Dr. Kizza Besigye, who has been a prominent critic of President Yoweri Museveni's long-standing rule, faces serious charges that many say are politically motivated. This situation is part of a broader trend of escalating repression against opposition figures in Uganda.