Understanding Uganda’s Election results 2016.

Dr Kiggundu announced results of 26,223 PS (polling stations) and leaving out 1,787 polling stations.

With 15,277,198 registered voters, a PS has on average 545 voters.

1,787 PS on average have 974,664 registered voters with an assumption that this number can go up or down depending on which districts are affected most. (Kampala has 1,338 with only 1,014,294 voters so u can see what I mean).

The left out voters constitute a 6.4% of the registered voters that if am to borrow Kiggundu’s statement (Giving this number to Besigye wouldn’t affect the winner), adding the 6.4% to KB would bring his percentage to averagely 42% and bringing Museveni‘s to 53%.

Now here is the trick that comes with numbers.

If I really want to have a serious effect on those numbers, I only take out districts and polling stations that can give KB a serious margin. It’s at this point that I want you to look at the most affected districts in eliminated PSs.

Jinja only reported 11 out 399 PS leaving 388 PSs out

Rukungiri only reported 3 out of 276 PS leaving out 273

Kyenjojo only reported 60 out of 337 PS leaving out 277

Kampala left out 162, Kabale left out 190, Wakiso left out 119.

Jinja, Kampala, Wakiso and Kabale and high populous district that can project eliminated voters to be of significance and also believed to give opposition strength to bring down the 60% to a below 55% at a fair level.

Questions.

1.Why did Kiggundu’s commission leave out these PSs? 
2.Was it a strategic move to keep the NRM house happy that they won with a high percentage by eliminating those PSs where KB is believed to have performed good?

3.Were they trying to catch up with NRM opinion polls of a 70%?

4.Who is to blame for this level of incompetence at the district level?

"From Dr Kiggundu’s released results, we shall explore all angles; all corners from those few numbers till we get the answers we so much desire.Which districts had the highest percentage increase in registered voters since 2011?"

Amudat had the highest increase with a 72% (21,039 in Y11 and 36,203 in Y16) and this district submitted in all its PS( polling stations). In this District Museveni had a whopping 279% increase in his votes from 6,658 in Y11 to 25,262 in Y16. The closest contender Besigye lost ground to this district he won in 2011 from 13,262 votes in Y11 to a paltry 521 votes (yes u read that right 521 votes) in Y16, contributing to a 96% decline in that district.

Buvuma came in second with 44% increase in registered voters yet even this district, Museveni won it and he had a 75% increase in his votes compared to those of Y11. Yes even the inaccessible Buvuma submitted in all its PSs to EC in time.

This pattern continues for 15 districts in ascending order with the highest number of increased registered voters and all these 15, Museveni won them. The Likes of Kyegwegwa (43%), Buhweju (38%) Kole (33%), Kibaale (32%) Apac (32%) plus some more, and in all these 15 leading districts (in the %ge number of registered voters) Museveni won in all of them.

The irony with the above districts all submitted in their PSs or at least they were left with 1 or 2 PSs.

Museveni won in all of the above districts with a resounding victory and this is the case with the top 15 districts which had a higher percentage increase in registered voters.

One thing with numbers, they speak a lot, and the patterns can be found with further scrutiny. Are these patterns a well-orchestrated plan to make these districts have a higher number increase in registered voters who can favor Museveni in tallies or is it a mere coincidence?

Was it a well thought strategy, that in the above 7 districts, 4 of them (Amudat, Apac, Buvuma Kibaale, 2 of which are in national parks) are marked hard to access for most of their villages, which gives an upper hand to change results and also a hard time for opposition to man up the results? Or it’s just a coincidence.

#UgandaElcetoralCommission #UgandaElectionResults #UgandaDecides  #Museveni #Besigye #Amama #Uganda2016 #Uganda  #PearlOfAfrica #USA

The rot in Uganda health care system deteriorates every day.

500 Ugandan doctors working in Kenya

One Mwangi, a Kenyan medical doctor recently posted this statement on social media and it has been haunting me for a while.

“I have come to learn two things about Ugandans. You only complain about your healthcare system when something is wrong with you as an individual. Secondly you vote a government back into power that for the last 30 years has failed to bring your healthcare system into the 3rd world without taking it into account. You are a 4th world medical power that produces 1st world doctors. Makerere Medical School today would rank top 4th in Africa.”

Mwangi added that anyone who lectures at that Makerere Medical School is a world class doctor. Forget about those in private practice. Uganda government should concentrate on Mulago National hospital, and regional referral hospitals such as Jinja, Mbarara and Gulu as centres of excellence.

“My boss is a Ugandan doctor who left because of not just poor pay but poor infrastructure. He now earns 700,000 kshs. Your President has only done one thing that we Kenyans respect him for, bring you stability and build a powerful army,” he added.

"In terms of service delivery he is an absolute failure! We are told that Museveni cannot even get treatment in Mulago. How do you choose your own personal doctor to investigate poor service delivery? No wonder she did not name poor remuneration of doctors as a problem."

Mwangi concluded by judging Ugandans for the health systems failure, “So, you as Ugandans are to blame for your poor healthcare system. We have about 500 Ugandan doctors working here and they feel nothing for you because they think you are the cause. So style up and put the government to task. If you value your lives you should put doctors in a separate class of servants. In all first world countries they are among the highest paid individuals and they are made to account for that money through their work. It's only in Uganda where witch doctors earn more than their medical counterparts. You should be ashamed!”

All ANIMALS are equal, but SOME animals are more equal than others

According to a story published by the Daily Monitor on 14th February, President Museveni has ordered that former Information Minister and Nakaseke Woman MP, Ms Rose Namayanja, who survived a motor accident last year, be flown to India for a fresh operation.

Sources told Sunday Monitor that Ms Namayanja, the NRM’s national treasurer, was on steady recovery before the doctors at Nakasero Hospital realised that the nail they had implanted in her broken right thigh was about to give way.

Sources say the X-ray conducted by the doctors showed that the nail they had fixed in her fractured thigh was too small yet they needed a thicker one.

They recommended that she seeks medical attention from a specialised hospital in India to save the situation before it becomes worse.

President’s quick action

When the President received this explanation; he ordered that Ms Namayanja be flown to India immediately. She left the country on Thursday. She is expected to spend there between three to five weeks. The hospital could not be readily established.

When contacted yesterday, Mr. Rogers Mulindwa, the communications officer at the NRM secretariat, confirmed that Namayanja had been referred to India for specialised treatment.

Since October last year, Ms Namayanja has been nursing a femur bone fracture she sustained in a car accident in Kigogwa on the Kampala-Gulu highway.

Uganda Government should equip its hospitals instead of sending "blessed" few abroad for treatment.

In my opinion, yes it was good for the government to come in and take the Minister to India for better health services because it was a matter of saving her life. But who cares about the 19 mothers die every day while giving birth? Who cares about those poor mothers lying on Mulago hospital floors with their babies waiting for a vacant bed? About 6,000 women in Uganda die every year during childbirth, and a woman stands a 1 in 13 chance of dying while giving birth within her lifetime. Only 59 percent of births between 2006 and 2011 were delivered by a doctor or nurse/midwife, and only 57 percent were delivered in a health facility (UDHS 2011).

Who cares about that midwife who has to deliver an average of 10 mothers a day? Who cares about how much she earns?

Who cares about the shortage of HIV ARV drugs in the country? Yes the Global Fund helped by frontloading the medicine but what will happen after nine months when the medicine is finished?

People in Northern Uganda are dying of Hepatitis B and nothing is being done about it. Who cares? Who cares about poor Ugandan who cannot even afford to buy a certain type of medicine prescribed by a doctor?

When will this habit of sending “big people” abroad for treatment stop? Can you imagine how much tax payers’ money is going to be spent in just three weeks? May be we should all migrate to India since Uganda has invested in Indian hospitals. If Ms. Namayanja had advocated for better health care in district may be she would be getting treatment from Nakaseke hospital instead of India. To make matters worse, she might treated by a Ugandan doctor who went to India in search of greener pastures.

In summary it is high time that Uganda government wakes up and improves the health care system. Uganda Government should equip its hospitals instead of sending "blessed" few abroad for treatment. Increase salaries of health workers to stop them from seeking for greener pastures. Since we have the best doctors in Africa, all we need is the right equipment, medicine and motivation of health workers.

UGX45bn spent on printing ballot papers abroad when there is drug shortage in Uganda

On January 28, 2016, Uganda’s Electoral Commission received about 16 million ballot papers for next month’s presidential election. 

The total cost of printing ballots is estimated at UGX45bn approximately US$12,949,650. This is a lot of money which could have been used to cover part of drug supply gap, had the government used local machinery to printed ballot papers in country. The Global Fund has 

The Executive Director of Uganda Electoral Commission, Dr. Badru Kiggundu blames the huge cost on distrust, arguing that this was denying the country’s elections body a chance to develop capacity as the case is in other countries.

The consignment, aboard Ethiopian Airlines, was delivered at the Entebbe International Airport and witnessed by the polling body’s officials, election observers and political party representatives.

Weighing about 67 tonnes (67,000Kgs), the ballots have been printed by South African company Pal Media Pty. The elections body boss, Dr Badru Kiggundu, said the company, although it had not previously printed for Uganda’s polls, had capacity because it had printed ballots for other countries.

UK firm TALL Security Print will soon deliver ballots for sub-county chairpersons and sub-county directly-elected councilors; UAE’s Ms Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing House for district chairpersons, district directly-elected councilors and sub-county women councilors while local printer Picfare Industries will deliver ballots for municipality mayors, municipality councilors and special interest group councilors.

Uganda facing HIV drugs shortage

Uganda is facing a shortage of essential drugs in Government health facilities, according to the latest report, “Stock status report as at 1st October 2015,” by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Pharmacy division.

The report shows most of essential medicines such as reproductive health commodities, TB drugs, Antiretroviral medicines, anti-malarial medicines, vaccines like polio oral trivalent, measles, hepatitis B and BCG vaccines that treat common diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and opportunistic infections, diarrhoea, TB, diabetes and hypertension are not readily available. 

The supply gap for adult antiretroviral therapy is US $ 47,425,412, Equivalent to 163,617,671,400 Uganda shillings.

According to the Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organisations about 240,000 patients on publicly funded treatment programs are at risk because of the shortage, forcing them to take lower dosages or none at all.

Some activists said they were concerned the government was spending too much on measures designed to help them win presidential and parliamentary elections in February rather than on medicines. Officials denied the charge.

In Uganda about 1.5 million people, or about 4 percent of the population, is living with the HIV virus, of which about 820,000 receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs that help prevent the infection turning into full-blown AIDS.

"We're preparing to secure a loan of $200 million and we hope that will be able to plug the funding gap," Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Keith Muhakanizi told Reuters, denying the state was neglecting HIV victims.

Global Fund rushes HIV drugs to Uganda amid shortage

The Global Fund, a partnership that sends HIV drugs to poor countries, says it plans to send an advance supply of antiretroviral therapy to Uganda, after the East African country ran out three months before the end of last year.

"The Global Fund has already delivered shipments of drugs as scheduled for existing patients and is front-loading an additional 12-month supply of drugs," Seth Faison, the Fund's head of communications, said in an email response to questions.

"The first consignment of the 12-month front-load will arrive next month, he said. But he acknowledged that front-loading the delivery of drugs, while not increasing the total amount of drugs it sends, was a "short-term solution."

#UgandaDecides. 

UNDP Climate Change Storytelling Contest: Oxfam supports journalists’ participation with additional fellowships

The authors of the top five prize-winning stories will be invited to attend and cover the COP21 UN climate summit in Paris

Oxfam will support the Voice2Paris global storytelling contest launched in August by the United National Development Programme (UNDP) by providing three additional fellowships for participating journalists to cover the UN Conference on Climate Change, COP21, in Paris in December. Oxfam’s contribution to the contest aims at encouraging journalists’ participation in climate change reporting and raising public awareness of climate actions.

The storytelling contest targets writers 35 years and under from developing countries who want to contribute – locally and internationally – towards greater public awareness of climate change.

The authors of the top five prize-winning stories will be invited to attend and cover the COP21 UN climate summit in Paris. UNDP will support the top two winners and Oxfam, as a special partner in the contest, will cover travel costs and per diem for writers of the next three best stories worldwide.

“The contest is a fantastic opportunity to create awareness of the harmful impacts of climate change on communities, and of potential opportunities in climate-vulnerable developing countries” said Wang Binbin, Manager of the Climate Change and Poverty Team, Oxfam Hong Kong.

He also noted that this is also a great opportunity for young journalists to strengthen their perception of climate change and to frame it not merely as an environmental issue but also as an issue of social justice and poverty alleviation.

“We welcome the partnership with Oxfam, as it gives UNDP concrete support to expand the voices of vulnerable countries, helps depict the reality of climate change globally, and gives a new generation of journalists a chance to get heard during COP21” said Jo Scheuer, Director, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction at UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.

Maternal and Newborn Health Innovations Project Launched in Kenya

For 1 million babies worldwide every year, their day of birth is also their day of death

Photo courtesy of APO

#UNICEF and The #Philips Foundation together with Concern Worldwide, Maker and Gearbox, have launched the Maternal and Newborn Health Innovations Project, to help save lives and improve the health of pregnant women and children in Kenya.

Under the leadership of the Government of Kenya and the Project’s Steering Committee at the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and The Philips Foundation will facilitate the development of innovative health technology and solutions in the field of maternal, newborn and child health.

This cooperation will help catalyse novel health interventions for the benefit of the most vulnerable mothers and children, and contribute to reducing the number of deaths of pregnant women and their newborn babies. This investment is in keeping with the Government of Kenya’s commitment to investing in innovative, home-grown solutions for maternal and newborn health care.

In developing countries such as Kenya, maternal, newborn and child mortality rates remain unacceptably high. Kenya has reduced under-five child deaths per 1,000 lives from 90 in 2003 to 52 in 2014, but this still falls short of the Millennium Development Goal 4 target of 33 by the end of 2015. 

Neonatal mortality is also too high at 22 deaths per 1,000 live births. One significant cause of these deaths is the lack of medical equipment and technology to support even the most basic interventions for pregnant women and their newborns, especially in remote areas where health care workers lack essential medical resources.

“For 1 million babies worldwide every year, their day of birth is also their day of death,” said Sharad Sapra, UNICEF Director of the UNICEF Global Innovation Centre. “But with strengthened health systems and innovative solutions for both mothers and children, the chance for survival is greatly increased.”

The project was launched ahead of the September 25-27 United Nations Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, where UNICEF is promoting greater involvement of the private sector in improving children’s lives.

The Millennium Development Goals expire at the end of 2015 and are being replaced by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that represent a new set of targets for international development. 

The Philips Foundation and UNICEF will promote innovation and technology as a key strategy to realize the new SDGs and improve the lives of women and children where most needed. With the global presence of organizations, worldwide engagement and scale is at the centre of the partnership.

Mpigi appeals to government for more CD4 Count Machines

People Living with HIV and AIDS in Mpigi have appealed to the government of Uganda to give them more CD4 count machines. This took place during a stakeholders meeting held at Mpigi district main hall to come up with solutions on clotting of CD4 test blood samples.

Fred Sewanyana, Secretary of Mpigi Network of AIDS Service Organisations, said that clients from 20 ART sites depend on one machine based at Mpigi health center IV.

“The number of clients in ART care who need to get their CD4 tests before they can access antiretroviral therapy is overwhelming and many times blood samples clot before they are tested,” he added.

Sadat Ssemanda, Laboratory Technician at Mpigi HC IV, said that on average there are 100 blood samples to be tested for CD4 count but the machine can only work on 50 samples daily.

“The huge number of blood samples overwhelms the hub which results into blood clotting due to failure to run all the CD4 tests within the required 24 hours,” he added.

Ssemand noted that the sometimes blood clots due to poor transportation, or lack of lack electricity at health facility and requested the government give the district more machines.

David Ssebisubi, Program Coordinator of Muduma Health Initiative Association, said that the whole of Mpigi district has only two machines; one at Mpigi health center IV and Nkozi hospital and one mini CD4 machine at Buwama health center III.

“At Buwama health center III, 40 clients take CD4 test but the mini machine can only do 9-15 tests per day. All remaining samples are transferred to Mpigi health center,” he added.

Ssebisubi said that if more machines are given to the district more people will get their CD4 counted and get eligible for ART.

Siana Nakazibwe, Finance Manager of the Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organizations, advised the participants to use the opportunity of the political period and start a strong campaign so that they can get the machines.

“You can make those politicians pledge to contribute to buying the machines,” she advised.

According to the Health Management Information System report (July 2014-March 2015) the number of clients on ART care in Mpigi increased from 7051 to 7777. Those initiated on ART increased by 1514 from 6063. Out of those active on ART only 3467 were tested for CD4.

The report also indicates that HIV prevalence rate of Mpigi is at 8% way above the national rate of 7.3%; with people living in Buwama, Nkozi, Kammengo and Mpigi town council being at a high risk of getting HIV because most people are risk like fisher folks and trucker drivers live in these areas. 

Uganda launches new low-cost HIV drug.

The Ugandan government on Sunday launched a cheaper one-pill-a-day drug for HIV treatment, marking an advancement in its fight against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Cipla Quality Chemical Industries, Ltd, in Uganda is the proud manufacturer of the new drug, a triple cocktail (Efavirenz, Lamivudine and Tenofavir) HIV drugs. The single-dose Trioday treatment, which costs only $13 per month, replaces the cumbersome 12-drug cocktails that used to be the only option for people with the fatal human immunodeficiency virus.

“We are reaching the phase of the end of the HIV epidemic in Uganda and the region. We had never dreamed about this in 30 to 40 years back,” said Ugandan Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who launched the drug on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni.

Uganda has a large burden of HIV and AIDS: based on UNAIDS estimates, there were 1,500,000 Ugandans living with HIV in 2012 with 1,400,000 being among adults and 100,000 being  children. Women are dis-proportionally affected by the epidemic because only 44% of the adults infected were men. In 2012, there were 140,000 new infections in the country with 86% being among adults while 14% was among newly born babies. Furthermore, 63,000 persons living with HIV (PLHIV) were estimated to have died of AIDS related causes in 2012. 

These statistics imply that 383 Ugandans get infected with HIV on a daily basis, and an additional 173 people die due to AIDS related causes every day. In general, AIDS is one of the major causes of morbidity in the county. According to the 2008 Service Delivery Survey by Uganda Bureau of Statistics, HIV/AIDS accounted for 14% of all visits to the health facilities.