uhspauganda

Hon: DAVID Bahati, the MP who tabled the anti homosexuality Bill Bahati bill a curse to press freedom, prison services By Kikonyogo Ngatya Kivumbi A KEY prosecution witness in a rape case against Forum for Democratic Change ( FDC) leader rtd Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye, told a high court judge in Kampala prior to the 2006 presidential elections during cross-examination, that the accused would “invite her to his home in Bombo every weekend and raped her.” It was a suspicious case from the start, with the accused citing sabotage, political intrigue to stop him from standing, and he was later acquitted. But the witness statement changed the entire course of the trial in public’s eye when it was reported in the media. The media was able to report it without fear or favour, because court proceedings, like parliamentary debates are privileged- meaning they can be reported exactly as they are spoken out. And this is the most crucial aspect of press freedom in judicial proceedings that the ...

U.S. President Barack Obama has sharply criticized an anti-gay bill in Uganda that would impose the death penalty in some cases. Speaking Thursday, President Obama described the measure as "odious." He said that while people may disagree about gay marriage, it is "unconscionable" to target gays and lesbians in a dehumanizing way. Mr. Obama made the remarks during a prayer breakfast in Washington hosted by an evangelical group known as "The Family." Ugandan politician David Bahati, who activists say is a member of The Family, proposed the controversial legislation. Earlier this week, a group of 200 U.S. lawmakers introduced a resolution condemning the proposal in Uganda, saying it would set a troubling precedent. Supporters of the measure in Uganda have dismissed the outside criticism as a new form of colonialism. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni recently said the bill has become a "foreign policy" issue. He has urged lawmakers to craft a meas...

Friends, ignore Pator Pat Robertson and heed this call. As journalists, we have a responsibility to support those in pain with our actions and intentions. AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, calls on community radio broadcasters worldwide to rally in support of the people of Haiti, following the massive earthquake that has killed thousands of people and destroyed essential infrastructure. It is estimated one third of the country's 9 million population have been affected, tens of thousands have died and many more are injured and without adequate medical support. The earthquake has caused extensive damage to communication systems and other vital services. Among the many people directly affected are community media workers and their families. AMARC is conducting an urgent assessment of the status of community broadcasting in the areas affected and is working to mobilize resources and technical assistance. AMARC estimates that at least 12 community radio stati...

Pastor Martin Ssempa, pictured right, a fanatical,extremist and radical evangelical "christian" is reported in local media today that he would mobilise "at least a million Ugandans for a demonstration, scheduled for February 17 in Kampala" to force government to pass the anti homosexuality bill 2009. This pastor,who has credentials of stiffling media freedom in Uganda , with support of fanatical groups in America wants gays to be hanged. He has in the past tried to burry the red pepper, a tabloid with numerous court cases,which were all thrown out.How sad. As this bill targets the media by name, we are reproducing the entire text. vISIT THIS LINK for reports of the unnecessary demonstration http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/844484/-/whc52

Here is the text of the BILL HIV AND AIDS PREVENTION AND CONTROL BILL, 2009 ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES Clauses PART 1 – PRELIMINARY 1. Commencement 2. Interpretation PART II – PREVENTION OF HIV 3. Reasonable care to be taken to avoid transmission of HIV PART III - HIV AND AIDS COUNSELLING AND TESTING 4. Pre-test and post-test HIV counselling 5. Counselling to be conducted by trained HIV counsellors 6. Nature of pre-test counselling 7. Nature of post-test Counselling 8. Continuous counselling 9. HIV testing services 10. Voluntary HIV Testing 11. Persons incapable of giving informed consent to HIV testing 12. Consent to test for HIV may be dispensed with 13. HIV testing for purposes of criminal proceedings. 14. Routine HIV testing. 15. HIV testing under a court order 16. Provision of appropriate treatment to HIV positive pregnant woman. 17. Testing of the new born child exposed to HIV. 18. Effi...

Members of the national forum of people living with hiv/aids ( nafophanu) held joint world aids day activiuties with uhspauganda in a march from kawempe, through kazo up to nabweru grounds in wakiso district to remember those who have passed on and those living with the virus. members braved the cold weather and heavy down pour as they marched through the informal settlements, rallying community and households to vct,and being part of the day celebrations

Members of Uganda Health and science press association participated in the world aids day on december 1,2009 in which they highlighted and denounced a clause in the hiv/aids bill which seeks to criminalise the intentional spread of hiv. members were concerned that the bill targets women for passing on the virus to their children, even when a infection may be from a partner during pregnancy. a campaign to make an ammendment to the bill has been launchd by member media houses

Members from Uganda National Farmers Federation, At Uganda, UNADA,UHSPA-UGANDA, crop life uganda and usja at the seminar

UHSPA Trains journalists on counterfeits agro inputs The Uganda Health and Science Press Association on December 8,2009 held a one day training seminar for 50 journalists from both print and electronic media houses about the problem of counterfeits in the country. The seminar was held at Ivy's Hotel, Wakaliga in Kampala This was on the basis that members needed to be alerted about highlighting in their media, talk shows and columns the danger that counterfeit seeds, seedlings, agro chemicals pose to the environment,human health and food security. Dr Rita Laker Ojok, the Executive Director for Appropriate Technology,Uganda who supported the seminar financially said Uganda was threatened with declining food shortages. According to FAO Uganda’s agricultural productivity is constantly going down, despite a 3.2% annual population growth, one of the highest in the world. The country has registered a decline in real agricultural terms from 7.9% in 2001 to 0.7% in 2007/2008, rising to 2.6%...

Sweden has joined the growing list of countries heaping pressure on Uganda to discard a proposed law that would severely punish homosexuality. According to comments attributed to Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden’s development assistance minister, the Swedish government says it would cut aid to Uganda over an anti-gay law they find “appalling”. “My number two at the ministry, who has direct contact with the Ugandan government, has brought it up,” Ms Carlsson recently told Swedish Radio News. “We’ve talked about it in Uganda, and I’ve also tried to speak to the kind of organisations in Uganda that are the target of the legislation.” Uganda receives about $50 million in development aid from Sweden annually. Swedish Radio News reported online, in a November 30 article, that the Scandinavian country would consider discontinuing development aid to Uganda if the law was introduced. cLICK HERE FOR DETAILS: http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Sweden_to_cut_aid_over_anti-gay_law_95484.shtml

The deputy speaker of parliament,Ms Rebecca Kadaga ( Right) has promised to help health and science journalists to disseminate information on health and development. She said many policy makers are not up to date with information on health and science and its implications on public health. This was on the sidelines of the World Pneumonia day in a discussion with Mr. kikonyogo kivumbi ( Left), the uhspa-uganda executive director.

UHSPA-Uganda thanks all partner media houses for highlighting the World Pneumonia Day. We have attached links below to some of the wonderful articles published. Electonic copies of the event on radio and television will uploaded later. Thank you for a wonderful work done. Below, we have posted some of the wonedrful photos. Partner organisations can use them in their work,and remember TO ACKNOWLDGE us. UHSPA www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/34/699739 www.monitor.co.ug/.../Paediatricians_petition_Parliament_on_pneumonia_93363.shtml - www.monitor.co.ug/.../What_could_trigger_pneumonia_93362.shtml www.monitor.co.ug/.../Why_pneumonia_should_make_you_hold_your_breath_93619.shtml allafrica.com/stories/200911020896.html www.newvision.co.ug/D/9/34/699740