ACFODE Weekly News Round Up

RATE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORRYING
Most cases of domestic violence incidents such as the ones the press have been reporting about result in deaths, and this impacts negatively on many more people, especially those who the deceased lives behind. Even when the violence does not end in homicide, it often tears marriages or families apart. In recent months, we have had stories in the media of a mother either committing suicide, infanticide or abandoning her responsibility due to a number of reasons. The latest incident unfolded on Tuesday, when a 35-year-old mother Gonza Nanteza threw herself from a cliff and drowned with her six-month-old daughter. According to reports, she committed suicide after she allegedly found her husband in their marital bed with another woman.

Gonza's story is not an isolated case as it is becoming a trend. Reasons behind such horrific incidents are always related to infidelity, sexual violence, and domestic violence, among others. These acts beg the question as to whether the campaign against domestic violence and respect for women's rights is yielding any fruit. It also begs the question as to whether it is time to change the approach in fighting this vice.
The police investigation reports show that homicide has increased in the last three years. It also reports there were 159 cases of domestic violence in 2011. The glitch is that domestic violence programmes are not keeping pace with the demand for related services. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Editorial/Rate+of+domestic+violence+worrying/-/689360/1491432/-/117yvltz/-/index.html

UGANDA MUSLIMS FIGHT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Resorting to Islamic teachings urging protection of women and children rights, Ugandan officials have called on Muslim scholars to spread a message of gender equality to curb domestic violence in southern Uganda's Busoga region. "Gender based Violence cases are ranked high in Busoga sub region," Joshua Kitakule, the Secretary General of the Inter Religious Council (IRC), told New Vision newspaper on Tuesday, August 28. "So it is the religious leaders to take on with the opportunity of training their followers the dangers accrued to the vice so that it is reduced in the region." Kitakule made the call during a two-day training for senior Muslim religious leaders in Busoga sub region in Bugiri district on Saturday.

He urged Muslim scholars to advise followers to be kind and considerate to their wives in their homes. "A lot of women and men seek assistance in domestic violence cases at Police, NGOs and local leaders like village L.C chairpersons," Kitakule said. "But it is your duty as Muslim leaders to encourage them to work as a team between husband and wife in their various homes in order to build a good family despite one's religion." Scholars were also urged to encourage parents to inculcate discipline into their children at home right from childhood until they are grown up. "Uganda will soon celebrate 50 years of existence so things you do must show that you are elders and respectable in your homes," Kitakule said. Read more

http://www.onislam.net/english/news/africa/458811-uganda-muslims-fight-domestic-violence.html

WOMEN MPS DISAGREE ON COHABITATION

As Parliament debates the Marriage and Divorce Bill, women MPs are divided on whether to scrap cohabitation clauses in the Bill or leave them in. The divisions manifested during a two-day workshop to discuss the Bill held at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala starting Friday.

Cohabitation, dowry and marital rape emerged as the major issues in the Bill, which are still contentious despite the fact that the committee on legal and parliamentary affairs that was tasked to study the Bill has its report almost ready. While some MPs advocated for scrapping of cohabitation from the Bill, others insisted it should remain. Those in favour of doing away with it argued that cohabitation is not a form of marriage and therefore has nothing to do with marriage or divorce – the subjects of the Bill. They proposed that there should be a separate law on cohabitation. Read more

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634829-women-mps-disagree-on-cohabitation.html

CHEATING HUSBAND DRIVES WIFE, DAUGHTER TO SUICIDE MISSION
The adage 'Too much love kills' may not be false afterall, since it came into action on Tuesday when a 35-year-old businesswoman threw herself from a cliff and drowned with her six-month-old daughter. The problem started two weeks back when 35-year-old Gonza Nanteza of Lwamunnyo Island in Division B Entebbe Municipality allegedly found her husband in their marital bed with another woman. "On finding her husband, she picked his shoes and threw them in the lake, which angered him and he started beating her up, the incident climaxing with the woman drowning herself," Ms Abdul Lukenge, a neighbour and witness, said. Mr Lukenge said Nanteza has always been crying and threatening to do something bad after her husband, Emmanuel Byaruhanga, betrayed her trust.

The neighbour, who claims that he was Nanteza's best friend, says she decided to end her life two weeks before the incident and was always loudly playing the local hit 'Abantu Bakoowu' literally meaning 'people are tired'. "She once asked me if a baby can drown in the lake and I told her babies don't drown but I didn't read into what she was gearing at until the sudden occurrence," Mr Lukenge said. Mr Exepedito Sekanjako, another witness, said from the time Mr Byaruhanga allegedly assaulted his wife, she was acting frustrated, saying the baby would not grow and her days on earth were numbered. "On Monday, she went around collecting money from whoever owed her, saying she doesn't want to die and leave people with her money," Mr Sekanjako said. He added that Nanteza also distanced herself from people prior to her suicide. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Cheating+husband+drives+wife++daughter+to+suicide+mission/-/688334/1489962/-/18944x/-/index.html

MUSLIM LEADERS URGED TO TRAIN FOLLOWERS ON CURBING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Muslim leaders have been urged to mentor and train their followers to continue curbing domestic violence in Busoga sub region. The Secretary General of the Inter Religious Council (IRC) Joshua Kitakule made the call during a two day out reach gender based violence training for senior Muslim religious leaders in Busoga sub region at GIL GAL guest house in Bugiri district on Saturday. "Gender based Violence cases are ranked high in Busoga sub region so it is the religious leaders to take on with the opportunity of training their followers the dangers accrued to the vice so that it is reduced in the region," Kitakule said.

He added that they should urge their followers to be kind and considerate to their wives in their homes instead of battering them up before their children whenever they are in the wrong. "A lot of women and men seek assistance in domestic violence cases at Police, NGOs and local leaders like village L.C chairpersons but it is your duty as Muslim leaders to encourage them to work as a team between husband and wife in their various homes in order to build a good family despite one's religion," Kitakule said. Read more

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634617-muslim-leaders-urged-to-train-followers-on-curbing-domestic-violence.html

IT'S GOOD TO PORTRAY WOMEN POSITIVELY

I am impressed by the Uganda Health Marketing Group's diarrhoea treatment advert where a female pediatrician is used to promote the treatment. We are used to adverts both in the electronic and print media depicting women in traditional roles of mothering and caring for homes. Many times, women are used to advertise detergent powders while washing clothes, cooking oil while baking chapatis, etc.

There is the famous one for Blue band where a mother on a boda boda takes buttered bread to her daughter on her way to school. Such adverts often ignore the positive roles women play in society and this may not be very inspiring to young girls. As we invest more in girls' education, we need to continuously encourage them to aspire for professional jobs, including in the non-traditional areas for women. One reason we still have few females joining science courses is due to no deliberate encouragement of girls to venture in sciences. Let us use such adverts to portray women positively. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Letters/It+s+good+to+portray+women+positively/-/806314/1492236/-/804cgjz/-/index.html

EXPERTS REVEAL 35000 OF ABORTIONS IN UGANDA ARE INDUCED

Experts have revealed that 35, 000 abortions in Uganda are induced every year which leads to the death of children before or after delivery. Obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Charles Kiggundu, confirmed these figures saying, "There are over two million conceptions in Uganda every year. 200,000 to 300,000 of these miscarry or abort spontaneously but 350,000 abortions in Uganda are induced," he said.

He spoke during a breakfast meeting convened by the Center for Reproductive Rights and Centre for Human Rights and Development in Kampala yesterday, to discuss the laws and policies on abortion in Uganda. "90,000 of the induced abortions end up with severe complications but only a half of them access post abortion services," Dr. Charles said. "Only half of the women with complications seek medical care. A few survive but many others die," he added.Read more

http://www.ugandapicks.com/2012/08/experts-reveal-35000-of-abortions-in-uganda-are-induced-62116.html

MAKE ABORTION LAWS CLEAR- RIGHTS GROUPS

Civil society organisations have asked the Government to clarify the existing laws on abortion. According to them, the existing laws are grossly misunderstood to the extent that women who should access abortion services are blocked and stigmatized.This was at a workshop organised by the Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR) and the Centre for Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) at the Serena Hotel in Kampala.

Quoting mortality statistics, they said that Uganda loses more than 6000 mother annually to pregnancy related causes and 26% of them are due to unsafe abortions. They said that a number of those who survive get scarred for life that they are unable to have children. Judith Akol, the Regional director of Reproductive Health Rights said that in Uganda, lack of information on abortion related laws and policies is fueling differing understanding of the issue to the detriment of those who should be benefitting from them. Read more
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634771-Make-abortion-laws-clear--rights-groups.html

ABORTION IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

We advocate for human rights from almost all aspects of life but abortion is one act against human rights that some people are steadily advocated for. There have been debates on whether to legalise medical abortion directly or indirectly. The law in Uganda is still protective against abortion unless the pregnancy poses a health risk to the mother /child. However, with technological improvement as well as more research being done, doctors will agree that with most pregnancy-related risks, a mother and child can both be saved. Ethically, when doctors are dealing with pregnant women, they are in effect dealing with two patients who they must save. An unborn child is a human being.

Rape and incest are very traumatic and should be handled very carefully not to inflict more pain on the victims. When victims of these disheartening acts opt for abortion first, they get exposed to the numerous consequences of abortion such as guilt, high likelihood of damaging the reproductive organs, excessive bleeding, and in extremes, death. Besides, the abortion processes - whether medical or traditional - are not only very brutal to the mother, but also the unborn child. The unborn child does not deserve to die for the acts of their father. Abortion actually protects the perpetrators of these crimes since some of the evidence; the child, is done away with. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Letters/Abortion+is+a+crime+against+humanity/-/806314/1492234/-/jinkum/-/index.html

WOMEN MPS UNITE AGAINST CHILD DEATHS

Women legislators from southern and eastern Africa want their parliaments to improve the debate on the maternal and child health. Meeting in Kampala this week during the Southern and East African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health (SEAPACOH) assembly, the MPs said they specifically wanted the country's budgets to be informed by the debates on maternal and child health. The meeting brought together MPs from Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Botswana, Mali, Nigeria, Namibia and Malawi.

"To a great extent, parliamentary debates and committee meetings on maternal and child health should be held in advance of budget drafting, so the budget can be informed by them," Dr Blessing Chebundo, the SEAPACOH chairman said. They also want sufficient funds directed to the most vulnerable groups, including the poorest households, rural communities and minority groups. The guest of honour, First Lady Janet Museveni, advised the MPs to identify practical ways of domesticating resolutions on issues affecting the health of women and children. Read more

http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20680:women-mps-unite-against-child-deaths&catid=34:news&Itemid=114

CASES OF OBSTETRIC FISTULA RISING IN UGANDA

Cases of obstetric fistula are on the rise in Uganda, a specialist based in the nation says. According to health minister Dr Christine Ondoa, neglected labour is the reason for the increase in the condition. As many as 200,000 women in Uganda are thought to suffer from obstetric fistula, reports Ultimate Media.

Dr Ondoa pointed out that it is women who give birth at an early age or relatively late in life who have high chances of developing fistula when they give birth. Health equipment has now been donated to Uganda in a bid to reduce the number of cases of obstetric fistula in the country. It is believed close to 2,000 new cases of obstetric fistula are recorded in Uganda every year. Figures from the World Health Organization suggest the condition - which is claimed to be highly preventable - affects between 50,000 and 100,000 women around the world every year. Read more

http://www.figo.org/news/cases-obstetric-fistula-rising-uganda-0010384

KALIRO DECLARES KADAGA A HERO

The Kaliro district chairman, Wycliffe Ibanda, has hailed the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, for spearheading the fight against corruption in Parliament. "Mama, we are behind you because of what you are doing and if all leaders emulated you, then we would receive medicine even in our health facilities here," Ibanda said. Ibanda was among scores of leaders in the district who welcomed Kadaga at Kyani primary school in Bumamya sub-county. The speaker was in the district to launch a campaign against malaria. At least two mosquito nets will be distributed to each household.

Junior Environment Minister Flavia Munaba Nabugere, agreed with Ibanda, saying that Kadaga is never biased. "I want to assure you that our mother here is an accommodative woman who listens to all members in the House irrespective of gender, age or political affiliation and I believe that is a rare quality among most leaders," Munaba noted. Before she arrived at the venue, Kadaga had been mobbed by a jubilant crowd which was happy to see her. The Speaker, who was expected at Kyani at 12 p.m., arrived after 3 p.m. but about 3,000 people patiently braved the scotching sun to have a glimpse of her. Read more

http://allafrica.com/stories/201209010360.html

WHAT'S WITH WOMEN AND FEIGNING HELPLESSNESS?

Don't believe it when your woman says she can't run for this or the other reason, or she cannot drive, or cannot do this or that. Either she doesn't want you to know she can do it, or the time for her to show it is not yet due. On the flip side, there are things she will only do in your presence, but away from you, she is the dignified, gentle soul, who is the envy of the other rowdy women. Do you remember the day a centipede wandered into your bedroom and your wife saw it? Even before she could explain what had happened, she was up on the wardrobe top, her perfume bottles, hand-held mirrors and other things she uses in her facial fine art, flying all over the place.

This, while she screamed incoherently, waving her arms about like an insane windmill? Remember that day? Well, that picture of a terrified, helpless child she painted was entirely for your benefit. One day, in your absence, it was a shiny, black snake that entered the house. Being alone, she got dead scared alright but, keeping her eye on the lethal reptile, she tiptoed to the store, where she picked a metallic rod, returned and sought the snake from behind the telly stand where it was hidden and hit it right where it stood no chance of survival - on the head. You never got to know for two reasons - one, she took it out herself and two, why should she tell you, yet the day she sees a gecko, she will need your help? Read more

http://allafrica.com/stories/201209020057.html

WOMAN PAID SH25 MILLION FOR KILLED HUSBAND

A woman who sued the Government over the shooting of her husband by Policemen leading to his death in 2008 has been awarded sh25m compensation by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC). A tribunal sitting at the commission's Jinja office presided over by Commissioner Fauzat Mariam Wangadya, ordered Government to pay Salima Akia Atan the money as general damages for violation of her husband Rashid Atan's right to life. "The sh25m will carry interest at court rate with effect from August 23, 2013 until full payment is made," Wangadya stressed in her judgement dated August 24, 2012.

Akia, 47, a resident of Adal village in Apopong sub-county, Pallisa district, sued the Attorney General in June 2008 accusing the Police of killing her husband. In her complaint Akia said A Police officer identified only as Mugwa attached to Apopong Police post accompanied by eight colleagues, all armed with guns, stormed their home on June 8, 2008 at 2.00am, to arrest Atan following an assault case lodged against him by one Tukei. She added that the Policemen ordered Atan to open the door but he did not comply forcing them to kick it open and entered. She said as Atan complied with a directive to move out of the house, Mugwa shot him in the right hip. Read more

http://allafrica.com/stories/201208301194.html

CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND CENTRE FOR HEALTH, HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT (CEHURD) CONVENES DISCUSSION ON KEY REPRODUCTIVE LAWS AND POLICIES IN UGANDA
Healthcare professionals, lawyers, policymakers, and reproductive health advocates are gathering today in Kampala to discuss abortion laws and policies in Uganda, addressing current misunderstandings of the country's position and discussing strategies to reduce unsafe abortions. Representatives from the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development are leading the discussion. Uganda's laws and policies addressing abortion are unclear, confusing, and often contradictory. Consequently, although abortion is legal to preserve the life or mental or physical health of a woman and in cases of sexual assault, many people--including health care professionals--are under the impression that abortion is illegal.

"The true content and scope of Uganda's abortion laws needs to be clarified and publicized if health care providers are to be able to provide the critical reproductive health services that are every woman's fundamental human right," said Elisa Slattery, regional director for Africa at the Center for Reproductive Rights. "The government must broaden access to information among health care professionals and the public at large. It's the only way to ensure the safe provision of reproductive health care, and stop unsafe abortion from killing and disabling women in Uganda," said Moses Mulumba, executive director of the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development. Read more

http://allafrica.com/stories/201208291273.html

KAMULI TEENAGER PRODUCES TRIPLETS, NOW STRANDED

Medical workers in Kamuli Mission Hospital in Kamuli district are stranded with a teenage student who delivered triplets by Caesarean section. Jamawa Babirye, aged 15, delivered triplets last Monday night after a relative dumped her in the maternity ward the previous evening and vanished.

She is a student of Lubiri Secondary School in Kampala. "We're happy that the operation was successful but concerned about the wellbeing of the mother and the babies," Rose Thumithor, the hospital administrator said on Wednesday. The visibly weary young mother told New Vision that her woes started last year when she met Farouk Nkaja who impregnated her. He is a draper in St. Balikuddembe market (Owino) in Kampala. Read more

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634785-kamuli-teenager-produces-triplets-now-stranded.html

WOMEN TAKE OVER MINIMUM WAGE CAMPAIGN

After failing to convince the government to set a minimum wage for Uganda's labour force over the last two decades, male unionists have now given a chance to their female counterparts to spearhead the campaign. Launching what is being dubbed as the "re-energised" campaign for a minimum wage in Kampala over the weekend, the National Organisation of Trade Unions (Notu) secretary for women said they are ready to take up the challenge of the fight to achieve a minimum wage. "As women, we are naturally more persuasive than men and there is no office we shall enter and they refuse to listen to us," Ms Victoria Nanteza said.

Unionists have for long been pushing President Museveni's various administrations to fix the minimum wage at Shs250,000 to protect workers from exploitation. Their efforts have, however, met with steady resistance from the government, amid lobbying by some private sector interests. In the early years of the campaign for a minimum wage, the government's main response was that because the country's economy was still emerging from years of destruction caused by devastating civil strife, it would be unwise to do anything which would discourage potential investors from setting up shop in Uganda. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Women+take+over+minimum+wage+campaign/-/688334/1493440/-/q6ukiu/-/index.html

MDGS: WHAT THE 2015 DEADLINE MEANS FOR AFRICA

Few years ago world leaders promised a commitment strategically aimed at achieving a set targets as clearly drafted and earmarked by United Nations Council. During this worldly assembly, the basic tasks were; reducing extreme poverty, achieving universal primary education, halting the spread of HIV/Aids, malaria and other deadly diseases before 2015. Almost two years left to meet the designated deadline, the then paper work has not been essentially given massive attention especially in Africa where the impact is felt much. In his rare address to mark the BBC 70th anniversary, the former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, said: "These are minimum, achievable goals, with a clear deadline: 2015.

They are achievable, not by holding more world conferences, but by people like you, in every country, coming together and taking action." This necessarily meant that every individual should be concerned and action should prevail without fail. However, many African countries have not conclusively laid out policies to smartly combine the international privileges got from the donor community with the local efforts to outclass these evils affecting the continent. Only such sacrifices have been diverted to wrong pockets through corruption. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/MDGs++What+the+2015+deadline+means+for+Africa/-/689364/1492224/-/59i9ds/-/index.html

MENSTRUAL CUP: ANOTHER WAY TO MANAGE THAT TIME OF THE MONTH

Menstrual periods can be messy time, so a lot of thinking and research is being put in to make the days as normal as possible. As such, various kinds of sanitary material have been made: there are disposable pads, reusable pads, cotton pads, tampon, among many others. Add to ths list, menstrual cup, also known as the moon cup. In Uganda, the menstrual cup which has only but recently been introduced on the market is the latest addition to the table of alternatives that women can use to take care of themselves during their menstrual periods. It is not so available on the local market that a couple of gynaecologists in the country that we talked to were not familiar with it.

Its form
The menstrual cup takes the form of a funnel when held upwards and of a bell when held upside down. It is made of non-latex medical-grade silicone so it feels like hard but flexible rubber. It is in two sizes: small and big. The small one is recommended for women that have never had a normal birth and the big one for women that have had a normal birth.

How it works
Unlike sanitary towels, pads and tampons that work in a way that they absorb the menstrual flow, the cup like the name suggests, collects the fluids.
It holds up to 30ml and most women, according to Dr Mike Kagawa, a gynaecologist at Mulago Hospital, can produce between 60ml and 80ml during their periods. On average, menstruation periods last four days which comes to about 16ml of flow daily. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Menstrual+cup++Another+way+to+manage+that+time+of+the+month+/-/691232/1493054/-/xrs4y1/-/index.html

UGANDA WOMEN MAKING ENDS MEET FOR A LIVING

Walking through downtown in Kampala city can be so flabbergasting. The areas of Owino market, Kikuubo, Old Taxi Park, Luuwum and Ben Kiwanuka streets are parts of the city always crowded and busy. I went down town over the weekend and I was filled with amazement upon seeing how women were especially engaged in doing business. It is a common scene hawking, drumming, clapping, whistling, calling buyers for merchandise and services.Women are engaged in all kinds of petty trade such as food vending, sweeping the streets, garbage collection, sales, taxi drivers, taxi drivers, security guards, hair salon vending, baby sitters, bar maids, among others.

On Luwuum street above the old taxi park, a number of young women line up in strategic points of buildings such as Majestic Plaza in the crowded verandahs of the street, softly call on passerby women for a hair do in Luganda, the native language in Kampala. "Nyabo, jangu osibe enviri, ebei enungi" meaning, madam come I plait your hair at a good price". Some women act as 'middlemen' for saloon owners. Many women have recently informally trained in hair dressing but have no capital to begin a saloon; therefore plaiting is the easiest because it only requires a comb to work on a client. On average plaiting one person 'pencil' hair style goes for about 20,000= (8 US $) which takes 4 hours. On a typical busy day in Kampala, women are seen with piles of plates of food delivered to clients in their work places in shops, stalls etc at a commission fee from the restaurant business owners.Read more

http://www.worldpulse.com/node/57226

HOW FARMERS' GENDER-BASED DIFFERENCES HAMPER CLIMATE ADAPTATION

Women in rural areas in developing countries are not equally vulnerable to climate change. A woman's resilience to the various impacts of climate change depends on her social status, her access to resources, and involvement in social networks. In some cases, one woman can be more resilient than her neighbour, and even be more resilient than some men in her village. Women are also not necessarily victims of climate change but can contribute to finding solutions on how to cope with climate change. The same applies for men. But in order to adress the gender-based needs and differences that exist, more information from the ground is required.

The newly released Working Paper Participatory gender-sensitive approaches for addressing key climate change-related research issues moves from theory to practice through the testing of pre-prepared participatory research tools in Bangladesh, Ghana and Uganda. The tools were first developed in the gender-manual "Gender and Climate Change Research in Agriculture and Food Security for Rural Development" (PDF) released earlier this year, together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The rationale behind the manual and the field tests was to get a better understanding of the reality female and male farmers face, and find gender-differences that impede climate change adaptation in developing countries. Read more

http://ccafs.cgiar.org/blog/how-farmers-gender-based-differences-hamper-climate-adaptation

MUSEVENI CALLS KADAGA OVER PROF KABWEGYERE

In a move that MPs on the Appointments Committee have described as bullish and unacceptable, President Museveni telephoned Speaker Rebecca Kadaga on Monday and asked her to ensure that Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere was approved as minister. Kadaga made this revelation during a closed-door discussion with members of the committee on Monday shortly before Kabwegyere, the newly appointed minister of Gender, Labour and Social Affairs, appeared for vetting, sources on the committee told The Observer. "Hon Kadaga said the President called her [asking] that we approve Kabwegyere], saying he would later move him to another docket," one source told us.

Prior to Kabwegyere's appearance, a group of women, led by Oyam South MP Betty Amongi, also chairperson of Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), had reportedly petitioned the Speaker, saying Kabwegyere, the former MP for Igara East, was unfit for his appointment because he is insensitive to gender issues. The group included women rights activists Miria Matembe, Irene Ovonji, Jackie Asiimwe, and Sarah Kiyingi. They said Kabwegyere frustrated the Domestic Relations Bill and would not be the right person to head the gender ministry. The activists also met the government Chief Whip, Justine Kasule Lumumba, to reiterate their rejection of Kabwegyere. Sources told us that Lumumba informed the President about the women's petition, prompting the urgent call to Kadaga to lobby for Kabwegyere's approval. Read more

http://observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20645:-museveni-calls-kadaga-over-prof-kabwegyere&catid=34:news&Itemid=114

KAMYA BACKS MAFABI FOR FDC PRESIDENCY

As candidates for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidency hit the campaign trail, Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA) President Beti Olive Namisango Kamya has shown her soft spot for one. Kamya on Sunday, August 26, described Nandala Mafabi as her political role model, whose mobilization skills are likely to change the trend of politics in the country. This was at a fundraising function for St Andrew's Church of Uganda in Lwamaggwa sub-county, Rakai district, where Mafabi was Kamya's special guest. The church, which requires about Shs 39m for renovation, was started by Kamya's grandfather who was a catechist, the late Andrew Kamya, in 1897.

To keep her family legacy alive, Kamya holds an annual event here at which she hosts politicians and business personalities to support development projects, including the church and schools named after her late father, Samson Kalibbala Kamya. Kamya, who was once Mafabi's colleague in both Reform Agenda and later FDC before she acrimoniously left the party to form UFA, described Parliament's Leader of Opposition as her close buddy. She said she is proud to have been a founder member of FDC and still admires Mafabi's leadership and mobilization skills. The function came days after Kamya called for a free and fair FDC election, asking outgoing FDC president Dr Kizza Besigye not to support any candidate as it may bias delegates. Read more

http://observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20643:kamya-backs-mafabi-for-fdc-presidency&catid=34:news&Itemid=114

HYDROCEPHALUS THREATENING THREE-YEAR-OLD BOY'S FUTURE

When Joan Nsungwa, 33, gave birth to a bouncing baby boy three years ago, little did she know that the health of her child would soon deteriorate. "When Miracle Asinguza was three weeks old, he started vomiting and got persistent fever before the head started swelling gradually," she says sadly before bursting into tears. Nsungwa, a peasant farmer, does not know the illness that threatens the life of her child. She is also not sure of whether she can raise the money for the treatment. She has abandoned farming, her main source of livelihood to pay attention to her child. Unfortunately, there is little or no progress in improving Asinguza's health.
"The head continues to swell and I have not raised any money for treatment," she adds.

She keeps walking around the streets of Hoima town fundraising for her child's treatment but few have come to her rescue. "When I'm lucky, I get between Shs2,000 to Shs5,000 a day," she says as she repeatedly weeps while looking at the head of her child. After realising there is little hope in raising the money, the family has taken Asinguza back to their home in Buswekera North LCI in Busiisi Division of Hoima municipality, about six kilometres away from Hoima town. Asinguza's father William Kitakule, 62, is a subsistence farmer just like the mother who also keeps complaining about his own deteriorating health. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Hydrocephalus+threatening+three+year+old+boy+s+future/-/691232/1489716/-/1hekmdz/-/index.html

YOU TOO CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH BREASTMILK FOR YOUR BABY; WE DID

"Fortunate Mbabazi, a mother of two started using food supplements before breast feeding her child for the recommended six months. "I gave birth to my first born child to a normal birth, but when it came to breastfeeding him, I rarely used to follow what mothers were supposed to do which was breast feed the child for six months. When I delivered, they took us through steps of breastfeeding and the doctors told us that we were supposed to breast feed the child exclusively for six months. But when I got home, I started using food supplements before the six months.

This was due to laziness on my part. This not only put the baby at risk because his intestines were not yet used to these other food supplements but I also failed to produce enough milk for him, which I later learnt came as a result of not breast feeding him enough. I did not know that even stress can limit breast milk production. When I took long without breast feeding, I started getting nipple problems. However, when it came to my second born, I visited a clinic that specialises in breastfeeding where I was told the only solution to the little breast milk and painful nipples was to actually breastfeed the child. Now with my second born whom I breast feed exclusively, I no longer feel the pains I used to feel, and the child is also responding well. The baby is actually healthy. It is so true that as the baby continues to suckle, the milk production also increases." Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Full+Woman/You+too+can+produce+enough++breastmilk+for+your+baby++we+did/-/689842/1491356/-/y3tgsfz/-/index.html

HERE IS HOW TO BOOST BREAST MILK PRODUCTION
Doctors insist there is no situation where a woman who has delivered fails to produce breast milk for their babies. It is rather that most women fail, especially psychologically, to rightly stimulate production, writes Christine Katende. Almost all nursing mothers have a fear - that they will not have enough breast milk for their babies. Therefore mothers give it as a reason for stopping to breast feed or introducing supplementary foods to the baby at an early stage. According to Dr Nelson Ssewagudde, a gynecologist, a mother needs to know that breast milk is produced from stored energy formed during pregnancy. He says the first thing every nursing mother should do is determine whether her supply is low or not.
"There are really few incidences where a mother fails to produce breast milk completely, at least they shall not have enough but it shall be there," notes the doctor.

Encourage demand

The doctor explains that with breastfeeding, the brain is stimulated to produce more milk with an increase in demand for the milk, so the first thing to do to stimulate production is continue placing the baby on the breast to suckle. The demand, to the brain, is demonstrated by milk being gotten out of the breast, either by suckling or expressing the milk out of the breast. "The more important thing is how the baby feeds and how it is positioned while suckling the breast. The longer a baby nurses at the mother's breast, the more milk will be produced and it is one of the best ways breast milk can be stimulated," he explains. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Full+Woman/Here+is+how+to+boost+breast+milk+production/-/689842/1491374/-/bih6bmz/-/index.html

HOW IS IT WE STILL ACCEPT TO BE SOLD CANCER IN JARS?
"I can make for you a mix for your face. It is going to work to brighten your complexion and smoothen it, "A promise every woman wants to hear and the sales girl at the beauty shop, one of those high end ones scattered in the city centre, knew this when trying to sell me her wonder face creams. I was curious on what was contained in that concoction, and Ms Salesgirl listed several creams, lotions and tubes which made this wonder-mix. Now mixing several products wouldn't be the worst crime committed by the beauty industry and even if the doctor or some other learned folk may have something to say about combining the different active ingredients in the various lotions, there shouldn't be something life threatening. Except that on that list were two or three medicinal tubes, the type that you only use with a prescription and I am pretty sure only for the period you have a diagnosed skin affliction.

"To have it in a cream you are supposed to use daily" did not make any sense, not to mention it could be dangerous and I did not hesitate to point this out. Miss Sales Lady, after a long suffering sigh, explained that the magic of the whole mix lay in these ingredients. And several other substances that I suspect contain hydroquinone or mercury. Now, I must admit there was a bit of my world famous "you are dead to me look", for implying my skin is not smooth or bright enough (like the next woman, even if it is not I do not want to hear it). For trying to sell me cancer in a jar ,I had no words, especially when I thought how many other gullible women, keen on achieving that perfect complexion and trusting the beauty shop, have bought the cream. That this unscrupulous saleslady has the guts to do her pitch means she gets away with it and that because there are several women seeking the very solutions she offers health implications notwithstanding. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Full+Woman/How+is+it+we+still+accept+to+be+sold+cancer+in+jars+/-/689842/1491360/-/vro3yjz/-/index.html

LIFE STYLE

PROF NAMBOOZE: ACADEMIC SUCCESS THAT CHANGED THE REGION'S HISTORY
In the same era where a lecturer openly protested against teaching a female student in a mathesmatics class, one girl went ahead to become the first female doctor in the region, changing the course of history that women were not meant to have an education, let alone study sciences, writes Robert Mugagga. There was a time when a male tutor at the university walked out of class in protest because there was a female student that chose to offer mathematics. Vowing not to come back unless she left, he teased about whether she had mistaken the class for a labour ward. Little wonder therefore that during that time, there were hardly in women in the science professions like medicine or engineering. The highest rank women would attain in medicine was that of a nurse, which has seen people in the villages still refer to even female doctors as nurses while referring to male nurses to as Doctor.

A child is born

It was about that era that in Kampala suburbs of Nsambya, a modest and little known couple-Joseph Lule, a school teacher, and Maria Magadalena Lule, a house wife-gave birth to the first of their later to be 13 children, a bouncing baby girl. It was this girl, named Josephine Nambooze, that would later make history by becoming the first female doctor, not only in Uganda, but in the whole of East and Central Africa. One of her siblings, James Ssekajugo, a doctor himself working with the ministry of health, says of his sister as having been a brilliant sister that inspired academic brilliance in the rest of them. it therefore came as no surprise when she later earned herself a scholarship to Mt St Mary's Namagunga for her secondary education from St Joseph Nsambya where Nambooze attended her primary school. Read more

http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/ugandaat50/Academic+success+that+changed+the+region+s+history/-/1370466/1491386/-/uv47snz/-/index.html

NALUGO SACRIFICED HER SALARY TO EDUCATE MUMS

Having seen her mother breastfeed her siblings, she knew breast milk was the only food a mother should give her baby. When she became a mother in 2004, Josephine Nalugo, an infant and young child feeding counsellor and director at Children In Africa, Uganda breastfeeding project got excited. "I looked forward to many things, including breastfeeding, which I did without any challenges during maternity leave," she recalls. Nalugo, a mother of two girls, says after her leave ended, she was torn between work and taking care of her baby. She recalls requesting her boss to work half day so she could have the afternoon to care for the baby. Fortunately, her boss did not object.

When Nalugo took her baby for immunisation, it turned out that she had not gained any weight, which worried her. "The nurses advised me to express milk and leave it home, but I did not know how to do it. I read about expressing milk and learnt how to do it." Nalugo recalls being pressured by her friends to feed the baby on formula. "I was forced to buy formula, but when I mixed it and tasted it, it was tasteless. I broke down and cried. I abandoned formula and continued to express breast milk, especially when I returned home in the evenings after work and every morning," she recounts. When her daughter was about two months, Nalugo visited her parents in Nkonkonjeru in Buikwe district to learn how they managed to breastfeed 10 children. Read more

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/634664-nalugo-sacrificed-her-salary-to-educate-mums.html

--Sandra Nassali & Esther Namitala
Public Relations & Communications Office
Action For Development (ACFODE)
Email: snassali@acfode.org