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Zawya
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Deputy Speaker Warns Against Sectarianism
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has cautioned against sectarianism based on religion. Speaking at the installation of Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance as the second Chancellor of Great Lakes University in Kanungu District on Saturday 22 March 2025, Tayebwa said politicians who promote division cannot effectively lobby for their constituents. 'We, the Banyakigezi, face a challenge that we often try to conceal—sectarianism in politics. When it comes to voting, many of us tend to choose candidates based on their religion, as if such division will somehow lead to improvements in infrastructure, such as roads and water supply, in our area,' he said. Tayebwa also warned the youth against being consumed by sectarianism, urging them to focus on contributing to the country's development. 'When this university faced challenges, the person who saved it was a Catholic, yet the founder is a reverend from the Anglican faith. I urge the people of Kanungu to reject those promoting sectarianism. Those who fought to liberate this country from such divisions are your children, and allowing sectarianism would be letting them down.' He commended the university's directors for their resilience in managing the institution and praised their choice of Dr Baryomunsi as Chancellor. 'I do not think there is a door in this country that Dr Baryomunsi can knock on and be turned away. He is also very strict when it comes to quality; he is highly demanding and will ensure compliance with the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) requirements,' he said. Dr Baryomunsi, was installed as the second Chancellor of the university during its tenth graduation ceremony. Shortly after his installation, Baryomunsi pledged to work diligently to transform the institution. Olivia Tumuhirwe Arinaitwe, a Director at the university, appealed to the government to exempt private universities from taxation to ease their financial burden. She also requested that they be allowed to share facilities such as science laboratories in public universities. Rev. Fr. Abel Bainomugisha, the Executive Director, said the university requires over Shs2 billion to construct a building that will house the engineering and technology departments, as well as science laboratories. He noted that this initiative aims to align the institution with government policies. A total of 110 students graduated in various disciplines. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
12-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Uganda: ‘Stop charging high fees at Mulago Specialised Hospital'
Members of Parliament have expressed concerns following reports that high fees are being charged at the private wing of the Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital. Buhweju County Member of Parliament, Hon. Francis Mwijukye raised the issue stating that the high fees charged on women for consultation and antenatal care to delivery are unfair. 'Yesterday I was at Mulago Specialised Hospital to visit a woman who delivered and was charged Shs2 million for a caesarian section. This was a primary teacher who could not afford the fees and I wonder how many women can afford such costs,' Mwijukye said. Mwijukye was responding to a motion urging government to adopt resolutions of the Second Women Parliament on at a sitting of the House on Wednesday, 12 March 2025. He said it is displeasing for a government funded hospital to charge Shs890,000 for anesthesia, Shs800,000 for antenatal care and Shs800,000 for normal deliveries. 'I wonder how such policies were arrived at with the Ministry of Health. We cannot continue to talk about addressing the plight of women yet when it comes to implementation it remains rhetoric,' said Mwijukye. MPs observed the need for the Ministry of Health to reign over operations of the private wings in all government hospitals saying medics seem to have neglected the free services accessed by the majority. 'Government must come out and address what is happening in the public wings of the hospital where services are free but one has to wait for six months or a year to receive treatment,' Mwijukye added. Bukanga County MP, Hon. Stephen Kangwagye said the policy to charge fees in one section of a public hospital remains skewed as it discourages service delivery in the section where services are freely offered. 'Most of our mothers in our constituencies cannot afford the private wing; you find them lying in the corridors of hospitals as they wait for long hours to be served. We need to see how to attract the attention of doctors in the public wing as well,' Kangwagye said. The Minister of Information, Communication, Technology and National Guidance, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi criticised what he called commercialisation of the hospital saying government's intention to introduce a private section in public hospitals was not about commercialisation. 'Ministry of Health should be able to look into that policy and reduce fees being charged in government hospitals because the intention was to provide quick services to those who can afford but not to put exorbitant figures like Sh2 million on caesarian section,' Baryomunsi said. The Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Hon. Anita Kawooya pledged to follow up on the reports saying, 'it is a government policy but you cannot ask someone to pay Shs2 million even if it is a private wing'. The motion for a resolution of Parliament urging government to consider the resolutions of the Second Women Parliament was moved by Lira District Woman MP, Hon. Linda Auma and adopted with its 30 resolutions. The resolutions included appeals for government to ensure continuity of education for girls who become pregnant while in school, an increase in the education budget by 20 per cent to be able to provide gender responsive facilities in education institutions, strict enforcement of all policies against gender based violence and promotion of women participation in leadership. The Speaker Anita Among directed the relevant ministries to present action reports on resolutions within three months. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
