COVID19&UNEMPLOYMENT

 

By Phillo Aryatwijuka

Link Observer https://observer.ug/viewpoint/64281-your-mail-are-online-exams-necessary-now

Just like any war, the fight against COVID-19 isn’t any different. It does not only take lives but leaves effects that all of us have to deal with.

Some of the effects of this war are already glaring at us with the promise of employment for millions of Ugandans becoming bleak. COVID-19 is here and is hitting us hard across several sectors and we need to fight back harder and win this war.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates a significant rise of up to 25 million in global unemployment due to COVID-19. The COVID-19 fight in Uganda could worsen the unemployment situation, considering the economic slowdown in several sectors.

The informal sector currently employs a large number of our population and contributes greatly to our economy. The informal working population includes a section of vulnerable working population; women, migrant workers, youth and unprotected workers like casual labourers.

The informal sector has experienced shocks of COVID-19 effects without much protection. On the other hand, the security of workers in the formal sector, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) also remains bleak, only guaranteed by the performance of the different sectors they are currently working in.

It’s also evident that our sectors do not flourish in isolation but are largely intertwined; the decline in one sector largely impacts the others, causing a multi-sectoral loss of jobs.

Our agricultural sector’s dependence on tourism and hospitality sector is one perfect example of sector interdependency. The hospitality industry which includes hotels, restaurants and recreational centres, among others, largely supports the agriculture sector and consumes various big quantities of foodstuffs.

As such, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has come up with recommendations to governments that relate to policy responses which should focus on two major areas of health protection measures and economic support on both the demand and supply sides.

Most importantly, we all need to appreciate that COVID-19 and its effects are here, we need to support each other and face it together!

Phillo Aryatwijuka,
Kampala

Fight child labour amid Covid

 

https://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/Fight-child-labour-amid-Covid/689364-5577258-bauwx9/index.html

Fight child labour amid Covid

By Phillo Aryatwijuka. 

Let’s fight Child Labour during the COVID -19 Pandemic.

During your childhood you could have lived in the painful child labour experience. A good number of us have seen it, be it on our streets with children hawking, the village path with little children carrying heavy Jerri cans of water, young children working in agricultural plantations for long hours, to the worst forms of child labour where children are engaged in various hazardous activities like mining. Child labour in Uganda manifests in different communities sometimes hidden underneath the pretext of preparing children for a productive adulthood.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Child Labour is defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and dignity and is harmful to their physical or mental development. As such we all need to understand, appreciate and promote the concept of light work; work that is not harmful to the child’s health and development and doesn’t affect school attendance and participation.

As Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Day against Child Labour on 12^th June 2020 under the theme COVID-19: Protect children from child labour, now more than ever! We all need to rally behind and protect our children.

COVID-19 Pandemic hits at a time when Uganda has over 2,048,000 children aged 5 -17 years engaged in child labour (UBOS UNHS 2016/17).Additionally Uganda has the second youngest population in the world with 78% being young people less than 30 years old and 49.3% being children less than 15 years (UBOS 2019). In light of this,COVID-19 pandemic and its immense impact on health, temporary school closures, rise in adult unemployment and loss of livelihoods could exacerbate child labour numbers in Uganda and steal the promise for a better future for Ugandan children.

Temporary school closures as a result of the pandemic has affected routine learning of over 15 million learners in Uganda. Education remains one of the most effective ways to combat child labour but in the current situation several children could be at risk of child labour in various sectors like agriculture where several activities like harvesting and planting are ongoing. The risk is further compounded by the limited access to virtual learning facilities, enabling home learning environments across the country. Social cultural norms put young girls at even a higher risk of participation in domestic work for long hours which may in turn deny them opportunities and time to participate in learning activities/programs on radios/TVs designed and provided by the Ministry of Education and sports.

The eminent loss of jobs and livelihood for adults in some of the worst hit sectors due to the pandemic could also likely impact negatively on household incomes. This will directly affect the children as many households could fall into poverty which is one of the major root causes of child labour in Uganda. As such child labour could become a copying mechanism for several households as children are a substituted to complement household income efforts. Young girls could be more at risk of falling into commercial domestic work, sexual exploitation and early marriages. Additionally the poverty in households could contribute to a high school dropout rates putting more children at risk of Child Labour.

The question now remains how can we rally together to protect children from child labour and achieve our target 8.7 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals? Without doubt the answers are reflected in the key policy responses that the Government of Uganda has already undertaken through enforcing child labour related legal and regulatory frameworks, community sensitization, access to Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education and most importantly offering economic stimulants during this tough COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless emphasis on other policy responses like strengthening social protection systems is now vital to cushion households where children are at risk.

Ultimately as Ugandans we need to rally together and intensify our efforts fight child labour and secure the promise of a better future for our Children.

 

 

 

 

GENDER APPROACH IS KEY IN THE ENERGY SECTOR

GENDER APPROACH IS KEY IN THE ENERGY SECTOR

By Aryatwijuka Phillo

The gender question in regard to energy issues in Uganda has for long been kept in the background. It is evident that women and children in rural areas are the most affected by energy needs. Most of us have all witnessed the situation in rural households where women and children spend countless hours either collecting firewood or fetching water.

 

Clearly energy, gender and poverty in Uganda are very strongly inter-related. solving rural women’s  cooking energy needs, water needs through water pumping would free up women’s time and reduce drudgery allowing them to participate more in productive activities .This would contribute to enabling livelihoods through increased output, improved working conditions and increased hours for production thus reducing poverty.

 

For rural women clean energy would directly translate into health gains through clean cooking and improved health services by ensuring the efficient operation of medical equipment that would guarantee safer deliveries thus reduced maternal and infant mortality rate.

 

How then does the most affected person by major energy needs become excluded from the energy sector planning, policy formulation and interventions? Have we ever asked ourselves that most probably consulting rural women on energy issues could lead to informed energy sector interventions and provide solutions to energy woes and eradicate poverty in Uganda?

 

Without question, for the Ugandan government to achieve sustainable energy for all(SE4ALL), the unique aspects that gender dynamics play in  influencing energy access, energy efficiency and most importantly gender needs in relation to the preferred renewable energy sources have to be taken into account.

 

Over the years one of the single biggest concerns has been the limited evidence relating to the use of the gender approach in energy sector reform and regulation in Uganda. In Uganda’s energy sector the emphasis on women and girls is limited because energy interventions are usually implemented in a gender-neutral way. This is based on the assumption that women and men benefit equally. In reality, energy interventions are gender-blind and fail to recognize that the needs of women and men are different thus missing issues that would be significant in implementing interventions that are of relevance to women.

 

A perfect example is that the question of using a gender approach has not been taken into account in the extension of energy sources in Uganda rural areas. The importance of extensively consulting women and getting their suggestions is never considered. Questions are never asked to ensure that the energy sources distributed are affordable, accessible and efficient to the needs of women instead the government concentrates in distributing un affordable energy sources like hydro power electricity which isn’t affordable to rural women.

 

Therefore the Uganda’s energy sector should take into account the gender dynamics specifically the involvement of women. The reason is that women’s productivity and wellness is greatly affected by challenges entwined with energy issues leading to high poverty levels. Understanding of the aspects of gender in relation to interventions of improving energy access can empower women, girls and improve affordable energy access thus reduce poverty.

 

THE THIN LINE BETWEEN THE MINERAL BLESSING AND CURSE FOR KARAMOJA

 

By Phillo Aryatwijuka,

THE THIN LINE BETWEEN THE MINERAL BLESSING AND CURSE FOR KARAMOJA

Having silenced the gun in Karamoja, it’s now time to silence poverty! Karamoja is now Uganda’s apple of the eye. A region blessed with immense natural resources but lives in abject poverty. Could the huge mineral deposits underneath deliver the economic promise of development for the Karamojong people? The answer to this question could be YES or NO

The presence of over 50 different economic valuable minerals; gold, gemstones, limestone, marble and other minerals) and the return to security in Karamoja in the recent years has offered a great potential for the region to harness extractive resources for sustainable and equitable human development. Despite this potential Karamoja region remains one of the most impoverished Uganda

In the past years the sub-region suffered perennial conflicts characterized by a high level of insecurity, cattle raiding and inter-ethnic violence. The security challenges in Karamoja were exacerbated by the negative impact of harsh climatic conditions on livelihoods, porous borders with South Sudan and Kenya, easy access to small arms within the population, cattle raiding and prolonged political and economic marginalization.

Due to poverty and search of alternative livelihoods over 20,000 Karamojong men and women have turned to mining as livelihood. ASM in Karamoja use using crude, hazardous methods as a means of day-to-day survival. On the other hand the region has seen an inflow of private sector companies. As of 2016 statistics from the DGSM indicate that currently there are 136 concessions (active or exploration) held by foreign and local companies making the total land area under concessions to be over 64% of the total land area.

Community knowledge has remained low on mineral rights, land rights, legal issues, environmental issues, royalty and benefit sharing. There is no community involvement and consultation over land acquisition for mining exploration activities set by law and where it exists obligatory compensation or royalties to land owners as mandated by law are unpaid due to lack of proof of customary ownership.

On the other hand the regions potential for Development minerals that are key drivers to the growth of housing and infrastructure development have seen big mining companies on limestone and marble carry out vast exploration and active mining across the region. Despite the presence of these development minerals

If well managed, the mineral sector in Karamoja if has the potential to transform the region and consequently bring the region up to speed with achieving Uganda vision 2040, Africa Mining vision and ultimately contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development goals

The critical issues that could turn this economic promise into a curse are currently related to;

The Legal and regulatory framework specifically the Mining Act 2003: Key concerns in the current legal regime relate to compulsory acquisition of land, compensation, lack of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), community participation and engagement, equitable revenue and royalty sharing, Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASM) formalization, local content, gender, access to information, environmental management and transparency and accountability. The current regime has several gaps in those areas

Limited formalization and Lack of Government regulations and development focused programmes for the Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASM)

For a region that has over 20,000 ASM 80% being women in gold, marble, limestone and quarrying it’s important for the government to formally recognize this sector as one of the biggest employers and drivers of economic growth. However the ASM in Karamoja are often referred to as illegal miners consequently they rarely receive adequate if any support to formalize and improve their activities

Mining and Gender concerns

Over 70% of the ASM workforce in Karamoja is women, as a result they experience unique challenges ranging from limited access to mining benefits through surface rights, lack of bargaining power thus exploitation by middlemen coupled by sexual and gender based violence at the mining sites. 

Environment Occupational Health and Safety

Mining has a strong bearing on environment, natural resources and the critical ecosystems as a whole. Mining companies and unregulated ASM have left vast areas degraded and un restored through destruction of vegetation, open pits and deforestation to provide fuel wood for heating rocks during marble and limestone mining. On the other hand most mining sites in Karamoja are characterized by lack of safety gear by ASM, sanitation facilities like toilets, adequate water sources, first aid kids and nearby health centers which has exacerbated accidents and brought about several health concerns in the sector.

Wildlife Vs Mining and Oil sector

Kidepo national park and Pian Upe game reserve which are some of wildlife and rich biodiversity areas   in Karamoja region are being threatened by mining activities considering that 62% of land in Karamoja is under concessions and some concessions are indicatively in wild life reserves and national parks. Likewise oil exploration activities will take place in the Kadam-Moroto basin which covers areas of Pian Upe game reserve. All these extractive activities indicate a possible biodiversity and critical ecosystems destruction.

Value Addition and low economic value of minerals

The limited value addition at each value chain right away from extraction has seen mineral prices in Karamoja continue to be valued lower. Minerals are usually sold in their raw form as such the economic cost of some minerals like marble, limestone and gold is at a much lower value than the market value. 

Indigenous people rights and livelihoods

Protecting cultural heritage/indigenous people is pertinent as enshrined in the UN charter on declaration on the rights of indigenous communities. Pastoralism is widely practiced by many in Karamoja and these should be considered “indigenous people”, as they have been living in their homelands for hundreds of years and still struggle to conserve the traditional nomadic lifestyle. Due to the large based land acquisition threats by mining activities and oil activities vulnerable communities could be deprived of their own land, natural resources, livelihoods, and property.

Limited access to information on the mining sector

Communities in Karamoja are largely illiterate with literacy rate 11% compared to 67% national average.The mining sector provides various opportunities for the people but unfortunately these communities are not aware of these opportunities and rights.ASM spread across the region are ignorant on the formalization process for acquiring licenses, communities have often failed to hold leaders accountable on mining entitlements like royalties on surface rights. On the other hand Karamoja remains one of the regions left out during the comprehensive Aerial Geophysical Survey of Uganda consequently investors lack real actual data on mineral quantities.

Land tenure Vs Benefits and conflicts

Land in Karamoja is owned communally and as a result there are challenges of royalty sharing and compensation for surface rights. Land grabbing has spread across the region in the recent years. Access to land by investors has brought about community dissatisfaction due to lack of open consultations between the community, government and investors. Most of the mining companies lack a Social License to Operate (SLTO)

Weak engagement between Private Sector and communities

There is limited success by communities and CSOs in accessing a common platform/ground for engagement. Mining companies’ sites in Karamoja are often enclosed from the public/communities. Communities are rarely consulted during exploration phases and before acquisition of mining leases. Dialogues on community issues on the mining sector are often characterized by absenteeism by the mining companies’ representatives.

Despite the above fears the mineral sector can be turned into a blessing through;

·         Strengthening the legal and policy framework through facilitating and supporting community consultations, dialogues on the review of the mining sector legal and regulatory framework. The Mining and Mineral policy 2019 addresses concerns relating to formalization and recognition of ASM, benefit sharing, environment, OHS concerns is now on green paper before the cabinet waiting approval. Similarly working together with other CSOs through community consultations and multi stakeholder dialogues.

·         Organization and formalization of ASM into groups and associations to facilitate organized mining thus reducing environmental footprints, increasing market bargaining power, acquisition of location licenses and financing for these organized ASM groups. For example Morulem Gold Miners Association in Abim now has location license with 16 hectares. In addition 9 organized ASM groups comprising of over 25 members each have benefited from financing to support their mining work

 

·         Strengthening access to information channels on mining rights and entitlements in mining communities through community dialogues and multi stakeholder dialogues at the local level involving government (DGSM), ASM, mining companies to share information on concessions, benefit sharing, exploration activities, active licenses, market prices, incensing for ASM among others. Since January 2017 Directorate of Geological Survey and Mines has established an office in Moroto for Karamoja sub region with a fulltime officer to support information needs in the region.

·         Promoting a gender responsive mining sector in the region which recognizes the contribution of women in the mining sector. This is through providing women with platforms for meaningful engagement and participation on key issues that affect them. This has been affected through gender sensitive platforms and gender focused activities to support women groups to organize themselves and formalize. 1000 ASM Women miners have been organized into 68 women and registered to engage into responsible mining.

·         Promoting mining communities meaningful participation in mining sector processes through community dialogues, debates on key emerging issues relating to community company relations, human rights, benefit sharing, land rights and compensation. For example the establishment of the District Mineral Watch Platform (DMWP) in Moroto and Abim has facilitated the consistency of debate and demand for transparency and accountability on mining issues amongst communities enhanced by the DMWP active participation in identifying emerging mining sector issues for debate.

·         Facilitating and supporting mining communities and ASM to meaningfully engage with mining companies in mediations and dialogues to effect community development agreements through Memorandum of understandings, Corporate Social Responsibility and peaceful co-existence. For example ECO supported and facilitated the community in Tapac with support from the Moroto District Local Government, District Mineral Watch Platform and other key stakeholders to develop an M.O.U between Tapac and Tororo Cement highlighting a number of concerns relating to compensation, labour rights and Corporate Social Responsibility among others.

·         Promoting environment responsible mining by empowering communities to protect the environment amidst mining activities through restoration activities and mining as organized groups. Similarly efforts have been directed towards supporting and facilitating local governments to pass and implement byelaws on protection of environment which has strengthened environmental protection for example ECO supported Rupa Sub County to develop a bye law on environmental protection which has specific aspects focusing on the mining sector. Moroto District local government has approved this byelaw and its now being popularized in the mining communities.

·         Addressing crosscutting issues on child exploitation particularly child labour in mining by setting up taskforces in mining communities and creating awareness in mining communities on the effects of child labour. Most importantly strengthening the local government’s capacity and commitment to carry out periodic inspections of mining sites to ensure that school going children are in school. On the other hand strengthening women ASM to report issues of sexual and gender based violence on mining sites by facilitating and supporting legal aid clinics at the mining sites

·         Research and development through profiling the mineral sector in Karamoja in order to increase baseline data on social conflict, use of mineral revenues, compensation, Corporate Social Responsibility, local content and cross sectoral linkages among others

·         Strengthening and supporting mining communities to demand for their mining benefits particularly royalties to the surface rights owners in the mining sector. This has been done through supporting the formation of communal land associations. For example Sokdec Miners Association and Rupa Miners Association respectively which are in advanced stages of formalization and Katekikile Action for Development which is already receiving the royalty benefits on behalf of surface rights owners in Katekikile Sub County.

·         Encourage Uganda to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and to implement the requirements and recommendations of the EITI

Ultimately the sector could transform the lives of 1.2million Karamajong people and Uganda as a whole.

 

UGANDANS SHOUD TAKE KEEN INTEREST IN THE ONGOING REVIEW OF THE MINING ACT 2003.

 https://chimpreports.com/opinion-ugandans-should-take-keen-interest-in-the-ongoing-review-of-the-mining-act-2003/?fbclid=IwAR263JvKy1urbi-tRFoKjU_dhtWZsxA_yBU7ldpQBoesAv5ucS9OjIw6cvM

By Aryatwijuka Phillo,

UGANDANS SHOUD TAKE KEEN INTEREST IN THE ONGOING REVIEW OF THE MINING ACT 2003.

The Principles to be embodied in the Mining and Minerals Bill 2019 were approved by cabinet in January 2019 demonstrating government’s commitment in undertaking key mining sector legal and regulatory reviews in the Mining sector; the review Mining Act 2003 and Mining regulations 2004. This commitment is further reflected in the passing of the Mining and Minerals Policy 2018 which undoubtedly put Uganda on the positive road to major legal reforms in the mining sector.

These reviews come at a time when the mining sector contribution to GDP is 0.3% per annum. Notably the mining and minerals policy 2018 recognises that resources such as sand, clay and rock mining have become a major driver towards economic growth having attracted increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the sub-sector from US$5 million in 2003 to over US$ 800 million in 2017.

Again the mining and Minerals Policy 2018 further propels the mining sector into another strategic direction by clearly demonstrating that every Ugandan can mine or be affected by mining activities when it took consideration the regulation of commercial exploitation of development minerals; like sand, stone, clay and murrum among others. The premise of inclusion of this category of minerals is to support revenue generation estimated at over 3% contribution to GDP.

In light of these current developments, Ugandans ought to appreciate that gone are the days when a mention of a mineral was considered gold, diamonds and other precious metals. Without question a big percent of Ugandans uses this category of minerals like sand, clay, stone mostly in construction and ultimately should be interested in the ongoing reviews. The biggest percentage of the Ugandan population has kept in the background mainly due to lack of access to information on key sector processes, mining rights and entitlements that can facilitate their effective participation.

Ugandans should be keen on the mining act 2003 review processes by ensuring it addresses key pertinent issues of concern. Current weaknesses in the Mining Act 2003 relate to its salient claims on royalty payments which often do not reach landowners further escalated by the complex nature of land ownership in areas like Karamoja, lack of a clear system for quantification and verification on how much is extracted to enable local governments and land owners understand the core basis upon which royalty amount due is calculated. This has had negative implications on the failure by mining revenues to translate into long-term social and economic development in communities located near mining or mineral exploration projects. On the other hand the current mining act is salient on a clear long-term strategy or funding to formalize ASM subsector, which remains informal and continues to be a source of conflict and lost revenue. Other issues relate to free prior and informed consent during exploration as well as environmental management prior, during and after mining activities.

Additionally there is limited capacity, resources and personnel for monitoring, inspections and enforcement of existing laws and regulations which has affected and weakened the legal and regulatory environment in the long term.

Moving forward multi stakeholders have to deliberately combine efforts to ensure that there is participatory extensive consultations in the review of the Mining Act 2003 to exhaustively address the current weaknesses and gaps for a sustainable and transformative mining sector that benefits all Ugandans. Additionally with a consideration that the cabinet of Uganda approved the accession of the Government of the Republic of Uganda to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative the principles of EITI should be adopted in the Mining Act to guide on revenue collection, transparency and accountability in the mining sector for the benefit of all citizens.

 

 

 

STRENGTHEN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS IN THE MINING SECTOR

 https://ecouganda.org/2017/06/03/strengthening-occupational-safety-and-health-standards-in-the-mining-sector/

By Phillo Aryatwijuka

STRENGTHEN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS IN THE MINING SECTOR

On 28^th April 2018 Uganda will join the rest of the world to celebrate annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work which promotes the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.  

The Uganda government through the Ministry Of Gender, Labour and Social Development  has a mandate under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, No. 9 of 2006 to ensure that all public and private workplaces, enterprises, companies, organizations adhere to safety and health measures.

Despite the presence of these laws, the mining sector in Uganda continues to be characterized by inadequate enforcement and compliance to occupational health and safety standards. The mining sector is largely informal with over a total of 200,000 ASM in mostly gold mining and development minerals.

A perfect example that relates to OSH challenges is reflected in Karamoja region ASM where miners use rudimentary methods and equipment in mining without protective gears.ASM miners have cited that the lack of protective gears not only because of ignorance on the need but limited finances to buy these gears since the earnings are usually very low coupled by the constant exploitations by middlemen.

Rudimentary methods in mining often leave open excavated pits which have a huge bearing on environmental degradation and have overtime caused several fatal accidents that on many occasions led to death. Open pits also collect huge amounts of stagnant water and provide breeding grounds for mosquitos causing malaria consequently increasing the mortality rate in these areas most especially infant mortality rates. These infant mortality rates are worsened by the fact that ASM is a family livelihood where women and children engage in mining. For pregnant and nursing mothers these mining sites do not have maternal and general health services. The situation is further worsened by the lack of WASH facilities at several mining sites making ASM susceptible to diseases. 

The ASM sector has been put on spotlight as a key perpetrator of child labour considering that mining has become a family livelihood just like agriculture. Child labour in mining which is associated with retardation and poor wellbeing in children. It should be noted that the nutrition at these mining sites is poor and sometimes both children and adults have one meal or not any a day.

Despite the presence of the international legal framework on OSH in gold mining like the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty that protects human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury, the ASM gold mining sector in Uganda has continued to be marred by use of mercury by some gold miners which has a huge implication to the miners health, water and soil quality and overall destruction of critical ecosystems that are vital for human survival

On the other hand the expanding entry of ASM into mining of the development minerals; marble, limestone, gemstones, dimension stones is likely to worsen the issues of public health considering that Uganda is rich in development minerals and the construction sector is growing throughout the country. Mining development minerals like marble and limestone that dispel a lot of tiny dust particles have a health impact on ASM and communities and has been closely linked with diseases like tuberculosis therefore the need for without protective gears like dusk masks. These development minerals also involve a lot of processes like blasting, rock falls, raising dust particles which ultimately has impact on air, water and soil quality of the environment consequently a threat to public health

Moving forward the government needs to come out strongly and work with ASM and mining companies to strengthen the OSH standards by formalizing and regulating the ASM sector, provision of credit support to ASM groups to purchase protective gears, apprehend the users of mercury in gold mining, provide accessible health services to mining communities and strengthen OSH compliance through regular mine inspections of both ASM and mining companies by regulatory agencies by providing adequate funding and manpower.

 

 https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1468904/chance-life-cancer-patients-uganda

Is there a second chance to life for cancer patients in Uganda?

By Admin

Added 12th January 2018 02:59 PM

In the past three years, Uganda has lost several people to several types of cancer, some of which I knew or heard of either close or far-fetched and, of course, some very popular influential people that have tirelessly served this country in various areas.

By Phillo Aryatwijuka

HEALTH

At exactly 10 minutes past midnight on January 1, 2018, I gathered with the rest of my greater extended family to make a prayer of thanks to God for making us see the light of day in the year 2018. Before the prayers, each one of us was asked to voice out our prayer requests and it was not surprising that good health came on top of the list for most of the family members in a group of about 15 people myself inclusive.

Well what  is money, a relationship, a good job, success and the now popular ‘slaying' without good health that equates to life? All these are absolutely meaningless.

In the past three years, Uganda has lost several people to several types of cancer, some of which I knew or heard of either close or far-fetched and, of course, some very popular influential people that have tirelessly served this country in various areas.

In the past week, the reality of this scourge set in when a friend of mine was nursing her now late sister, young, brilliant mechanical engineer, whose life did not get a  second chance due to breast cancer.

Sadly in this reality, I asked myself what If that was me, my dad, my mum, my child, my husband or my friend would we get a second chance to life with the kind of cancer treatment facilities we have in Uganda and if the facilities are there could we afford the treatment?. My answers to those questions were NO!

Dr Jackson Orem, the executive director of the Uganda Cancer Institute is one of his interviews mentions that for every 100 new cases diagnosed, 80 of them die (80% mortality rate). He further cited that only 4% of every 100 suspected cases make it to the cancer institute due to lack of awareness amongst Ugandans on their status in addition to social economic barriers such as distance of the cancer institute from various parts of Uganda, as well as accessibility of drugs.

Ultimately, the food for thought to evaluate our vulnerability to cancer would be a simple question of if I got cancer today, would I get a second chance? That is the question every Ugandan should ask in the face of this scourge. If your answer is NO, like mine, the question would be if we are we going to wait to die or bury our loved ones.

Without doubt it is evident that an ordinary to a middle-income Ugandan cannot afford to comfortably cover expenses for that much-needed specialised cancer treatment either in Uganda or worse still, the now popular medical destination, India, save for a few Ugandans, who can afford it and other medical destinations in the world.
 
How many times and how long can we go on having car washing fundraisers to mobilise resources for our friends? What about those that do not have affluent friends and families to put up for them fundraisers?

Without question the Government needs to spring into action and prioritise the health sector through increasing the health sector budget, design and conduct massive civic education programmes on preventive measures, early detection, avail access to cancer facilities for early testing/detection, provide specialised cancer facilities, equip the cancer institute with drugs and most importantly, strengthen the human resource retention by provision of decent remuneration of cancer medical experts and caregivers.

It is only through some of those interventions that Ugandans can proudly face and fight cancer honourably. Cancer is no longer far-fetched to every Ugandan it is here!