Parliament has committed to contribute Shs1 billion towards the completion of the radiotherapy centre at St. Francis Nsambya Hospital in the capital, Kampala.

The commitment was made by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, as she launched the 2024 edition of the Annual Rotary Cancer Run at the hospital on Wednesday, 24 April 2024.

The 2024 run that is scheduled for 25 August 2024 at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, will mark the 13th year of the Rotary Cancer Run under the theme: “Spread Magic in Every Step”.

Parliament has been a major sponsor of the annual event that purposes to raise money to support cancer initiatives under the Rotary Cancer Programme.

With the capacity to address challenges in cancer treatment, the facility will reduce the associated costs borne by patients and the strain on public health facilities in managing the second leading cause of death globally.

The Speaker, who toured the cancer ward and bunker site, commended the cancer run initiative in serving humanity, committed to supporting the project to its timely completion.

“As a people-centred Parliament, we will generously support the completion of the bunkers and we should be able to finish it as soon as possible because once completed, it will bring a smile to Nsambya Hospital, cancer patients, all the runners and Rotarians,” Among said, before undertaking to join Rotary.

Among went on to urge countrymen and women of goodwill to join hands and support the project to create a significant impact on the lives of cancer patients.

“This project will help in complementing the treatment of cancer and decongesting other hospitals…. this money that we get for donations must be spent on humanity,” she said.

Among commended the former Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga for spearheading Parliament’s campaign towards supporting cancer runs during the 10th Parliament.

Parliament’s Shs1 billion contribution alone nearly equals the Shs1.1 billion collected during the 2023 cancer run which attracted 30,000 participants.

This year, Rotary Uganda hopes to collect Shs4 billion and double the number of participants to 60,000.

“This will translate to doubling last year’s collections to Shs4 billion, a substantial contribution towards the required Shs13.8 billion for the completion of the radiotherapy centre,” Michael Niyitegeka, the chairperson of the Cancer Run 2024 said.

Dr Andrew Ssekitooleko, the Chief Executive Officer of Nsambya Hospital, also urged Ugandans to embrace running and revealed how the project has demonstrated how the human spirit can give birth to good stuff.

“The hospital has not contributed a penny towards this initiative, it has been individuals and we, in a special way, recognise Parliament’s contribution,” he said.

The Rotary Cancer Run started in 2012. Proceeds from the first three runs constructed the Rotary Centenary Bank Cancer Centre at Nsambya, while the Shs200 million from the 2015 run constructed the Rotary Blood Bank at Mengo Hospital.

Funds raised from the runs between 2016 to 2021 were used for phase one of the construction of the bunkers.

According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Amb. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, received on Tuesday in the capital, Mogadishu, the Director-General for Eastern and Southern Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly Republic of Turkiye, H.E. Amb. Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen, and discussed with her the strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in all fields.

The meeting highlighted the growing strategic partnership between Somalia and Türkiye, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening ties for mutual benefit.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion – Federal Republic of Somalia.

The Government of the People’s Republic of China has provided funding to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for the provision of school meals to over 165,000 children in Karamoja region in Northeastern Uganda.

“This contribution is part of China’s commitment to improving food security and nutrition, developing human capital, strengthening people’s livelihoods, and boosting the local economy in Uganda,” said H.E. Zhang Lizhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Uganda.

This contribution will enable WFP to procure maize, beans, and vegetable oil locally, benefiting school children and smallholder farmers alike, thereby stimulating the local economy. WFP’s Home-Grown School Feeding initiative, which emphasizes local procurement and nutritious meals, has already made significant strides in boosting food security and stimulating economic growth in Karamoja.

WFP registered a fivefold increase in the local procurement of food from smallholder farmers in Karamoja (from 414 metric tonnes in 2022 to 2,345 metric tonnes in 2023), injecting USD 1.9 million into the local economy.

Karamoja has the highest rates of food insecurity and malnutrition in the country. According to WFP’s Fill the Nutrient Gap analysis, 84% of households in Karamoja cannot afford a nutritious diet daily. These hardships often compel parents in Karamoja to pull their children, particularly older girls, out of school to assist with household responsibilities. Karamoja also has the lowest literacy rate in the country, with only 31% of the population over the age of 18 being literate, compared to a national average of 68%.

“We are grateful for the contribution of the Government of the People’s Republic of China supporting our efforts to provide school meals to children,“ said Abdirahman Meygag, WFP Country Director and Representative in Uganda. “We have witnessed children who have benefited from school meals programme become senior government officials, doctors, and entrepreneurs.  By providing school meals, WFP aims to address these challenges and create a pathway to a brighter future for Uganda.”

Research demonstrates that providing daily school meals serves as a powerful incentive for impoverished families to enrol their children in school. These meals enable students to concentrate on their studies, leading to sustainable increases in school enrolment and lower dropout rates. Studies indicate that school meal programs can boost enrolment by an average of 9 percent and reduce anaemia prevalence in girls by up to 20 percent. Harvard University has found that every USD 1 invested in school meals yields an average return of USD 9 in economic benefits.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

President William Ruto has signed into law the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2024, that amends various provisions of 16 Acts of Parliament.

To strengthen human resource operations in the Attorney-General’s office, the Office of the Attorney-General Act has been amended to introduce an advisory board that will recommend for appointment and promotion of deputy solicitors-general and State counsel.

The board comprises the Attorney-General as chair, and Principal Secretaries of Public Service and the National Treasury, the Public Service Commission chairperson, Law Society of Kenya president and chair of the Council of the Institute Human Resource Management as members.

This change aims to address the issue of inadequate personnel to fulfil its functions, stemming from poor terms of employment for State counsel and the absence of a comprehensive scheme of service for the officers.

In a bold step towards environmental protection and conservation, the Bill amends the Public Holidays Act, renaming Utamaduni Day as Mazingira Day to be observed on October 10 every year.

Mazingira Day will be a day for all Kenyans to engage in environmental conservation activities, including tree-planting and growing.

This move is in line with the government’s push to accelerate the 10-year 15 billion tree-planting programme that includes forest, wetland and rangeland restoration.

The Traffic Act has also been amended to incorporate the use of technology in the management of minor traffic offences.

The Value Added Tax Act has also been amended to remove denatured ethanol from the list of VAT-exempt supplies. This creates an economic safety net and competitive edge for local denatured ethanol manufacturers, particularly millers and sugar manufacturers, who face challenges with cheaper imports.

It also exempts the supply of gas meters from VAT to enhance access to clean energy by low-income households

On the Universities Act, the amendment gives the President power to establish more than one specialised degree-awarding institution specialising in national security issues.

In another amendment, the National Intelligence Service has been exempted from the application of the Employment Act, mirroring exemptions granted to other national security organs.

Another amendment on the Industrial Training Act aligns the remittance date of the training levy with PAYE remittance to the Kenya Revenue Authority, aiming to boost employer compliance.

This is meant to enhance KRA collections, which will fund intern wages and support technical and vocational education training and higher education operations.

To streamline the administration of justice, the new law amends the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act to replace the Registrar of the High Court with the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary as the custodian of the roll of commissioners and give powers to administer oaths to the registrar and deputy registrar of superior and subordinate courts.

Similarly, the Advocates Act has been amended to replace the Registrar of the High Court with the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary as well as give the Council of the Law Society of Kenya additional powers to make rules on the admission of advocates to the Bar.

Additionally, the new law amends the Notaries Public Act to replace the Registrar of the High Court with the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary.

Also amended in the miscellaneous law is the Sexual Offences Act, with the Registrar of the High Court replaced by the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary as the person responsible for keeping and maintaining a register of convicted sexual offenders.

The Trustee (Perpetual Succession) Act, too, has been amended to assign the Registrar of Companies the responsibility for trust registration, issuing certificates of incorporation, maintaining trust registers and creating regulations. This aims to streamline trust registration procedures.

The amendments to the Public Finance Management Act aims to clarify that the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury must submit the Finance Bill to the National Assembly by April 30 in line with the Act, the National Assembly Standing Orders and court rulings.

The signing ceremony was held at State House Nairobi in the presence of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Attorney General Justin Muturi, among others.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.