23 October 2024 Government together with the United Nations launch a skilling program intended to equip Makerere University students with skills in electric mobility and associated technologies mainly for industrial uptake. The Executive Chairperson Kiira Motors Corporation Prof. Tickodri-Togboa says the program intends to build a team of experts with foundational knowledge in electric vehicle technology, tackle complex challenges in clean energy technologies and foster practical skills development. 25 students benefitting students from Makerere University were selected from Electrical, Biomedical, Software, Mechanical, Computer Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Physics courses. Of the selected students, 10 are female and 15 are male who were selected in a competitive process and will undergo a one-year training period. Thereafter they will become Kiira Motors Corporation Associate Researchers. Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe says with this program students will be able to design products that meet the industry needs. “The Mak-UniPod is a place where research comes to reality, It is here where students and young people come to put their novelty into a product”, said Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. He notes that the scope of the skilling program will encompass a comprehensive range of subjects, including fundamental concepts in electric vehicle technology, renewable energy technologies, fuel cell technology, smart grid systems, and hands-on training with Electric Vehicle Powertrain work benches. Speaking at the same event, the UNDP Resident Representative Nwanne Vwede Obahor says the skilling program aligns with global trends toward net-zero transition so as to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5°C as stipulated in the Paris Agreement on climate change. Story by Wycliffe Sebunya.
23 October 2024 Police reports that a total of 11 people died in the tragedy that happened when a fuel tanker overturned and caught fire at Kigogwa Town, along the Kampala — Bombo Road. The police spokesperson of Kampala Metropolitan Patrick Onyango says the victims include nine adults and two minors who were burnt beyond recognition. Onyango says the fuel tanker, with registration number UAM 292Q, was traveling from Kampala to Gulu when the accident occurred. He notes that after overturning , people rushed to siphon fuel from the tanker and these were the most affected in the inferno and four buildings housing nine shops which were destroyed in the blaze.. Police states that Properties worth millions of shillings were lost. The injured individuals were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment.- Police are conducting a fact-finding mission to confirm the number of injured persons from the health facilities but the identities of those affected have not yet been established. Oyango was that this tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with fuel tanker accidents and the importance of exercising caution when dealing with hazardous materials. Stroy by Jude Mutaawe
23 October 2024 Statistics indicate that the West Nile Region registered a slight reduction in maternal mortality rate in 2023/24 being at 87% from 88% registered in the year 2022/23. Senior Consultant Gynaecologist at Arua Regional Referral hospital Emmanual Odar attributes the reduction to increased surgical operations which help deal with complications among pregnant women . Odar notes that introduction of neonatal ward has also helped save lives of pre-term babies and other factors like delayed decision making to transport mothers in labour pain to the health facilities, teenage pregnancies and late referrals have deterred quick reduction of maternal mortality in the region. ‘You know home deliveries are still there due to existence of traditional birth attendants , until we address that , the problem will persisit’, Odar added. He while addressing local government officials from Arua , officials from UNICEF , the Swedish government and journalists during the assessment of the child survival and development work in the West Nile region. The Chief UNICEF Arua Field Officer Mystica Acheng says together with the Swedish government they advocating for protection of the most vulnerable communities in a bid to tackle inequalities in health outcomes. “As UNICEF we work really to advocate and protect the most vulnerable by supporting government to address the issues of inequities working directly with the local governments that have got the low coverage”, said Acheng. Acheng notes that with funding from the Swedish government , a comprehensive package of intervention of women and children in the West Nile region in terms of health have been rolled out. Story by Wycliffe Sebunya
23 October 2024 Government together with the United Nations launch a skilling program intended to equip Makerere University students with skills in electric mobility and associated technologies mainly for industrial uptake. The Executive Chairperson Kiira Motors Corporation Prof. Tickodri-Togboa says the program intends to build a team of experts with foundational knowledge in electric vehicle technology, tackle complex challenges in clean energy technologies and foster practical skills development. 25 students benefitting students from Makerere University were selected from Electrical, Biomedical, Software, Mechanical, Computer Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Physics courses. Of the selected students, 10 are female and 15 are male who were selected in a competitive process and will undergo a one-year training period. Thereafter they will become Kiira Motors Corporation Associate Researchers. Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe says with this program students will be able to design products that meet the industry needs. “The Mak-UniPod is a place where research comes to reality, It is here where students and young people come to put their novelty into a product”, said Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. He notes that the scope of the skilling program will encompass a comprehensive range of subjects, including fundamental concepts in electric vehicle technology, renewable energy technologies, fuel cell technology, smart grid systems, and hands-on training with Electric Vehicle Powertrain work benches. Speaking at the same event, the UNDP Resident Representative Nwanne Vwede Obahor says the skilling program aligns with global trends toward net-zero transition so as to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5°C as stipulated in the Paris Agreement on climate change. Story by Wycliffe Sebunya.
23 October 2024 Police reports that a total of 11 people died in the tragedy that happened when a fuel tanker overturned and caught fire at Kigogwa Town, along the Kampala — Bombo Road. The police spokesperson of Kampala Metropolitan Patrick Onyango says the victims include nine adults and two minors who were burnt beyond recognition. Onyango says the fuel tanker, with registration number UAM 292Q, was traveling from Kampala to Gulu when the accident occurred. He notes that after overturning , people rushed to siphon fuel from the tanker and these were the most affected in the inferno and four buildings housing nine shops which were destroyed in the blaze.. Police states that Properties worth millions of shillings were lost. The injured individuals were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment.- Police are conducting a fact-finding mission to confirm the number of injured persons from the health facilities but the identities of those affected have not yet been established. Oyango was that this tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with fuel tanker accidents and the importance of exercising caution when dealing with hazardous materials. Stroy by Jude Mutaawe
23 October 2024 Statistics indicate that the West Nile Region registered a slight reduction in maternal mortality rate in 2023/24 being at 87% from 88% registered in the year 2022/23. Senior Consultant Gynaecologist at Arua Regional Referral hospital Emmanual Odar attributes the reduction to increased surgical operations which help deal with complications among pregnant women . Odar notes that introduction of neonatal ward has also helped save lives of pre-term babies and other factors like delayed decision making to transport mothers in labour pain to the health facilities, teenage pregnancies and late referrals have deterred quick reduction of maternal mortality in the region. ‘You know home deliveries are still there due to existence of traditional birth attendants , until we address that , the problem will persisit’, Odar added. He while addressing local government officials from Arua , officials from UNICEF , the Swedish government and journalists during the assessment of the child survival and development work in the West Nile region. The Chief UNICEF Arua Field Officer Mystica Acheng says together with the Swedish government they advocating for protection of the most vulnerable communities in a bid to tackle inequalities in health outcomes. “As UNICEF we work really to advocate and protect the most vulnerable by supporting government to address the issues of inequities working directly with the local governments that have got the low coverage”, said Acheng. Acheng notes that with funding from the Swedish government , a comprehensive package of intervention of women and children in the West Nile region in terms of health have been rolled out. Story by Wycliffe Sebunya
