Uganda’s health ministry is quoted by the state-owned New Vision newspaper as saying there is a chance that the vaccines are genuine, but have had their labels changed.

According to the National Drug Authority (NDA), which is investigating alongside the health ministry, the products were found in eight hospitals and clinics across the capital Kampala, and the towns of Mbale, Entebbe and Mbarara.

At least one of the clinics identified has denied using the “fake vaccines”.

“Our services are to international standards… all medicines dispensed at our hospitals are rigorously pre-tested for authenticity and effectiveness,” a spokesman for Kampala’s Univic Medical Centre is quoted in the privately owned Daily Monitor as saying.

But the NDA says it saw the suspect vaccines when it visited that facility.

The Daily Monitor reports that the Anti-Counterfeit Network (ACN) Africa “has tasked government to explain the source of the fake Hepatitis B vaccines and how they were imported into the country.”

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Source: BBC

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Uganda’s Commissioner for Refugees Apollo Kazungu and three of his senior staff are being investigated.

Investigations will also consider whether officials from UN aid agencies were involved.

Uganda is said to host some 1.4 million refugees – welcoming more than any other country in 2016 – mostly from South Sudan and DR Congo.

But these allegations will cast doubts on those figures.

Until recently, Uganda had been widely praised for its immigration policies and described as one of the best places in the world to be a refugee.

The Ugandan Daily Monitor, which first reported the allegations, says the issue was first raised by UN country representative Rosa Malango.

The newspaper says she raised three issues, including “doubtful” numbers of refugees, the trafficking of women and children, and fraud.

One spot check in the capital Kampala found just 7,000 people when there were reported to be 26,000 needing aid, the Daily Monitor reports, leading to questions about where the money and resources for the missing 19,000 were going.

As a result of the accusations, the United States, European Union and UK are all threatening to withhold funding to the country, the UK’s Guardian newspaper says.

“At the moment these are allegations and will be treated as such,” a spokesman for Uganda’s prime minister told the BBC.

“The investigations will determine what the facts are and what action to take. These reports do not change or deter Uganda’s long-held record and commitment to providing safety to refugees.”

The majority of Uganda’s refugees have fled violence in South Sudan – where civil conflict between the government and rival factions has killed tens of thousands of people since 2013.

Musa Ecweru, state minister for relief and disaster preparedness, assured the Guardian that measures would be taken to prevent any fraud in future, suggesting biometric registration for all refugees entering the country.

Uganda registered more refugees than any other country in 2016. Here are the latest key UN figures on refugees around the world:

• 2.4 million South Sudan refugees and asylum seekers have fled the country since 2013
• 5.5 million Syrian refugees are currently registered – the UN began tracking their numbers in 2012
• More than 647,000 Rohingya refugees have fled from Myanmar (Burma) to Bangladesh since August 2017
• In 2016 and 2017, 486,140 migrants crossed the Mediterranean sea to enter Europe, and 6,989 died in the attempt.

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Source: BBC

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Mr Museveni said his “Christian background” had prevented him from going ahead with executions, but this “leniency” was encouraging criminals.

Human rights groups have warned against the move.

In Uganda, 28 offences merit the death penalty, the highest in east Africa. Some 278 people are on death row.

“I have not been assenting to hanging of convicts because of my Christian background but being lenient is causing people to think they can cause harm and get away with it,” President Yoweri Museveni wrote on Twitter.

He also said he would “hang a few” at a graduation ceremony for prison wardens in Kamapala on Thursday.

Rights groups were quick to criticise the president.

“Executing prisoners won’t end crime,” the executive director of Uganda’s Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Livingstone Ssewanyana, told the Washington Post.

“The police are very weak with no capacity to investigate crimes extensively. As a result, you find serious failures in the systems.”

In recent years crime has risen, with 20 women murdered in four months in the capital Kampala last year. Some critics say police put more effort into targeting President Museveni’s opponents than into catching criminals.

However, other observers suggested Mr Museveni may not be serious about restarting executions.

Nicholas Opiyo of rights organisation Chapter Four told Reuters that Mr Museveni’s tweet was “political talk” aimed at boosting his popularity.

The president, 73, angered some Ugandans earlier this year when he amended the country’s constitution so that he could run for re-election in 2021.

Originally, the constitution barred anyone over 75 from running for president. Mr Museveni has governed Uganda since 1986.

The death penalty in Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa has been moving away from the death penalty in recent years, Amnesty International reports.

In 2016, Benin and Guinea abolished the death penalty, though Guinea can still enforce it in the case of exceptional crimes.

The same year, President Uhuru Kenyatta commuted the death penalties of 2,747 people, Kenya’s entire death row population.

However Nigeria and Botswana both executed people in 2016, despite not having used the punishment since 2013. Nigeria also handed down 527 death sentences in 2016.

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Source: BBC

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The opposition has denounced the one-off payment as a “bribe” because MPs already get money to visit their constituencies, reports the BBC’s Patience Atuhaire from the capital, Kampala.

The payment is seen as an attempt to gain the support of MPs for the bill, which seeks to remove the requirement that a presidential candidate be below the age of 75.

The opposition believes that the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) wants to push through the bill so that President Yoweri Museveni, 73, can run for a sixth term in 2021.

Uganda’s state-linked New Vision newspaper reports that the eight MPs returned the money because they believe it was meant to “compromise” them.

Parliamentary officials announced that about $3.5m had been set aside for 445 legislators to facilitate consultations on the bill.

Each MP would get about $8,000 for use in their constituency in the next 15 days.

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Source: BBC

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The draw meant that Egpyt are now one win away from securing qualification to next year’s world cup, ending Ghana’s almost obligatory appearance at the World Cup.

[contextly_sidebar id=”46hR01NGYer9HGecgBCCBf1Fpk2gIEkC”]However, it wasn’t the Black Stars’ poor performance that attracted the ire of Ghanaians, following the game, but that of South African referee Daniel Bennett and his assistants.

Ghana had arguably two legitimate goals disallowed in each half, including one at the very end of the game, and had a strong penalty appeal waved away by the referee.

Amartey hit the back of the net with a powerful header in the first half, but had the goal ruled out for offside although replays suggested that he was onside.

Replays suggest Daniel Amartey was onside and the goal should have stood. Huge let off for Uganda #CitiSports pic.twitter.com/me60S6fbL7

— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) October 7, 2017

Acheampong was then bundled over by a defender in the box for a penalty after the break, but the referee pointed for a goal-kick instead.

And right at the end of the game, substitute Raphael Dwamena put the ball in the back of the net for what he thought was Ghana’s winner only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.

That decision sparked a ruckus on the pitch as the Ghanaian players and coaches sought an explanation after the final whistle, seconds later, which has since, inevitably, spilt over onto social media.

Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan called on the Ghana Football Association to protest the conduct of the officials in a tweet after the game.

Other Ghanaian football fans and football journalists across the continent also vented their spleen at the match officials, with some calling for the match to be replayed, as had been ruled in the game between Senegal and South Africa.

Here are some of the tweets in response to the refereeing calls in the game

Reason for the disallowed Goal? Referee Daniel Bennett is just a DISGRACE. Not for World Cup slot but A protest, sanction, & replay maybe? pic.twitter.com/wOX3n1dKj1

— Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) October 7, 2017

South African referee Daniel Bennett should be banned for life. FIFA are you paying attention? Uganda vs Ghana

— Dan Theal (@ThealsOnWheels) October 7, 2017

Was Ref. Daniel Bennett from #SouthAfrica seeking revenge for what Joseph Lamptey did against his country?
He is a disgrace to the job.

— Ben Koku Glover (@glovben) October 7, 2017

Appalling performance today from SA’s Daniel Bennett. Award-winning ref with 14 years int’l experience but has messed up big time in Kampala pic.twitter.com/vwZ8S34RrU

— Fiifi Anaman (@fiifianaman) October 7, 2017

Surely Daniel Bennett should be banned from officiating. Ghana robbed in broad daylight.

— Marwan Ahmed (@MarwanAhmed_KF) October 7, 2017

Officiating in Africa’s #WCQ2018 ridiculously poor. Lamptey – binned. Daniel Bennett ruled out a clean Ghana goal in Uganda.#KweseFootball

— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) October 7, 2017

How on earth can this goal be disallowed? @ghanafaofficial we have to protest.. this no “fa ma Nyame” matter… i’m so furious pic.twitter.com/dCVDpZpY7v

— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) October 7, 2017

From what I can see the Uganda vs Ghana ref was a million times worse than the South Africa vs Senegal ref #wcq

— Sam Street (@samstreetwrites) October 7, 2017

Daylight robbery!!!
Ghana has been wrongly disallowed a goal against Uganda.

— Selorm Romeo (@selorm_romeo) October 7, 2017

That’s why FIFA don’t nominate African referees
How on earth did dat linesman cancel dat goal & rule it as offside
Uganda 0-0 Ghana

— Afuye tosin bolade (@AfuyeTosin) October 7, 2017

South African Referee Daniel Bennett must be investigated for his warped decision in disallowing Ghana’s legitimate goal. Bad for the game

— Bimbo Omo Adeola (@bimbolovesmusic) October 7, 2017

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Saturday’s clash was billed as a make-or-break for the World Cup hopes for both sides, with Uganda two points behind Egypt and Ghana a further two back.

However, a number of missed chances from both sides and poor officiating meant neither side could find a breakthrough.

Ghana had two legitimate goals disallowed and had a strong penalty appeal waved away by the referee

The Pharaohs can now clinch a spot at next year’s World Cup with a win over Congo on Sunday, opening up an unassailable four-point lead at the top of the group.

With Ghana needing to win to stand any chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and with several key players missing, Kwesi Appiah went with a new look squad for today’s game.

Appiah handed an international debut to Malmo star Kingsley Sarfo while Richmond Boakye-Yiadom who’s been in stunning form for SuperLiga team Red Star Belgrade, started up front with captain Asamoah Gyan out with an injury.

Christian Atsu, Harrison Afful and Jonathan Mensah also missed the trip while Jordan and Andre Ayew were dropped from the squad.

Uganda who had beaten the Egyptians in Kampala before losing in Alexandria during the previous international break, started the game brightly.

Okwi was a livewire down the right for the Cranes asking a number of questions of the Ghanaian defence.

Despite the pressure from the Ugandans, it was Ghana who almost took the lead through Thomas Partey, who had scored four times in his last two games for Ghana.

Richard Ofori got a hand to a cross releasing his side on a counter that ended with Partey firing just wide.

The Black Stars had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside when Daniel Amartey, who captained the side, headed home from a free-kick, only for the linesman’s flag to go up.

It was the Black Stars who started the second half stronger but were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

Uganda should have taken the lead as a fantastic cross found the head of Nsibambi who headed wide from about five yards out.

They were almost made to rue that miss as Frank Acheampong was barged over in the Ugandan box in what looked like a clear penalty shout but the referee waved the appeals away.

Chances were few and far between for the rest of the game with both sides restricted to shots from range which barely threatened either keeper.

The Black Stars had the ball in the net again with seconds to play but the goal was ruled out, wrongly again, for offside sparking a fracas after the final which came almost immediately after.

Ghana will now face a nervous wait as Egypt host Congo on Sunday, where a draw will end the team’s chances of making it to Russia.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EdKwakofi

 

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With Ghana needing to win to stand any chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and with several key players missing, Appiah has gone with a new look squad for today’s game.

Christian Atsu is out with a knee injury, defenders, Harrison Afful and Jonathan Mensah also missed the trip while Jordan and Andre Ayew were dropped from the squad.

Richmond Boakye-Yiadom who’s been in stunning form for SuperLiga team Red Star Belgrade, and has scored 30 goals this season, will start up front for the Black Stars with Captain Asamoah Gyan out with injury.

Richard Ofori retains his place in goal behind a centre-back pairing of  Nicholas Opoku and Daniel Amartey who will captain the team today.

Augsburg right-back Daniel Opare returns to the first team for the first time since the 2014 World Cup while Lumor Agbenyenu starts at left back for the Stars

Alfred Duncan and Ebenezer Ofori join four-goal hero against Congo, Thomas Partey in central midfield, with Partey expected to play as the most advanced of the three.

Kingsley Sarfo and Frank Acheampong will provide support down the wings for the Black Stars

GHANA XI: R. Ofori, Opare, Lumor, Amartey (c), Opoku, Duncan, Sarfo, E. Ofori, Yiadom, Partey, Acheampong

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This is part of the qualification for the sevens rugby world cup 2018, the commonwealth games, and the World Series Repechage tournament in Hong Kong.

As the only unranked team to qualify for the tournament in Kampala, the Ghana Eagles are poised to prove themselves on the Africa Rugby stage with giants like Uganda, Namibia, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal and Botswana participating in the tournament to take place in Kampala, Uganda between 6-7 October 2017.

The Ghana Eagles qualification came on the back of Ghana rugby’s qualification as a full member of world rugby in a record time of fewer than three years, under the leadership of Herbert Mensah as President.

The Golden Tulip Hotel has consistently supported the Ghana Rugby football team in diverse ways as a lesser known sport in Ghana.

The National sevens team took the opportunity to visit the hotel prior to their departure to show appreciation to one of Ghana’s best hotels for their continuous support and world-class hospitality.

In an exciting and serene atmosphere, the national rugby team, led by President of Ghana Rugby football union, Mr. Herbert Mensah, did a photo shoot with managers of the hotel whiles players did some on-the -pitch war cry to demonstrate their preparedness for the tournament.

Mr. Herbert Mensah thanked Golden Tulip Accra hotel management for hosting the national rugby team and for their continuous support, and encouraged the Ghana Eagles to make an impact in Kampala and raise the Flag of Ghana high.

He also called on corporate Ghana to join key sponsor, PAN AFRICAN GROUP, KOMATSU in supporting the Ghana Eagles in their quest to take Ghana Rugby to the global stage.

In a related development, the Ghana Eagles also briefly spent time at ESCAPADES CAFE to show appreciation to the management for their support to the team during their preparations towards the Kampala tournament.

The Ghana Eagles are expected back in Accra on Sunday October 8 2017.
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Ghana is currently third in Group E on 5 points with Uganda on 7 and Egypt on 9 and only a victory for the Black Stars coupled with a win for Congo Brazzaville will give the team some hope for a place in the 2018 World Cup.

Boakye-Yiadom, who scored for Ghana in the 5-1 win Brazzaville in the last round, believes that he and his team-mates should go for the victory against Uganda despite the strong home record of their hosts and they should not think about the match between Egypt and Congo Brazzaville.

“I always believe Ghana is one of the most talented players when it comes to football and we always want to win and appear on the big stage. We are going for the victory against Uganda.

I believe that if God can take David from the bottom and make him King of Israel, then anything can happen so we just have to believe and focus on our match.”

The Black Stars team will have its last training session in Nairobi on Thursday before flying to Kampala.

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Tempers flared and lawmakers were filmed brawling after it was alleged an MP had brought a gun into the chamber.

The speaker ordered a search but no gun was found, local media reported.

The age-limit issue is controversial because long-standing President Yoweri Museveni is 73 years old and the limit for re-election is capped at 75.

President Museveni has been in power since 1986 and democratically elected as president since 1996.

But the current constitutional age limit would prevent him from standing for a sixth term in the 2021 elections.

His governing party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has been involved in a contentious bill to revise the country’s constitution.

A previous two-term limit was scrapped in 2005 to allow President Museveni to stand for a third term.

The scuffles broke out on Tuesday during a plenary session after the parliament speaker allowed the constitutional amendment to be presented to MPs.

Local media reported that it took 20 minutes for the commotion to calm down.

Earlier, police had fired tear gas at some protesters in the capital Kampala before the debate began.

A leading opposition figure was also reportedly arrested trying to mobilise protesters, a police spokesperson said.

Last week, parliament had to be adjourned after opposition MPs chanted, heckled and whistled over the age-limit issue.

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Source: BBC

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