A contagious disease has been declared in Tanzania. During the month of March 2023, Uganda is in the process of putting in place, a law once morest homosexuality. This at a time when Kenyans are demonstrating once morest inflation and the high cost of living in their country. As for Rwanda, the fourth edition of the “EAPCCO” games is taking place there. Details in this regional press review
Kenyans took to the streets to demonstrate once morest inflation.
Tanzania: outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) declared
The Ministry of Health in the United Republic of Tanzania confirmed an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Bukoba District (Kagera Region) on Tuesday March 21, 2023. This occurred four days following the circulation reports of a “potentially contagious disease”. This disease has already killed five people, including a health worker. Victims developed symptoms of fever, vomiting, bleeding from various bodily openings, and kidney failure.
“Following the epidemic [MVD]the Tanzanian government has decided to enforce the public health measures to contain the outbreak and further prevent local and international spread in accordance with the International Health Regulations 2005,” reads The Citizen newspaper.
Kenya: taking to the streets once morest inflation and high prices
Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to demonstrate once morest soaring inflation and high living costs. The protests were organized by Raila Odinga, chairman of the Azimio La Umoja party on Monday March 20, 2023. Mr. Odinga said the protests were aimed among other things at lowering the cost of living and electoral reforms.
“These protests were at their peak in the capital Nairobi and in the town of Kisumu, Mr. Odinga’s home territory. Thousands of protesters engaged the police in battles for most of the day,” Nairobi News read.
Police struggled to subdue rowdy crowds. Four politicians affiliated with Azimio were briefly arrested and then released. Because of these protests, at least 250 people were arrested.
Uganda: severe penalties envisaged for homosexuality
The Ugandan Parliament on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 passed the Bill introducing severe penalties including death for practicing homosexuality. “A firm prison sentence of up to 20 years for acts of homosexuality like promoting homosexuality, grooming children for homosexuality… is being considered,” reads Ugandan newspaper The Monitor. .
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among said she would do her best to preserve the country’s cultural values. As lawmakers and supporters celebrated the passage of the bill, messages of condemnation began to pour in from the international community including key partners such as the UN and the United States. They call the law discriminatory and regressive.
In a statement, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Turk, asked President Yoweri Museveni to refrain from giving his assent to the bill.
Rwanda: EAPCCO games underway
The fourth edition of the East African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Games is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from 21-27 March 2023.
The EAPCCO games are organized under the theme “ Promoting police cooperation in the fight once morest transnational organized crime through sport “. The said games see the participation of countries like Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the host country: Rwanda. The EAPCCO Games bring together a total of 1,114 athletes from 85 teams including 55 men’s teams and 28 women’s teams.
