Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

For years, residents of Amaki Boma in Maridi County have struggled to cross a waterway to access already scarce healthcare, schools and markets, particularly during the rainy season when water levels surge to dangerous levels.

To strengthen community safety and connect them with essential services, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan funded the construction of the new Amaki Bridge.

The initiative is already having a significant impact.

“It is helping women in labour, especially those who are struggling to deliver, because they can be quickly transported to the hospital. If an ambulance is available, it can also come and pick up the women to provide immediate care. It really is lifesaving,” explains resident, Yomima Amuna.

Beyond healthcare, the improved road connection is opening new opportunities for farmers who previously had difficulty transporting their produce to markets. Previously, farmers had no choice but to sell their crops locally because of the challenges reaching the town.

“Now that the bridge has been repaired, we can transport our agricultural produce to bigger markets for sale,” she says.

According to Stanley Joseph, Amaki Boma area chief, motorbikes previously became stuck in the water, with their engines sometimes submerged, making the crossing both difficult and dangerous.

“The bridge will help prevent people from drowning while trying to wade through the water.”

The improved connectivity is expected to also benefit farmers and traders travelling to areas further afield, including Maridi town, Mvolo County and other elsewhere.

For UNMISS, the bridge is critical to ensuring that peacekeeping patrols can access the area and that peacebuilding activities can be conducted in remote, conflict-affected areas.

“It gives us easy accessibility to go and support the government in protection of civilians and other peace engagements,” explains UNMISS representative, Bazawi Thomas Felix.

The Amaki Bridge is part of UNMISS’ efforts to support communities through quick impact projects aimed at improving access, strengthening livelihoods, and creating conditions that support the protection of civilians.

For residents of Amaki Boma, the bridge represents more than a new crossing.

It offers safety as well as the opportunity to strengthen community connections and resilience.

– on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO – Report:

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The artificial lake is one of the latest outcomes of a quick impact project, initiated by the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

While UNMISS is mandated by the Security Council to protect civilians in restive parts of the country, part of its tasks include supporting the communities peacekeepers serve, from building roads to building peace.

Cattle conflicts

The reservoir project in Terekeka responds not only to the chronic lack of water in the area, but also to a key driver of conflict, with ongoing competition between farmers and cattle keepers over scarce water and grazing resources.

The intention was clear from the outset: provide farmers with a reliable water source for their crops while reducing the need for cattle keepers to venture onto farmland in search of water for their livestock, a perennial source of tension and violence.

“This project is particularly close to our hearts as it directly addresses both humanitarian challenges and conflict triggers, and the impact is already visible,” said UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer Lawson Assagaya at a recent ceremony handing over the reservoir to the community.

Location is key

The location was carefully chosen, far enough from farms to reduce competition, yet close enough for farming communities to benefit, UNMISS said.

The hope is that the reservoir will create new opportunities for herders and farmers to co-exist peacefully, and signs of change are already emerging.

New cattle camps have already begun to settle around the reservoir, encouraging those displaced by conflict, including members of the Wonduruba Mundari community, to begin returning home.

Brighter future

Cattle keeper John Kenyi, a father of three who is expecting his fourth child, has long hoped to see changes that would, among other things, give his children a brighter future.

“It’s devastating to see how our peaceful people end up fighting over scarce resources and lack of coordinated migration patterns rather than working together,” he said. “Every day I hope for unity to return.”

For Mr. Kenyi, cattle are not simply a status symbol, but an investment that can help pay for his children’s education, an approach he says he learned from neighbouring farming communities.

“I don’t know if I would say that we were brothers, but we are certainly one community,” he said. “It gives us pride that this county is now re-emerging as a place people can call home.”

Working together

This sense of unity also emerged during the reservoir’s construction, according to the Point Investment Company, the project’s local partner.

When workers arrived at the site, they found no road suitable for the heavy machinery needed to begin work.

As news of the project had spread, farmers and herders from surrounding communities quickly arrived with tools to help clear and build a pathway to the site.

“What was particularly special about constructing this project was the excitement of the Rego payam community,” said Point Investment Company project manager Juman Emmanuel. “You could really see how energised everyone was about this new water source.”

Boost from nature

Nature also provided an unexpected boost to the project when workers struck an underground water source that began naturally filling the roughly 3,200-square-metre reservoir.

The discovery meant the cement lining originally planned was no longer an option as it could contaminate the clean groundwater.

“When we saw the water coming out from underground, we were all relieved,” the construction workers said. “This meant that the Rego communities will have an even more sustainable opportunity to be safe now.”

Renewed hope

The project was completed in just one month, leaving the community with a sustainable water source that can continue replenishing the reservoir even when rainfall becomes scarce during the dry season, UNMISS said.

Whether the reservoir will ultimately help reduce cattle-related violence remains to be seen, but its impact is already extending well beyond supplying water.

In a community long divided by competition over scarce resources, the project has brought farmers and herders together around a shared resource and fostered renewed hope that Rego can once again become a place people call home.

– on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO – Report:

Driven by desperation to find food for their families, women in Uganda’s Karamoja Region have resorted to climbing up mountains to crush rocks in search of gold to feed their families.

Unfortunately, they also bring their children, who are often struggling with malnutrition. 

Food insecurity has been worsening in several districts in Karamoja, driven by recurring climate shocks, the pressures of the lean season, and growing household debt. Livelihood systems have not fully recovered from successive shocks, leaving communities highly vulnerable.

More than 40,000 people are in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Sytem’s Phase 4, which means they are barely able to eat a meal a day, and more than 432,000 who are in Phase 3, face significant food shocks. For many families, recovery remains fragile, and gains risk being reversed.​

“I came to the mountains to provide for my family,” said Adong, one such mother. “I know the conditions are harsh for a baby here, but I had to bring him because he is still breastfeeding.”

Fortunately for Adong and other women who work on a quarry on Mount Moroto, health workers have been determined to help them.

Taking action

In Moroto, one in five children under five is acutely malnourished, the highest rate in Karamoja. For many caregivers, the challenge is not just to identify children for treatment, but to ensure they receive it in time.

The nutritional situation is concerning in Karamoja, especially for children and mothers, with an estimated 122,000 children under five that require treatment for acute malnutrition.

Knowing mothers, young men, babies, traders come together at the quarry, a nutrition outreach team from Kakingol Health Centre III made the climb to them instead, in June 2026. With support from UNICEF and the OCHA-managed Uganda Humanitarian Fund, the team worked with a Village Health Team – made of community volunteers – to set up services at the quarry.

During a morning, Adong’s child was screened and vaccinated along with more than 60 other children. 

For mothers like Adong, travelling long distances to health facilities can mean losing a day’s income. Bringing services closer helps families access care without giving up the work they rely on to survive.

Since April, humanitarian partners have reached nearly 700,000 people in Karamoja and refugee-hosting districts with life-saving nutrition and health services.

– on behalf of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Source: APO

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with the President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Zou Jiayi. The meeting was attended by Minister of Finance and Governor of Egypt at the Asian Bank Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty, and Chief Investment Officer, Public Sector (Region 2) & Project and Corporate Finance (Global) Clients at AIIB Konstantin Limitovskiy.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said President El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the ongoing cooperation with AIIB—dating back to Egypt’s participation in its establishment as a non-regional founding member. The President highlighted the Bank’s key role in supporting Egypt’s development efforts by providing financing and technical assistance for many projects and programs underway, whether in partnership with Egyptian state entities or with the Egyptian private and banking sectors. The President said Egypt looked to further diversify its cooperation portfolio with the Bank, in alignment with national priorities and plans, particularly in energy, transport, ports, and logistics, among other sectors, by leveraging the competitive advantages of the Egyptian economy.

The AIIB President expressed appreciation for Egypt’s role as a founding member and emphasized that the Bank views Egypt as a geographic and developmental link between Asia and Africa. She highlighted the Bank’s distinguished portfolio in the country—through which it has financed several key projects, such as the Benban Solar Park, the Alexandria – Abou Qir Metro Line and the development of the container terminal at Damietta Port, among others. This is in addition to supporting the Egyptian government’s policies aimed at enhancing economic resilience and sustainable recovery. She emphasized that her visit reflects a commitment to consulting with the President and the Egyptian government regarding the work priorities for the coming period—in line with the Bank’s policy of ensuring that its future strategic direction reflects the development priorities and financing needs of its member countries.

The President reviewed the Egyptian state’s efforts within the framework of comprehensive and sustainable economic development plans, noting the major projects implemented in recent years to upgrade infrastructure; enhance transport, energy, and telecommunications networks; and increase reliance on renewable energy sources, as well as efforts to improve the investment climate, boost the Egyptian economy’s competitiveness and resilience in the face of regional and international challenges, and measures to maximize the private sector’s role in economic activity and attract further foreign investment.

AIIB President Zou Jiayi commended the successes made in Egypt in terms of comprehensive and sustainable development, as well as the Egyptian government’s success in implementing ambitious economic reform measures. These steps have resulted in higher growth rates, increased direct investment, exchange rate stability, and an overall improvement in macroeconomic performance indicators.

Views were exchanged on international and regional economic and financial developments, as well as the repercussions of geopolitical tensions on development trajectories and flows of investment and finance. President El-Sisi emphasized the importance of bolstering cooperation between international financial institutions and developing nations, enhancing innovative financing instruments, and mobilizing greater private investment to support development efforts and enhance the resilience of emerging and developing economies in the face of crises and external shocks.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO – Report:

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has commended former Kabale University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joy C Kwesiga for transforming the institution from a young university into an institution of national significance during her 21 years of service.

Speaking at a ceremony to celebrate Prof. Kwesiga’s service at the university on 04 September 2026, Tayebwa said her contribution to higher education and the people of Kigezi extended beyond her tenure as vice chancellor. He described her record as one that had opened opportunities for many.

“I am not here to celebrate your exit. I am here to celebrate a testimony, a record of service that opened doors for very many people, not only in Kigezi but beyond Kigezi,” Tayebwa said.

He also praised Prof. Kwesiga for breaking barriers for women in leadership, saying her achievements demonstrated that excellence should not be judged by gender.

“I appreciate you for breaking barriers and for showing people that excellence cannot be related to gender,” he said.

Prof. Kwesiga served as Vice Chancellor of Kabale University for 21 years, during which the institution grew into a public university with national significance.

Tayebwa said Prof. Kwesiga had made a deliberate choice to serve her home region at a time when she could have pursued leadership opportunities elsewhere.

“You went out of the way for 21 years, at the prime of your time, when you could have become Vice Chancellor of Makerere University. You decided and said, ‘No, let me go and take a risk ahead of my people of Kigezi.’ So really, we cannot take that for granted,” he said.

Tayebwa also attributed Kabale University’s growth to the vision of the elders who established it in 2001 under difficult circumstances, saying the institution has provided both ‘roots and wings’ to people in the region.

“Kabale University has become a benchmark university because it is the first community-owned university that transitioned into a public university,” Tayebwa said.

He added that the university’s success had informed the government’s decision to establish public universities in other sub-regions.

As the university charts its future, Tayebwa challenged it to ensure that its programmes and research respond directly to the challenges facing the Kigezi region.

“Poverty levels are going up. Why? Where is the problem? You as Kabale University, can you do for us a study and guide us? That’s how you show your relevance,” he said.

He urged the university to focus on areas such as science, medicine and other disciplines that can help address local challenges, including poverty and malnutrition.

Prof. Kwesiga’s career in higher education spans more than five decades.

Born in 1943 in present-day Rukiga District, she studied Geography at the University of East Africa (Makerere) before pursuing postgraduate studies in public administration, higher education and gender issues.

She earned a master’s degree in Higher Education and a PhD in Education and Gender Issues from the University of London.

She began her career in Makerere University’s administration and later rose through the institution’s leadership, serving as Head of the Department of Women and Gender Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. In 2005, she became Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, where she spent 21 years leading the institution’s growth and development.

– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Ministry of Health (MOH), through the National Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries (NCDI) Unit, with support from the IECD TREND Project, has successfully concluded a comprehensive WHO Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions (WHO-PEN) training for primary healthcare workers in Grand Bassa County.

The four-day training brought together 27 healthcare workers from 14 primary healthcare facilities across the county. The training forms part of the Ministry of Health’s national strategy to strengthen the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and long-term management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the primary healthcare level.

The training equipped participants with practical knowledge and clinical skills to deliver standardized, evidence-based NCD services, with emphasis on diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and other priority NCDs using WHO-PEN protocols. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions covering patient assessment, cardiovascular risk assessment and stratification, lifestyle counseling, diagnosis and treatment, referral pathways, follow-up care, documentation, and reporting.

The sessions were facilitated by county-level trainers and monitored by national supervisors from the MOH NCDI Unit. The training methodology included interactive presentations, case studies, clinical demonstrations, role plays, group discussions, and practical exercises designed to strengthen healthcare workers’ competence and confidence in delivering quality NCD services in resource-limited primary healthcare settings.

Speaking during the training on behalf of the Mrs. Jamesetta Teewon Smith, Director of the National NCDI Program at the Ministry of Health, Mr. Gontopoe Omedo Nuahn, Diabetes and Hypertension reaffirmed the Government of Liberia’s commitment to integrating quality NCD services into primary healthcare as part of the country’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and President Boakai’s ARREST AGENDA for INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT (AAID). He encouraged participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes and strengthen community-based prevention, early detection, and management of NCDs.

Representing the IECD TREND Project, Dr. Anthony M. Tucker, Project Manager, reaffirmed the project’s commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health in strengthening Liberia’s health system through health workforce development, improved service delivery, and expanded access to quality NCD services across the country.

Dr. Whesseh Jude, County Health Officer of Grand Bassa County, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health and the NCDI Unit for selecting Grand Bassa County as one of the implementation sites for WHO-PEN. He encouraged participants to maximize the opportunity by applying the knowledge and skills gained to improve the quality of care provided to patients.

Dr. Jude also emphasized the importance of accountability for government and donor-supported resources and called for continued collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the County Health Team, and the IECD TREND Project to expand similar capacity-building opportunities to other healthcare workers across the county. He noted that the burden of NCDs continues to increase in Grand Bassa County and Liberia as a whole.

Strengthening Facilities with Essential Screening Equipment

At the conclusion of the four-day training, the IECD TREND Project donated essential NCD screening and diagnostic equipment and supplies to the Grand Bassa County Health Team for onward distribution to the 14 participating health facilities.

Receiving the items on behalf of the County Health Team, the County Chief Pharmacist expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health and the NCDI Unit for facilitating the inclusion of Grand Bassa County in the WHO-PEN implementation. He assured the IECD TREND Project and the Ministry of Health that the donated equipment would be properly accounted for and used for their intended purpose.

He further emphasized that donated supplies should not be sold and should remain clearly separated from commodities procured through the Community Revolving Drugs Fund (CRDF) system.

Milestone for NCD Care in Grand Bassa

The successful completion of this second phase of WHO-PEN training in Grand Bassa County brings the total number of healthcare workers trained from the 14 selected facilities to 56.

This marks an important milestone in Liberia’s efforts to decentralize quality NCD services and make essential prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and long-term management more accessible at the primary healthcare level

The initiative demonstrates the Government of Liberia’s continued commitment to strengthening primary healthcare and advancing Universal Health Coverage through the nationwide implementation of the WHO-PEN approach.

Together, we can prevent NCDs, detect them early, improve treatment outcomes, and ensure healthier communities across Liberia

– on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Liberia.