They were arrested in an operation aimed at targeting motorists who over lap during traffic jam. Seven police drivers were arrested for allegedly abusing traffic rules. The group was arrested in an ongoing operation, which begun in Central Division and mainly targets drivers who overlap in an attempt to dodge traffic jam. It is expected to be extended countrywide. The seven drivers were cautioned and penalized. Uganda Police's action yielded goodwill and showed that it is a reformed force.
Spanish national 'jumps to death' from Sheraton hotel.
The Police have kicked off investigations into the death of a Spanish national suspected to have committed suicide at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. Florensa Jaume Betran's body was found lying in a pool of blood on the hotel terrace located on the first floor .Police suspect that he allegedly jumped from the 12th floor of the hotel at about 11.00am local time (EAT), shortly after booking the room. The PR crisis was properly handled by the Uganda police and Sheraton.
Auditors find blood with maggots in hospitals
A report by the Auditor General portrayed a negative image of the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS), with grave implications on public health. It raises serious questions about the quality of blood transfused to patients in health centres countrywide. The audit contains graphic details spawned out of gross neglect or inefficiency at UBTS, arising out of poor maintenance of the database, non-compliance to standards in seven regional blood banks as well as lack of routine maintenance, repairs and testing of equipment. The audit was carried out to ascertain whether UBTS is efficiently, economically and effectively performing its role of availing safe and adequate blood and blood products to hospitals and health centre IVs countrywide.
Six out of 10 hospitals and health centre IVs, including Arua, Mbarara, Soroti and Mbale regional referral hospitals, were found to be storing blood outside the required temperature range, thus posing a threat to the quality of blood.The UBTS principal blood donor recruiter William Mugisha defended the organisation, saying they explained a number of issues to the auditors, which they seem not to have captured.
Makerere HIV vaccine project sued
A senior data entry specialist has dragged the Makerere University HIV vaccine project –the Makerere University Walter Reed Project – to court for wrongful dismissal. According to documents filed on August 2 at the High Court in Kampala, Jacqueline Kemirembe, who was dismissed from the project on April 13, is demanding sh100m.She had worked with the project for nine years as a permanent employee.
The project was founded in 2002 for HIV vaccine development and building of vaccine testing capability in Uganda. It is one of the five international research sites set up by the American Department of Defence United States HIV Research Programme. Kemirembe alleges that on January 2 this year, the management of the project arbitrarily changed the employment terms.
Kemirembe is aggrieved because she was dismissed on grounds that were in breach of the project's human resource policy. Any legal suit is a crisis in a way.
Disclaimer: This article strictly offers academic insight meant to create awareness about crisis PR communication management. Therefore it should be used for educational purposes and not viewed as an attack on institutions or individuals. It offers a professional PR insight into Crisis management in Uganda which is still a young profession. I hope that Lessons shared can better the PR fraternity in Uganda. I commend the inclusion of Best Crisis Management Award category in the PRAU Excellence Awards. PR Practitioners need to be fully involved in crises from the start. The writer assumes no responsibility for contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.
Ivan N. Baliboola
The author has worked with some of the most well-known and influential East African brands in construction, healthcare, Insurance, cosmetics, and banking. He carries a wealth of experience in marketing, Public relations, crisis management, and social media. He is a proud Award winner of a prestigious Public Relations Association of Uganda excellence award. He has volunteered his life to addressing environment and health related causes. He is also a blogger, professional critic, and strategist.
