Publications

Its nowadays a common occurrence to find a boy with a girlfriend on a date with each glued to their phones and you wonder whether there is communication happening between the two? In the case of schools, had it not been for strict regulations, students would have all voted to keep their phones and use them as they wish! That beg the question; Where did body language or non-verbal communication disappear to? Have smart phones robbed us of our humanity or replaced our humankind?

The computer and smartphone age have come with many benefits and problems in the same measure.  Focusing on the problems, there is high potential to addiction to these devices and their applications such as video games and social media networks. Using too much technology can also negatively affect one’s health resulting into eye sores, neck pain, shoulder pain, and attention deficits consequently reducing productivity. Mentally, it can also lead to anxiety, depression and stress while behaviorally it can result into compulsive behavior and social isolation.

At Passionpawa Innovations, we strive to inculcate a culture among children and young people to view ICTs as a means to building their skills, linking to the job market while building social networks on their journey to realizing their full potential and dreams however, this calls for a balance to be struck between discipline and responsibility. Responsible use of technology means engaging with technology safely and respectfully as well as not harming others with it and we advocate for parental guidance and enforcement of appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks to make this possible.

DENIS NUWAGABA

Uganda has a very high youth unemployment rate estimated at 78 percent. Youth with disabilities are more prone to unemployment and poverty because of the barriers they face in education, training and at places of work. These barriers include; limited awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities which has led to stigma and discrimination by their families and communities who view such children as a curse, limited access to inclusive education to cater for their peculiar needs which forces majority to drop out of school at an early stage before acquiring employable skills, lack of effective policies and motivations for employers to recruit youth with disabilities which makes it very difficult for them to enter a competitive employment sector. 

To make matters worse, employers may require additional investment funds to make their work environment disability-friendly such as; buying hearing gadgets for those with hearing impairment, hiring sign language interpreters, buying braille and special computers for the blind employees, building ramps to make offices accessible for physically impaired to mention but a few. 

In addition, youth livelihoods and vocational skilling programs do not take care of special needs of this group and hence are always left out. Studies estimate that approximately 80 percent of persons with disability in Uganda live in conditions of long-term poverty. 

Uganda will not attain the “leaving no one behind” dream and Sustainable Development Goal 8: Promoting inclusive economic growth, full and productive employment allowing persons with disabilities to fully access the job market if obstacles faced by the youth with disabilities in education, vocational training and livelihood programs are not addressed!

DENIS NUWAGABA

Uganda’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Sub-Saharan Region has gained worldwide commendations. Focusing on the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) pillar, there are many highlights and lessons of Uganda’s frontline service providers fighting coronavirus stigma.

The e-novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented fear and anxiety in Uganda and the rest of the world. In Hoima, for instance, individuals initially suspected of having coronavirus were publicly ridiculed by community members and called demeaning names “Abacorona,” loosely translated as “Coronavirus carriers.” 

In the weeks that followed, the countrywide lockdown to stop further spread of the deadly virus, police reported had increased number of domestic violence cases which, unfortunately, caused deaths in some parts of the country. False messages about the extent of coronavirus continue to spread like wildfire via the social media, creating more fear and anxiety among the population. 

Dr. Wilson Winston Muhwezi, a behavioral scientist at the school of Medicine at Makerere University College of Health Sciences, recently commented on the likely mental health and psycho-social impact of Covid-19 and notes that in the context of Covid-19, anxiety is high and expected. “This being a new disease, people need explanation and re-assurance. A number of people may not easily cope and those who get mentally challenged need more specialized support. 

SOLID APPROACH: Uganda’s multi-pronged approach has ridden on a wave of a strong public awareness campaign through television, radio, social media and print media.  Meanwhile, we have also witnessed timely identification, referral and managing of suspected cases through quarantine, isolation and treatment of positives cases at Mulago national referral hospital and Entebbe Grade B hospitals. 

Importantly, a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) pillar was purposively included in the min¬istry of Health-led Covid-19 national response strategy to handle behavioral change and stigma reduction interven¬tions. The MHPSS pillar team is com¬posed of mental health professionals, community and clinical psychologists, healthcare workers, psychiatric nurses, social workers, counselors and volun¬teers from both public health sector and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s). They strive to address the unseen anxiety, confusion and depression building up as a result of social-economic disruption caused by coronavirus to individuals, their families and communities. 

To understand the level of alertness, there are over 43 quarantine centres distributed countrywide, especially in high-risk areas of coronavirus infection like national border entry points. Dr. Kenneth Okware Kalani, the coordinator MHPSS pillar, explains that appropriate information and messages are provided along the six-steps emerging procedures that are informing the process for developing a standard Covid-19 MHPSS protocol for Uganda. 

POSITIVE STATS: The measures adopted by Uganda Covid-19 task force have been effective in keeping the numbers of individuals infected by coronavirus in Uganda low: 89 cases with no deaths and 52 recoveries. This has been a result of the MHPSS participatory and intensive health education on Covid-19 and has reduced the levels of anxiety and stigma in communities even though there was that isolated case in Kalangala where a recovered person was disowned by some village mates.

But in Kayunga, Hoima and Adjumani districts, we have witnessed families and communities celebrate the return of people that defeated coronavirus. Findings from home visitation of discharged clients show that they are coping well with no major issues. 

The MHPSS Pillar has also increased capacity in managing Covid-19 by train¬ing and deploying 10 psychiatric nurses at Mulago and Entebbe hospitals. The nurses have offered fulltime care and by the time of discharge, clients have calmed down, relaxed and ready to re-integrate with their families. In addition, the MHPSS team offers psychosocial support to doctors and health workers treating Covid-19 to prevent burnout and exhaustion due to intensity of care required by the clients. 

The MHPSS pillar has received considerable support from sister departments like Butabika national referral mental health hospital, Makerere University department of mental health, Uganda Counseling Association, among others. On a voluntary basis, these are supporting development of National Covid-19 MHPSS standard protocols, guidelines, manuals and tools for training frontline service provides so that the messages shared are consistent. The plan is to engage more partners for their in-put and buy-in as national reference materials.

CHALLENGES: Covid-19 being a new disease, spreading very fast with no cure, new information from scientists in managing the disease keeps coming in, which requires frontline service providers to constantly read to update themselves. This can be challenging when dealing with anxious and big numbers.

In the initial phase due to limited information and misconceptions about the coronavirus disease, communities were very hostile to individuals suspected of carrying the virus like the case in Hoima. The unregulated social media flow of mis-information continues to share falsehoods which cause unnecessary anxiety and fear among the population. 

At the onset of the disease due to big numbers in quarantine, it was overwhelming to adequately provide the required psychotherapy and health education on Covid-19. This caused a lot of anxiety, anger and distress but was gradually put under control as the MHPSS pillar beefed up its capacity by increasing number of staff. Later it became possible to conduct one-on-one counselling sessions. 

LESSONS: In support of World Health Organization (WHO) guidance to countries, it is critical to integrate mental health psychosocial support into medical interventions in managing viral infectious diseases of Covid-19 magnitude because community engagement plays a significant role in preventing further spread and helps in addressing stigma that usually accompany such diseases due to myths and lack of reliable, factual and readily available information during the emergency phase. 

 DENIS NUWAGABA

Schools in Uganda were closed abruptly in March 2020 and were students sent home to avoid catching coronavirus disease. COVID-19 is a very dangerous viral disease that started from China and has spread all over the world and killed many people. As students now at home for almost five months we are not sure what will happen next! Thanks to the smart phones which have helped us to continue learning while at home through on-line studying facilities.

The smart phone has helped me in several ways. I have remained in regular contact with my teachers who send simplified notes and homework via docs and pdf. Whenever I have some MBs I’am able to do research by asking Mr. Google who provides me with answers to difficult questions. The smart phone is a very essential education tool especially in the current COVID-19 context. It has helped me to learn more skills on how to navigate the internet for education purposes. I have remained in touch with my friends through ''what sapping,'' snap chatting, messaging and sometimes calling.

The Uganda’s government’s decision to send children home to safeguard them against coronavirus disease was a wise and timely one. The Education and Sports Minister Hon. Janet K. Museveni’s tireless efforts underway exploring ways of providing radios and television sets to rural homes and communities to allow students keep learning during this extended COVID-19 holiday are a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, some villages in Uganda are not connected to national electricity grid hence the option of making solar power available for rural poor should be strongly considered. Efforts should also be taken to safeguard children on-line learning against exploitation, bullying by unscrupulous people. The parents should be equipped with skills via Google Education and Learning platforms to ensure they appreciate that smartphones are beyond a communication gadget, they are an essential education tool and should endeavor to make it available for students, teach them how to use it for education and regularly provide their children with MBs to enjoy their learning experience as well as help them in their research on different topics and subjects.

My dream is becoming an ICT Engineer in Africa. Perhaps one day, I hope to meet Mr. Google and express my desire to acquire low-cost solar-charged smart phones which I can distribute to students in poor countryside communities and teach them how to use them for education and research purposes.

DEVIAH NOWAMAANI

Of all the galaxy I’m special and I’m the Mother Earth

In terms of beauty and riches I carry

I am the source of air, water and life 

Humans, trees, birds, animals and wildlife you find.

Man's greed, Mother Earth destroyed

In search of the treasures beyond

The gold, silver, and diamonds underneath

Somehow the trees will survive others will get extinct

Lakes, rivers and swamps clogged with waste, aquatic life inflict.

The threats on Mother Earth a reality we fear 

The fumes from factories are dangerous but we breathe

And the lungs will tear

Mother earth chocked on gases temperatures shoot, mis-breathe. 

JDO/Rwabu a friend to restore Mother Earth

Technology in progress to save 

On the frontline are the youth for action

To restore beauty and the riches of Mother Earth

For the future generation.

DANIELLA OWOMUHENDO

MARGARET VICTORIA

TINO PRAISE ARABELLA

At Hillside Primary School Naalya, my teachers, Stephen and Michael train pupils from all classes that love sports. 

Every Saturday, I and My friend Crowie go to school to play games like Mini Cricket and Volley but what I like most is scoring goals to make my team the winner.

Sports are good for every child because they help us keep, fit, active and healthy and during sports we make new friends.

Sports help children not to watch too much TV which makes them very lazy.

DANIELLA OWOMUHENDO

As children we learn better where there are fun and games! 

My name is Daniel Asingura, I study at Raphela Junior School, Mulawa, Kira and during the holidays, Daddy took me to his friend’s home where I met new friends, Denise and Denrick.

We had a wonderful day at his home studio where we recorded a skit about the problems children living with HIV face especially stigma. 

Children living with HIV feel bad when fellow children call them names and this makes them stop taking their medicine therefore making them more ill.

We as the Savers are the future. Join us today to save our planet and our fellow children with the help of puppets. 

We enjoy working with puppets because we can make them talk using our hands and spread messages of love and care for all people.

Let us love and care for our friends to stop HIV stigma.

DANIEL ASINGURA

Trees are very important to us because they provide us with oxygen to breathe, fruits and herbal medicine, trees serve as shelter on a sunny day, trees provide timber for constructions and furniture, some trees are tourist attractions, trees are also habitats for some animals and birds while in some villages big trees act as classrooms for learners and serve as meeting places. 

On a bad note, trees and forests in Uganda are being destroyed at a faster rate which is very worrying. Trees are being cut down for charcoal, firewood because electricity and gas are expensive and majority of people in Kampala, other cities and towns cannot afford. Some industries like tea processing use a lot of firewood. Unfortunately, trees that are cut down are not replaced in equal numbers and this has caused negative climate changes like persistent droughts and floods.  

On a positive note, Gorilla Tech Pearls Club in partnership with JDO Foundation based in the USA have mobilized the children from Uganda and other countries such as India, USA, United Kingdom to learn skills via an online collaboration program where children design and implement innovation projects aimed at solving pressing problems in their communities.

During the holidays, I and my friend Praise used the knowledge and skills acquired from Gorilla Tech Pearls Club and JDO Foundation to plant 100 trees in Katosi Mukono District to protect our environment and prevent dangers of climate. We encourage fellow children across Uganda to plant a tree as a priority to save our environment from destruction. 

DANIELLA OWOMUHENDO

Reading in class helps me learn how to write words, count and sing. 

Reading helps me do my home work, with the help of mummy, daddy and my big brother Donald of course.

Reading helps me understand signposts to find my way, and enjoy while watching cartoons.

Reading makes me happy everyday.

I am a smart boy because of reading.

Thank you my teachers for helping me learn how to read.

DANIEL ASINGURA

When our teachers told us that we were going for a school trip to Entebbe, I was excited and anxious at the same time. At exactly 7:00am, we set off from school in our bus. We went singing and chatting with friends. I was super excited to see the traffic lights controlling the movement of very many cars. When we arrived at Entebbe, we visited a landing site. Here, I touched a live fish and it felt so soft and cool. We were shown different fishing tools such as fishing nets and hooks. I learnt that fish eat pellets and once out of water, they cannot survive for long.

The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre is a very exciting place that we visited next. Here we saw wild birds and animals. While I had seen birds, animals and snakes on  the tele and in movies, seeing them in real life was a very exciting experience for me.

Finally, we went to the Entebbe Weather Station where we were taught about the many elements of weather.

DONALD NUWAGABA