Find out information about Coronavirus in Uganda. More here.

By Ian Ortega

As the world becomes more visual, as Facebook gets optimized for videos, there’s also a growing community of Ugandan Youtube Vloggers. This time round, sharing stories not with their words, but with video. Today, we follow up on some of the channels in no order.

1.       I’m Shyla (1.86K Subscribers, 56 Videos)

This lifestyle blogger is one of the most active in the game. She describes her channel as charming, witty and friendly. She’s taken us on Easter celebrations during lockdown. It’s content everyone will relate to, the highs and lows of living alone, and her other life routines such as shopping. She’s been vlogging since 2018.

Visit her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHqE84qjiPmidzZeCtBygw/featured

2.       Amito Mitra (8.76K Subscribers, 111 Videos)

Amito has put in the time, she’s taken the vlogging serious. Another lifestyle blogger describing her channel as full of life, and ready to explore Uganda and the world. Her two biggest addictions; Café Javas and Nigeria. Her videos have registered a combined 627K views, impressive. She’s walked us through the Nyege Nyege scenes and various Kampala concerts.

Visit her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhf9xsHJ9Mcz-y8gF3k6Gw/featured

3.       B and T Life Lane (6.79K Subscribers, 209 Videos)

This duo promises to take us through their love for fashion and other inspirations. But I must say, it’s their new angle to sharing real estate in Uganda that’s getting many hooked. If you’re looking for cool furnished apartment deals, this duo is a must to keep on your tabs. If you want to hang out with friends and throw a cool party over a weekend, why not book out one of these apartments going for as low as USD 35. The duo boasts of 526K views on their channel. Great job from Betty Benson and Christine Aguti.

Visit their channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDrNbyFUtHmn1bOp2lYjUbQ

4.       Denis Duke Uganda (41.9K Subscribers, 567 Videos)

For many, you’ve seen Denis Duke on your television screens, but did you know, he runs a super Vlog on Youtube. He takes you on a journey of entertainment, lugambo and politics or call it, general affairs. With 3.4 million views, he is evidence of compounded hard work over the years. And in a world of vlogging that’s dominated by ladies in Uganda, he’s proving to be the one holding fort for the men.

Visit his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI82EetZ1SRV-52es7tnTqg/videos

5.       Namuli (1.18K Subscribers, 214 Videos)

Another lifestyle blogger that should take your interest is Namuli. You want to travel Uganda, then travel it through her vlogs, watch her reviews, let her indulge you in some food and hair. You feel like it’s a visual conversation with her, stories of her fighting with a conductor, like all of us have… At 85K views, the sky is the limit for this girl whose totem is a monkey.

Visit her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCz9W_mecE_WbyHHDPKNmg/featured

6.       Sheila Basajja (1.44K Subscribers, 35 Videos)

You want to experience Kuala Lumpar or you want a feel of the Ugandan wedding. Sheila got you covered. You will enjoy her travel moments with her girls, perhaps to Bali or to Zanzibar. At 63K Views, an awesome fairing for a Ugandan vlogger.

Visit her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPfCQdaN9GNlghwRVfmkWKQ/featured

7.       Itsmayabee (714 Subscribers, 119 Videos)

From lifestyle to fashion to beauty, she lets you experience everything in the life of a millennial mother. Wait a minute? Yes, you read it right, millennials are having kids. If you want some product recommendations, be it makeup or fashion, you must be at her youtube door. She stands at 26K views and growing.

Visit her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnHb4M73VYyD9llCKmNuiLA/featured

8.       Nabz Arah (3.43k Subscribers, 144 Videos)  

Don’t be deceived, it’s none other than Aswirah Nabuuma. Her niche is travel and tour. She’s as authentic as they come, sharing experiences of having to shift to a cheaper area, to adjust to life. If you want that and more of these real conversations, Arah is the deal. At 129K Views, there’s pretty good believability.

Visit her channel here : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTKZT31HLJuR7Qn0–Tut7Q

9.       Mr. Musinguzi (58.6K Subscribers, 50 Videos)

It’s an experiential Vlog covering Musinguzi’s life moments in Uganda. A few minutes on his channel and you feel like you want to go out and see more of Uganda. He stands at a combined 85K for his content.

Visit his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC21CacZiFEvmdzkD79-EnQg/featured

So I have broken the rules and stuck to 9 Vloggers. For those wondering what criteria I used to arrive at this names, it’s activity. Recency was a key factor, when the last video was created and the time in between the videos. I also looked at volume of content and somehow at subscribers (but this didn’t matter much). It’s about the time that people put in to create videos. But in case I had to do 10 Vloggers, then I must give Jessica Zziwa’s channel a mention. 

Find out information about Coronavirus in Uganda. More here.

With heightened scrutiny on the potential of private message apps to spread misinformation related to the coronavirus pandemic, WhatsApp on Tuesday said it would place new limits on the forwarding of messages. Starting today, messages that have been identified as “highly forwarded” — sent through a chain of five or more people — can only be forwarded to a single person. The move is designed to reduce the speed with which information moves through WhatsApp, putting truth and fiction on a more even footing.

“We know many users forward helpful information, as well as funny videos, memes, and reflections or prayers they find meaningful. In recent weeks, people have also used WhatsApp to organize public moments of support for frontline health workers,” the company, which is part of Facebook, said in a blog post. “However, we’ve seen a significant increase in the amount of forwarding which users have told us can feel overwhelming and can contribute to the spread of misinformation. We believe it’s important to slow the spread of these messages down to keep WhatsApp a place for personal conversation.”

For much of WhatsApp’s existence, it was easy for users to forward a single message to as many as 256 people with just a few taps. Initially, these messages were not labeled as forwards, and the end-to-end encryption in WhatsApp could make it almost impossible for authorities to determine who might be using the app to spread hate speech or calls to violence. This triggered a crisis in India, where WhatsApp was linked to mob violence.

In 2018, WhatsApp began experimenting with limits on the number of times a message could be forwarded. It also began labeling forwarded messages for the first time, and adding two arrows to show that a message has been repeatedly forwarded. Last year, the company began limiting the number of people you can forward a single message to to five.

It’s a soft limit: nothing prevents you from forwarding the same message over and over again to different people. But introducing more friction helped to slow the rate of forwarding overall — in the past year, WhatsApp says, forwards are down 25 percent around the world.

But amid a huge surge in use related to the pandemic, WhatsApp has come under the spotlight for the way it can be used to spread misinformation. Last month, CNN and other news organizations found that the app had been used to share a variety of false information about “cures” for COVID-19 and hoaxes about military activity related to the disease. The prime minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, urged people to “please stop sharing unverified info on Whatsapp groups.”

In response, WhatsApp promoted a bot made by the World Health Organization that provides information about the disease that has been vetted by healthcare professionals. The app has been used by more than 10 million people. WhatsApp also donated $1 million to the International Fact-Checking Network.

TheVerge

Find out information about Coronavirus in Uganda. More here.

Mr. Robert Kwesiga, the Secretary General, Uganda Red Cross Society of Uganda.

By Our Reporter

MTN Uganda recently launched a MoMoPay Merchant Code through which customers can donate funds to support the relief effort, especially for those most affected by the economic and social devastation brought on by Coronavirus.

To donate, individuals dial *165*3# then enter the code 191919 and the amount of money they wish to contribute.

Proceeds from this intervention are meant to help fund efforts of the Uganda Red Cross as it works to help combat further spread of the virus and support those who are finding it hard to fend for themselves.

The Secretary General, Uganda Red Cross Society of Uganda, Mr. Robert Kwesiga shares more details of what the collected funds will be used for.

Below is an excerpt of that interview;

1. What will the money be used for?

The money will be used to procure and provide essential food assistance to the most vulnerable households whose livelihoods, from their informal jobs, have been adversely affected by the partial lockdown instituted in response to COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda. This will complement the initiative that the Government of Uganda has started.

2. Who are the beneficiaries?

The beneficiaries are poor households who live in informal settlements in urban areas and are adversely affected by the partial lockdown instituted by Government, because they can no longer afford food for their households owing to disruptions of their informal employment.

3. Where will the activities related to this project be executed?

The food distribution shall continue on a rolling basis all through the period during which people are restricted to their homes due to the partial lockdown period. At a later date, an early recovery livelihood intervention programme shall be instituted after the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled so as to support the affected vulnerable households bounce back to normal, dignified lives.

4. For how long will funds be collected?

Funds to support these interventions shall be required throughout the period of the lockdown, and after the pandemic is controlled so as to sustain all recovery efforts for the affected households.

5. When/How often will proceeds be announced/declared?

Total amounts collected shall be announced by the Red Cross on a weekly basis and later after further gaps are identified, the public shall be informed of any extra support required.

6. How will accountability for the funds collected be communicated and in what intervals?

All funds and other donations received towards this cause shall be put to good use as planned and accounted for in accordance with Uganda Red Cross standard financial guidelines. These funds shall be subjected to formal audit, whose report shall be published on the URCE website and in other official communication channels that shall be open for public viewing.

7. Does the public have a say in how the collections are spent?

The Uganda Red Cross shall remain accountable and engaging to the public, as much as possible. The public shall be engaged through our various public communication channels and as well as our branch offices which cover all districts across the country.

Find out information about Coronavirus in Uganda. More here.

Natumanya Edmund, I.T specialist at Huawei Uganda during the demonstration exercise at Health ministry headquarters.

By Our Reporter

The Minister of Health Dr Ruth Aceng has received Huawei telemedicine solutions to assist in the fight against COVID-19 in Uganda.

This happened at the installation and demonstration exercise that happened at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Wandegeya on Friday.

The telemedicine solution is aimed at enabling real-time communication and interactive content sharing without much risk of physical contact among the health officers.

This includes video conferencing equipment that shall enable mobile video meetings and communications among staff in various sites such as health centers and ministry of health. The Huawei video conferencing solution includes special video terminals and software that connects to more terminals such as phones and computers of the doctors and officers.

Dr. Ruth Aceng was grateful about Huawei’s donation and commended them for their efforts to improve the ICT of the sector and the whole country.

“I am very grateful for this wonderful and generous donation by Huawei, this is of great importance to the country in such a time as this. We thank you Huawei for your great effort and contribution to the ICT of the ministry and Uganda. Be safe,” said Dr. Ruth Aceng.

According to the Huawei Executive Director Enterprise Business group Mr Bai Chengyu, the video conferencing equipment have been installed at different offices at the Ministry of Health and Mulago Hospital and that Huawei was willing to give more assistance.

He added that, “this video conference and telemedicine solution has been implemented all over China, Thailand and Pakistan among others to assist in the fight against COVID-19 and I hope this shall also be of help here.”

This system can be connected to its kind in other countries to enable international collaboration. During today’s test, a Chinese doctor was connected to provide remote consultation.