A 30-year-old man in Nakapiripirit district, northern Uganda has been hospitalized in critical condition at Tokora health center IV after being severely beaten into a coma when he made advances towards a woman.

Joseph Aleper, a resident of Acherer trading centre in Moruita sub-county, encountered trouble on Thursday afternoon when he propositioned a woman named Evelyne Napakol, also a resident of the area, for sexual relations. 

Napakol allegedly rejected Aleper's advances, leading to a verbal altercation that escalated into a physical confrontation. During the altercation, Benna Akol, a friend of Napakol, joined the fight and severely beat Aleper into a coma.

Michael Longole, Mt Moroto regional police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that the police were promptly informed and intervened.

Longole said that a team of detectives visited the crime scene and apprehended the two women, who now face charges of attempted murder. By URN/The Observer

The national secretary general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Davji Bhimji Atellah has condemned the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome for terming striking medics a public nuisance. 

This comes hours after Koome accused the medics of disrupting public order during demonstrations in various cities and towns. According to Atellah, the statement by Koome undermines Kenyans' rights to assemble, demonstrate and present petitions enshrined in Article 37 of the Constitution.

"Undermining the constitutional rights of citizens to assemble,

"The National Police Service takes cognizance of the ongoing doctor's strike, with utmost concern. The Service has witnessed and received reports of the inconveniences arising from the strike, with medics lying on the streets thus obstructing highways, public roads and disrupting the free flow of vehicles and movement of people," Koome stated.

"The medics have become a public nuisance, blowing whistles and vuvuzelas during the demonstrations thus causing discomfort to patients in hospitals and the general public."

Koome says that the medics have been holding their demonstrations without notifying the police, which allows non-medics to join the processions to cause havoc and terror to the public.

"Contrary to the Constitutional provisions on the right to picket, petition or demonstrate, the medics continue to engage in demonstrations without notifying the Police. Yet, we have information that non-medics with the intention to cause havoc and terror to the public intend to join the ongoing processions, a move that poses a threat to public safety and security," Koome added. 

Koome has directed police commanders to deal with the situations firmly, decisively and under the law. He, however, did not reveal whether the police would disrupt the medics' demos henceforth.

"In the interest of national security, therefore, all respective police commanders have been instructed to deal with such situations firmly and decisively in accordance with the law. We wish to caution all doctors to refrain from infringing on the rights of others while demonstrating, and that their efforts to disrupt the smooth operations of hospitals will not be tolerated. We wish to assure the public that our Country is safe and that the National Police Service remains committed to maintaining law and order," he added.

Medics' demos on Monday

The doctors, through the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), will hold demonstrations at the Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret. 

"Join the KMPDU North Rift branch, on April 15th 2024 at 8:30 am for a peaceful demonstration at Mediheal Hospital. We advocate for our rights, full implementation of the CBA, and improvements in the healthcare system," KMPDU stated on X (formerly Twitter).

The health crisis in Kenya continues to deepen with the doctors' strike gitting the 33rd day, while that by clinical officers hits a fortnight on Sunday, April 14.

Doctors have been on strike since March 14, 2024, over pay and working conditions. Clinicians joined them on April 1, 2024.

Talks between KMPDU, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and the government have hit a dead end with little progress made. By Francis Muli, People Daily

We want the tension in the region to decrease, Azernews reports, citing Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan mentioned this during a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahiyan.

Abdullahiyan said that Iran's retaliatory operation against Israel has ended and the country will not take another step if it is not attacked.

It should be noted that Iran conducted a military operation against Israel on April 14. During the operation, dozens of missiles and rockets were fired at Israel. Azernews

Rich in natural resources including fertile land, Zambia has significant potential for economic development. Yet growth has fluctuated over the last 15 years. Agriculture, a key sector for the country, has not fully reached its potential due to low productivity, reliance on rain-fed agriculture, recurrent drought, and limited access to finance and markets. The current lack of rainfall has devastated crops, impacting livelihoods and threatening food security for millions of people. 

"The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) remains committed to working alongside the Government of Zambia and other partners to empower rural populations and create a more robust and resilient agricultural system," said Guoqi Wu, Associate Vice-President, Corporate Services, IFAD. "The drought in Zambia underscores the urgent need to invest in medium and long-term development and resilience building for rural communities," he added. 

Guoqi Wu will visit the country from 10 to 12 April 2024. During the visit he will meet with the President of Zambia, H.E. Hakainde Hichilema, Minister of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Hon. Makozo Chikote, Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Reuben Mtolo Phiri, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Beatrice Mutali and development partners. Their discussions will focus on medium- to long-term strategies that address climate impacts, future IFAD support, new financing instruments, the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and how to further contribute to agriculture transformation in Zambia. 

While in the country, Guoqi Wu will visit Chongwe district to see how climate and environmental impacts such as drought are affecting livestock production, and the mitigation measures taken up by communities as a result of the projects. 

Since 1981, IFAD has invested US$385.7 million in 15 projects across Zambia, positively impacting nearly 5 million rural households. The visit to the country therefore underlines IFAD's unwavering commitment to supporting Zambia's rural communities in overcoming the challenges of climate change and building a more prosperous and food-secure future through long-term agricultural investments. IEA News