Tag Archive for: Uganda

Fact-check: Is this tiger dog from South Sudan or Uganda?

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The tiger dog picture is from India.  

Writer: Kei Emmanuel Duku

A social media picture posted on Juba Eye and Red Pepper UG that has gone viral on Facebook in South Sudan and Uganda is false. 

In the post on Juba Eye, shared on September 25, 2023, the painted dog in Tiger colours is claimed to belong to a resident in the Jebel area of Juba, South Sudan, and police are already searching for the dog’s owner. 

According to the claim, the alleged owner painted his dog in tiger colours to scare away individuals from coming to his home to ask for the loans he had borrowed. 

The post was shared 73 times, with over 1,000 interactions, over 100 comments, and some over 70 shares by social media users. 

A screenshot of the Facebook post by Juba Eye

The same picture and claim were used by RED Pepper UG on the same day, claiming that the owner of the painted dog is called Mucunguzi from Kyeggwa, and police are already searching for him for painting his dog in tiger colours. This post gained 286 likes, 43 comments, and 18 shares on this platform.

Screenshot of the Facebook post by RED Pepper UG

While the two Facebook posts are satirical, 211 Check looks at the origin of the image in the posts.

Claim Verification:  

According to Tineye’s reverse image search, the picture was taken in New Delhi, India, on December 29, 2019, and the dog’s actual owner is Srikant Gowda, a farmer from Karnataka’s Shivamogga region. 

The publication was done in Urdu, but with the help of Google Translate, it indicated that the dog’s owner decided to paint his dog in tiger colours to scare away monkeys destroying his farmland.

Similar searching was done using Google reverse image search, revealing the same results. 

BestNewsGH.com published the story in December 2019 with the headline: A Desperate farmer paints his dog like a tiger to scare away invading monkeys.

Another source that used the picture is here.

Screenshot of the same picture as published in December 2019 on BestNewsGH.com 

Conclusion: 

211 Check found that the photo that is being shared, claiming to be from Juba and Uganda, is false. The picture originated from the Indian state of Urdu and has been online since 2016..

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Was this house built in Uganda by a menial labourer working in Saudi Arabia?

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No, the pictures were first shared by Nigerian actress Chizzy Alichi in 2017 after she built her parents a mansion.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A Facebook post by Klia Media.ug claiming to show a house allegedly built in Uganda by a Ugandan menial labourer working in Saudi Arabia is false.

The page shared images of two buildings and two pictures of the same person in different situations. In the photo, there are pictures of a dilapidated building and a newly built mansion. It was accompanied by a caption in both Luganda and English.

Screenshot of the post as shown on Klia Media.ug

“Kadama we Saudi abikooze!!

2 year contract in Saudi Arabia congs Aisha”

Kadama is a common Luganda (unregistered) slang term, literally translated as someone doing a menial labour job. Therefore, the post translates to: “A migrant worker in Saudi Arabia has done it! A 2-year contract in Saudi Arabia. Congratulations Aisha.”

The post, which was shared on August 31, 2023, attracted 37k reactions, 5.7k comments, and 69 shares. However, some of the commenters pointed out that the pictures were taken in Nigeria, while others claimed that a two-year contract salary in Saudi Arabia as a housekeeper cannot raise such a house,amidst hundreds of congratulations. This prompted 211Check to run an investigation. 

Claim Verification:

211 Check ran a Google Lens search, which showed that the image had been used on the internet since December 2017, and traced the picture to Nigeria. 

NairaLand Forum, on December 27, 2017, ran a story with the headline, Nollywood Actress Chizzy Alichi Builds Mansion For Her Parent.

The site also attached two pictures of the dilapidated building and the new mansion. They explain that they got the information from her Instagram account and quote her as having said:

“People have always refer to me as “mgbeke” (local girl) that I don’t know fashion or carry designer bags/shoes/clothes. That I don’t wear expensive hair. Well, my darlings, I do know and want to wear those things, but I have been saving for this building right here. I can’t remember d last time my family travelled for Xmas because their is no house to stay (sic).”

Torizone, another Nigerian online news outlet, published the same story with the same pictures on December 26, 2017.

Similarly, Legit, another Nigerian online newspaper, published a story on October 27, 2022, with the headline, Nollywood actress Chizzy Alichi builds a mansion for her parents.  

The image has been widely used on the internet, and here are some of the sources; here, here, here, and here, among others.

In the claim, the page claims the owner of the house is called Aisha; however, all the sources 211Check has gathered clearly define the owner of the house as Chizzy Alichi.

Chizzy Alichi’s Biography

Chigozie Stephanie Alichi, often known as Chizzy Alichi, is a Nigerian film actress born on December 23, 1993. She stumbled into Nollywood in 2010. She joined the Actors Guild of Nigeria by chance, applied for a movie role, and landed her first acting job.

A picture of Chizzy Alichi as used by Yours Truly

Housekeeping jobs in the Middle East:

The demand for housekeeping jobs in the Middle East has been on the rise, and East Africa, particularly Uganda, has been one of the fertile grounds for providing the needed human resources. 

According to a publication by The Monitor Newspaper, this was made easier by emerging companies (1 and 2), which help facilitate the processes of visa processing and transportation. 

In the long run, many people have successfully emigrated and gotten jobs with ease. However, there have been moments when the media reported on situations where workers became victims of mistreatment while in the Middle East.

A screenshot of a publication by Monitor Newspaper 

Conclusion:

211 Check has found that the viral pictures of Aisha, a Ugandan menial labourer in Saudi Arabia, are false; the pictures are of actress Chizzy Alichi and were taken in 2017, when she built her parents a mansion in Nigeria.  

This fact check was published by 211 Check  with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Was this picture of a man holding a gun taken in Bugolobi, Kampala?

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No, the photo shows Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama. It was taken during anti-government demonstrations in Kenya, where demonstrators attacked his hotel.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A picture of a man holding a pistol accompanying a story by the Ugandan website The Ankole Times, with the headline “Gun Drama Unfolds in Bugolobi Market, Private Security Guard Unleashes Mayhem,” is false. 

The photo shows the man holding a pistol on a deserted road, with a few bodaboda men and journalists taking pictures. It also shows shopping arcades (stores) that were closed and a road that was clearly marked.

“In the not-so-bustling market of Bugolobi, a surprising turn of events unfolded when a private security guard, Aijuka Rode, decided to play cop in a local drinks and merchandise shop. Unfortunately, his aim wasn’t as impressive as his delusions of grandeur. A female shopkeeper, Mutesi Zainabu, found herself caught in the crossfire of an alleged altercation with our wannabe Rambo. Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the less-than-heroic incident…,” partially reads the article published on July 29, 2023.

A screenshot of the article by The Ankole Times.

211Check Investigation:

An internet search of the keywords “A guard shoots people at Bugolobi market” returns many results confirming the incident as reported by the following media houses, here, here, here, and here.

The news reports by the media established the identities of the guard as Arode Aijuka and the victim of the shooting as Zainabu Mutesi. The incident also reportedly took place at night, raising doubts about the image used by The Ankole Times. 

A Reverse Image Search of the picture shows that the image has been used on earlier dates by different users, including the Ankole Times, this time with a headline on demonstrations in Kenya. The article makes reference to a Kenyan MP brandishing a firearm at protesters.  

Consequently, a keyword search using ‘MP Holds a Gun in Kenya in 2023’ produced many results showing that the man in the photo is Nakuru West Member of Parliament Samuel Arama.

The MP reportedly drew his gun when a group of demonstrators allegedly vandalised his hotel during anti-government protests on July 19, 2023. The incident was widely reported, as seen here, here, here, and here. 

In a news report by Kenyans.co.ke, the MP is quoted as having said: “We are all Kenyans; we also voted for Raila, but he lost to William Ruto. Why should these people destroying property not get shot?”

A screenshot of  part of the publication in Kenyan.co.ke paper

Conclusion.

211 Check finds the picture used by the Ankole Times purportedly showing a guard who shot a woman in Bugolobi as false and misleading. In the picture is Nakuru West Constituency MP Samuel Arama, The image was taken during the demonstrations in Kenya, where demonstrators allegedly vandalised his hotel.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives. Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter 

Fact-check: Uganda Ministry of Health has not refused to Pay Medical Interns

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The claim that Uganda’s Ministry of Health refused to pay pre-medical interns is false, as the ministry has been battling to deploy and pay more than 1,500 medical interns for their internship after graduating.

Writer: Kei Emmanuel Duku

Over the last year, Uganda’s Ministry of Health has been engaged in a fierce battle of deploying more than 1,500 medical interns for their internship after graduating.  However, others who have been deployed complain about unpaid arrears, salary disparities and poor welfare, while fresh graduates still complain of delayed deployment by the Ministry. 

On May 15, the Uganda Parliament directed the Ministry of Finance to release the money required to facilitate the deployment of medical interns by the Ministry of Health. Still, since then, no action has been taken by the respective ministries, but instead, the Ministry of Finance has threatened to scrape off allowance to medical interns, which proposal was rejected by President Museveni. 

Ideally, the current Cohort of interns should have been deployed on April 3, but since then, no action has been taken.  

Origin of the Claim, “not pay and deploy Interns.”

The claim originated from the earlier communication Dr Atwiine had made during a Zoom meeting, that some parents and students have met them and agreed to shoulder the internship cost as the Ministry of Health awaits funds from the national treasury. However, the pronouncement by Dr Atwiine doesn’t go well with some of the pre-medical interns. 

A document doing the rounds on social media, majorly Twitter, claims that Dr Diana Atwiine, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that her Ministry would not pay for medical interns during their internship.

“We are not going to pay for Interns; let those who can afford to carter for their medical internship pick application forms and choose hospitals they would work in…,” reads part of the claim. 

Dr Atwiine was further quoted in the claim that the medical professional is not meant for the children of the poor and had asked the poor children to abandon the profession. https://twitter.com/ainbyoo

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Screenshot of the claim doing the rounds

What have we found out?

Such claims are uncalled for by any leader who holds such a magnitude position in any institution. It is on these bases that the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, in a separate, WhatsApp conversation shared by this publication between the Minister and one of the Medical Intern, Dr Chris denied the claims and assured the particular student of government assurance’s allowing all students to do their internship.

“This is not the position of the government. I don’t believe that she said this. I request you just to remain patient as the internship issue gets sorted. You will all do an internship,” he said in a WhatsApp message seen by 211 Check.

But during her communication on the 06th via Zoom to some medical interns, Dr Atwiine directed those interested students to apply online, hinting that the delay was caused by a lack of finance from the Ministry, as loudly pronounced by her in the video below.  

Both Dr Atwiine and Dr Chris’s statements were backed up by a Press Release issued on the 7th of June by Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Senior Public Relations officer of the Ministry of Health, reechoing the outcome of the Zoom meeting and stated that upon applying and deployment, interns would be paid arrears once money is disbursed from the Ministry of Finance. 

In the letter, he also expressed his displeasure with some students who went rowdy during the meeting. He conned false information regarding the out of the meeting and some individuals at the Ministry of Health. “……. Furthermore, some of the Pre Interns have embarked on Online Campaign distorting information and sharing abusive information on social media against The Ministry of Health,” reads the Press Release. 

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However, Emmanuel noted that the delay in deploying the intern had affected the internship cycles since many students will graduate and compete for the available few internship positions. 

Medical interns are doctors, pharmacists, and nurses who have already graduated from medical school but need a one-year placement in the hospital to get permanent practising licenses from their professional councils. 

Conclusion:

211 Check concludes that the claim of the students was false and contradictory to the outcome of the meeting at which the Permanent Secretary explained what caused the delay in deploying the students and what the next course of action should be for students and parents who can afford to pay for their internships in the respective health facilities where they will be deployed.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It is crucial to fight against misinformation and disinformation in mainstream and alternative media by avoiding becoming a victim of fake news. To prevent the spread of false information, you must refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or unaware of its origin. Disinformation and misinformation can be incredibly dangerous because they can mislead people and cause harm. For instance, false information on health matters can lead to wrong decisions that can put people’s lives at risk. Therefore, it’s vital to fact-check information before sharing it to promote accurate and reliable information. Visit https://211check.org/ for more information on our fact-checking process, or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 if you want to present a claim. Our team will promptly respond to your request because we believe #FactsMatter.