By Wycliff G; The Ministry of Health has opened up on the currently circulating posts and videos on social media where Ms. Shanita Namuyimbwa alias Bad Black ‘intends to sue it and its Partners UNICEF and WHO.
According to the Ministry, all key personalities including Bad Black volunteered in recording the COVID-19 sensitization advertisements to the masses.
Therefore, she has no contractual or financial obligations with the Government of Uganda because of the following reasons;
- Following the call by H.E the President to the general public to donate or provide free services towards the prevention of COVID-19, a number of companies came out to support the Ministry of Health with some offering a number of items while others supporting in terms of the services they offer.
- It is therefore against this background that Precision Communications Consulting Limited came out and donated Media Production services to the Ministry of Health under close supervision of the Ministry of Health. All content and messaging were cleared by the Ministry of Health
- Additionally, Precision Communications Consulting Limited approached various key personalities who voluntarily recorded messages as a way of giving back to their country in this COVID-19 fight, among whom was Bad Black. All these individuals were requested to voluntarily participate, and they consented before any recording was made.
- Bad Black, in particular consented to record a message that was appealing to her colleagues who were at risk of contracting COVID-19, and would thus spread it to other members of the community.
- Indeed, the Ministry of Health appreciates all entities and personalities who offered their valuable time and services voluntarily to support risk communication to various target audiences for purposes of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
- The Ministry would like to reiterate that this was done on solely voluntary terms and no contractual or financial obligations were attached to any of the personalities including Bad Black.
- The Government of Uganda only paid for airtime on radio, television stations and digital platforms to enable regular airing of messages which Precision Communications Consulting Limited and other media agencies recorded from patriotic Ugandans.
- As the pandemic evolves, the Ministry of Health changes messaging and content to inform the population accordingly. As such, Bad Black’s message has since stopped airing on the various channels of media effective 10th June 2020.
- The Ministry of Health is now focusing on messaging on effective use of face masks and the complacency exhibited by sections of the public.
The public is further encouraged to disregard misinformation and allegations against the Government of Uganda in regard to services that are being provided during this period.
The Ministry continues to avail itself to anyone including Bad Black for any service, or consultation regarding provision of Health Services in the country. The messages sent out by Bad Black tantamount to blackmail since no contractual obligations were made between herself and government.
In its routine work and particularly during epidemic response, the Ministry of Health represents transparency, accountability and integrity.
Allegations from individuals with malicious intentions should not derail health workers and partners from the relentless work and should ensure that we win the war against COVID-19.
This should not erode the goodwill of the public who continue to lend a hand in this fight.
As the Ministry of Health, we promise to provide facts, be open and honest in our communication and remain committed to the communities we are serving.
We will hold you posted as we anticipate the scandal to unfold.
