Government through the Ministry of Health has denied circulating allegations that they engaged into a contract or financial obligations with socialite Shanita Namuyimbwa alias Bad Black over her recorded Covid-19.
In an intention to sue, seen by this news website, Bad Black through her lawyers of Musangala Advocates say, she was approached by one Ronex Kisembo from Precision Media on April 29 to record a paid advert “sensitizing the public about the dangers of Covid-19 and to encourage the ladies, especially those at borders to avoid indulging with the trucker drivers”, who at the time were main importers of the coronavirus.
“Our client was asked to record a paid advert sensitizing the public about the dangers of Covid-19 and to encourage ladies especially those residents in areas near the country orders to avoid indulging with truck drivers whom the government had found to be the most infected group with Covid-19,” a notice to sue reads in part.
Black adds that she was promised a meeting with President Museveni with whom they would agree on payments. However, she says she has never met the President nor has she been paid any money.
“The oral agreement made with our client was that a meeting would be arranged between our client and President Yoweri Museveni with whom she would discuss the amount for the advert and payment, a deal to which our client agreed,” reads the document filed by Musangala Advocates and Solicitors on June 12.
However, the Ministry has since clarified that Bad Black was requested to voluntarily participate, and she consented before any recording was made. “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,” reads part of the statement.
Below is a full Statement..
MINISTRY OF HEALTH CLARIFICATION ON BAD BLACK ALLEGATIONS
Kampala – 14 June 2020- Attention has been drawn to various posts and videos currently circulating on social media where Ms. Shanita Namuyimbwa alias Bad Black ‘intends to sue the Ministry of Health and its Partners UNICEF and WHO.’
The Ministry of Health would like to clarify as follows:
• 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 iterns while others supporting in terms of the services they offer.
• It is therefore against this background that Precision Communications Consulting Limited carne out and donated Media Production services to the Ministry of Health under close supervision of the Ministry of Health. All content and messaging was 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 whorn 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 colleaguoo who were at Ask 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 frorn 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 Ministry would like to reiterate that all key personalities including Bad Black have no contractual or financial obligations with the Government of Uganda.
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.
For God and Our Country._
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