KAMPALA: The ministry of health has rubbished claims by Shanita Namuyimbwa aka Bad Black that she’s demanding ush.500m from the Ministry.
Bad Black contacted a law firm to sue claiming the ministry owes her money because of the advert to raise awareness for COVID-19 among sex workers.
However, the ministry says Black’s claims are baseless as no promise was made to her by government and that participating in the campaign was a patriotic duty.
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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,” the statement says.
The statement issued on Sunday also provides details of the arrangement that saw Black record a message appealing to prostitutes to stay away from truck drivers in order not to catch coronavirus.
According to the details, Precision Communications Consulting Limited, a media firm, offered to get the voices of prominent Ugandans to raise awareness about the coronavirus, The Nnabagereka of Buganda, Robert Kabushenga, and others are some of the names that chose to participate.
Because of the dangers paused to prostitutes by truck drivers who have been the epicenter of COVID-19 cases, Bad Black was approached by the same media company not the health ministry, to record her message.
“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,” the statement says.
The health ministry only offered to pay for airtime on TV, radio and online platforms where the ad was played.
It is therefore wrong for Black to claim the health ministry promised her any money.
BELOW IS THE FULL HEALTH MINISTRY STATEMENT
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 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 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 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 ag
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
