NEWS EDITOR
UGANDA Government through the Ministry of Health has denied ever entering into a contract or financial obligations with socialite Shanita Namuyimbwa alias Bad Black over her recorded Covid-19 message running on tvs as she alleges.
Bad Black message is appealing to her colleagues who were at risk of contracting COVID-19, and would thus spread it to other members of the community.
The Ministry has 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 Statement issued by Ministry of Health.
Government says, “The messages sent out by Bad Black tantamount to blackmail since no contractual obligations were made between herself and government.”
This comes after various posts and videos circulating on social media where Ms. Shanita Namuyimbwa alias Bad Black ‘intends to sue the Ministry of Health and its Partners UNICEF and WHO’ for not paying her for the Covid-19 adverts.
Through her lawyers of Musangala Advocates & Solicitors, Bad Black is seaking for payment of UGX 500,000,000 (Uganda Shillings Five Hundred Million) being the consideration of the said advert.
She also want to be paid UGX 50M being damages for inconveniences and mental anguish she suffered.
“Should you fail to comply with the above demands within a period of Fourteen days from the date herein indicated, our instructions are to proceed and file a Civil Suit against you in the courts of Law at your own peril, detrimental and huge embarrassment.” Reads letter of intention to sue copied to President Museveni, The Country Representative UNICEF-Uganda, The country Representative World Health Organisation WHO-Uganda and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health.
WE HAVE NO FINANCIAL DEAL WITH BAD BLACK – MINISTRY OF HEALTH FULL STATEMENT
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 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 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.
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.
