Is The Covid-19 Pandemic A Profit Making Scheme: A Call For Waiving Intellectual Property Rights In The Fight Against Covid-19
Joseph Byomuhangyi
The World is awash with fear of extinction due to the corona virus. However, where people see death, pharmaceutical companies see an opportunity to make profits through manufacturing vaccines and protecting their intellectual property rights. This paper calls for a critical examination as to whether intellectual property (IP) rights should be waived or maintained in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. The author is cognizant of the technological advancements that modern countries have had hence giving them the leverage to manufacture most of the vaccines; while struggling third world countries cannot afford to innovate and hence have to purchase the vaccines from the pharmaceutical companies. This paper therefore suggests that, pharmaceutical companies should waive their intellectual property rights insofar as manufacture and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines extends in the fight against COVID-19.
Mental Health And Illness In Uganda: The Gaps And Shortfalls Of The State, Law And Its Practice
Awano Collette Melvina & Victor Andrew Taremwa
With mental health trending on social media and a growing cause for concern in the modern age, there is all the more need for the state and its laws to be able to reflect these changes and suitably protect the people’s mental health. This article explores Uganda’s mental health history as a backdrop to a discussion of various legal facets, particularly criminal law and torts, all in an effort to show the gaps and shortcomings affecting mental health and mental illness. It also presents an elaborate discussion on a spectrum of factors that affect mental health; and puts forward suggestions for reform in the mental health legislation and legal practice in Uganda for a better understanding and approach to mental health issues.
The Right To Health And The Covid 19 Pandemic In Uganda: An Appraisal Of The State’s Obligations Regarding The Right To Health During A Pandemic
Kevin Nakimbugwe & Sabiti Edwin
The unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic has taken a gruesome toll on every country’s healthcare system. However, a special malignant threat is faced by developing nations whose healthcare system has always been so fragile, like the case of Uganda. The devastating effects of the pandemic should be a wakeup call for the state to rejuvenate the public health care system as well as regulate private healthcare providers. Unfortunately, there exists a persistent indifference towards the realization of Social and Economic rights, especially the right to health. As such, the call to move state machinery towards the beefing up of the healthcare system is overlooked. Where this state of affairs leaves the state as regards its constitutional and international obligations is in stark violation of its international obligations. The same must therefore be remedied.
Sex Education And The Law: The Conflict Between The Rights Of Parents And The Rights And Interests Of Their Children
Nayiga Priscilla
Uganda’s education sector largely recognizes abstinence-only sex education. This is because of the social conservatism derived from religious and cultural values. Unlike comprehensive sex education, abstinence-only sex education does not address other types of sexual and reproductive health education like birth control and abortion. The concept of sex is largely moralized and therefore open conversations about sex are often avoided in homes and society. Therefore, the question as to whether or not freedom of religion gives parents the right to object to sex education based on religious beliefs needs to be examined, and how that right conflicts with children’s rights.