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Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet Lucy Nakyobe has directed all government agencies to institute two-hours weekly physical exercise sessions in their entities for purposes of promoting good health among workers.

In a letter dated March 13, 2024, all permanent secretaries, clerk to Parliament and executive directors and chief executive officers of agencies to ensure this was adhered to.

“Reference is made to letter ADM 214/283/01 dated February 6, 2024 which was addressed to me by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health in regard to physical activity in ministries departments and agencies. This is to request you to institute a 2 hours weekly physical exercise session in your respective entities for purposes of promoting good health,” Nakyobe states.

She also directed the heads of the MDA’s to, “give this matter the attention it deserves because it will help save lives of your staff and reduce the disease burden”.

In 2009, Judiciary permanent secretary Pius Bigirimana started his campaign for physical fitness among judicial officers.

Bigirimana held weekly physio sessions with different judicial officers at the Kampala High Court grounds targeting judges, magistrates, registrars and support staff.

He had been running the same campaign at the gender ministry, where he served as permanent secretary since 2012.

National Day for Physical Activity in Uganda

In a bid to address the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer in the country, the Government in 2018 instituted the National Day for Physical Activity.

The move followed a study by the health ministry, which discovered that one in four Ugandans had an altered heart function in the form of raised blood pressure. The day has since been celebrated annually save for the COVID-19 lockdown years.

It is believed that the two-hour weekly exercises will play a great role in ensuring that NCD cases reduce among public servants.