Task at hand: Having the #UAPC20 running on social media.
When: 26TH – 27TH NOVEMBER, 2020
Background: The very first Uganda Alcohol Policy Conference was held two years back, in 2018 November…around this same time we were holding this one. The only difference was that this time around, the conference was very much more digital than it was in 2018.
This time around, just like in 2018, I would be gathered together with the rest of the people on the organizing committee of the conference and get to do this work, in first-person speech!
(Reporting on what actually happened…)
What happened: The #UAPC20 did run on social media (Twitter and Facebook) majorly.
When: On the 26th and on the 27th of November, 2020.
Current ground: I was situated at Fairway Hotel, with the rest of the organising team, ensuring that the conference was participated in, virtually. The prevalence of the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the highest office in the land ensured that this happened, to the dot!
To be honest, I knew I would be late to the conference on both days and that is how it was. I had to drive people to work first, including I and I, and then make my way to the #UAPC20!
See this lady in the picture below?
I missed listening to her recite some poetry. I’ve been repeatedly told she’s very good at it but I haven’t had the chance to actually listen to her, in real time. May be someday I will….
I managed to arrive right after she was done reciting her poem and got right into it.
Set up my entire work-station made of an iPad, laptop and two cell phones and lots of cables, too….
Did I tell you that for the conference, we (Destiny, Andrew and I) decided to share the available roles of the social media work to be done here?
I was specifically in-charge of tweeting the entire conference.
Destiny and Andrew were in rotation between ensuring our participants got in alright, into the conference via Zoom and Facebooking it all, live!
Ps. Never ever make the mistake of leaving your Zoom conference meeting unprotected. What do I mean?
Always keep the waiting room on and active. Vet each and every individual that wants to join the meeting before you let them in. Otherwise, you will join the very long list of numbers of conference meetings that have been hacked, over something that could have prevented it all from happening!
Now, we come to one of my favourite parts…listening to the numerous submissions made by the numerous groups and individuals invested in the struggle to end alcoholism!
Some of these submissions were in computer-generated slide form….like the ones I’ve shared below;
“BEHAVIOR OF ALCOHOL INDUSTRY DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN PERIOD.
David Kalema, PhD.*, Moustapha M. Kibukila – Presenter, Mutaawe Rogers”
“Alcohol Consumption during COVID 19: Case Study of Ubungo and Kinondoni Municipal.
Presentation by Gladness Hemedi Munuo– CRC Coordinator (Dipl.Journ; BA (Arts.Gen); MA PHL-STM.)”
“Building networks, coalitions and Community action for alcohol policy control in East Africa“.
Uganda Alcohol Policy Conference 2020
Kampala – Uganda
Didas Balimanya © 2020
Advocacy and Lobbying Officer”
“Alcohol Harm Prevention Capacity in East Africa: Interim Study Findings.
Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, Ph.D
David Kalema, Ph.D
Rogers Kasirye, M.A”
“Dr I. Uny (PI) and Prof. Niamh Fitzgerald, University of Stirling (UK) ; Dr Naz Tumwesigye, Makerere University, Uganda; Dr Ben Kaneka, Chancellor, College-University of Malawi, Malawi; Prof. Charles Parry, South African MRC (Cape Town), South Africa; Marsha Orgill, University of Cape Town, South Africa and Prof. Linda Bauld, Edinburgh University (UK) – regulating alcohol packaging and supply to protect health in sub-Saharan Africa; evidence from policy systems in Malawi and Uganda.”
“The East African Alcohol Policy Alliance
Journey and Updates
Sophia Komba
Chairperson of EAAPA”
“ALCOHOL HARM INDUSTRY TACTICS – OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
Kristina Sperkova
Movendi International, President”
“Successful Interventions in Low Resource Settings.
Neo K. Morojele, PhD
University of Johannesburg
South African Medical Research Council”
And also, we had other submissions handed to us at the conference-room podium like from Deogratias K. Sekimpi and Gerald M. Makumbi from UGANDA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH (UNACOH) on, “MOBILISING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FOR ALCOHOL REGULATION – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES”.
“The National Alcohol Control Policy
By Dr. Hafsa Lukwata
At the 2nd Virtual Conference – 26th November 2020”
“An Enforcement Of Alcohol Ordinances, Challenges And Opportunities In Northern Uganda: Perspective Of PACTA-Uganda, Gulu Arch Diocese.
Matthew Otto, PACTA Uganda”
“ALCOHOL AND NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
By DR. OYOO CHARLES AKIYA
COMMISSIONER, NCD – MOH
2nd UAPC20 (Virtual Conference)
27th November 2020”
“Compliance to and Impact of the Presidential Directives towards Reduction of COVID-19 in Uganda. (David Kalema, PhD., Juliet Namukasa, Mutaawe Rogers and other UAPA members)”
“Setting Up an Epidemiological Alcohol and Drug Abuse Surveillance System – A presentation by Nazarius M Tumwesigye at the dissemination/validation meeting at 3pm, 13th Oct 2020, Via Zoom”
We also had testimonies given to us at the #UAPC20!
How I wish you had listened to Ongom Alfred, a former Police officer, speak with us about his battle with alcoholism and how he managed to overcome it….
Or Waiswa Henry Swaga from Ring of Hope, shares with us his testimony of battling alcohol addiction.
Or even the life experience Jamila Ali shared with us, about her battle with Pethadine abuse!
The meals….this is why I love hotels….you can never go hungry!
We didn’t go hungry….I didn’t, at least! (Hihi…)
Let me let you enjoy looking through some camera-captured moments of the conference, ehh!!!!
Ps. All those photos that you see, looking so pretty, belong to the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance and the screenshots belong to me!
~ We did our part Mobilizing Partnership and Community Action for a society free of alcohol harm at the #UAPC20! Do your part! ~
Interesting topic. since quarantine started, most local government units here in the Philippines impose regular alcohol bans. Anyway, I know how hard it is to be on the technical side of setting up a conference virtually. It’s good that you were able to successfully hold your event.
👏🏿👏🏿😍😍 yyyeeeaaahhhh…
This sounds like it was an amazing conference. I’m not surprised to learn that alcohol consumption increased. It seems it did that around the globe.
😂😂🙈🙈
I’m glad to hear that everything went well and safely. It’s nice to be able to get back out a big again and connect, isn’t it?
😂😂😂 yyyyeeeeaaahhhh…
After reading this, I’ll make sure to vet veryone correctly beofre inviting them into zoom. Thanks for the heads up!
😍😍👏🏿👏🏿
I am guilty of the amount I was drinking during quarantine increased. With nothing to do but watch TV, work out and eat I made many things a drinking game. It is important to get a handle on this topic and it seems like you all did that. These pictures are all so beautiful and vibrant as well.
👏🏿👏🏿😍😍
I’d not heard of the Uganda Alcohol Policy Conference before. I’m glad this is a thing that is in place!
😍😍👏🏿👏🏿 yyyeeeaaahhhh!
Alcohol is so normal to us here in the U.S. I feel as though we’re marketed alcohol so much that we are desensitized to what the drug actually is. I’m glad this conference was able to be held. This is very refreshing, thank you.
👏🏿👏🏿😍😍 thank you for sharing that.
It looks like your conference was a success — you and your colleagues worked hard on this. I totally agree with your comment about Zoo, Hacking. It’s a thing, unfortunately — is nothing safe? LOL Thanks for sharing!
😂😂😂 nothing is really safe!
I’m so happy you were able to hold your event and make it work during these difficult times! And what an important mission – alcoholism affects so many and is so incredibly difficult. I loved seeing all of the photos! And I hope very much that you’re able to have the event completely in person next time.
😊😊👏🏿👏🏿 thank you.
I read recently that during lockdown periods, an increase in alcohol purchases and consumption was detected recently here in Victoria, and it isn’t good. We need to keep each other aware of the negative consequences of too much alcohol consumption.
👏🏿👏🏿😩😩
With Covid protocols there are many things to consider. It certainly makes putting on an event much more challenging.
😩😩👏🏿👏🏿 yyyeeeaaahhhhh….
Sounds like a wonderful conference with plenty of amazing people. I wouldn’t be surprised with the rise of drinkers, especially during quarantine.
😩😩👏🏿👏🏿
What an cool event! I like you were basically the Twitter King for the day!
😂😂🙈🙈 thank you.
Good to see that you successfully did it! Setting up a conference is really not that easy. It takes a lot of effort and communication in order to have it done. Well done!
😍😍👏🏿👏🏿