The Ministry of Health has dismissed claims by socialite Shanita Namuyimbwa aka Bad Black that it hired her to record Covid-19 messages and never paid her.
Bad Black has threatened to sue government and a private company named Precision Media, accusing them of failing to pay her over Shs500million after hiring her to shoot a message targeting sex workers in the country.
But on Sunday, June 14, 2020, the Health ministr, said it never hired Bad black for the advert, and the advert was offered to government as a donation by Precision Communications Consulting Ltd,
The ministry adds that Bad Black also volunteered to take part in the campaign and there was never a contractual arrangement.
“All these individuals were requested to voluntarily participate, and they consented before any recording was made,” the ministry. 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 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.”
Ministry of Health has since called on the public to disregard Bad Black’s claims which it says “tantamount to blackmail since no contractual obligations were made between herself and government.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
