BEIJING | Xinhua |  When China’s annual “two sessions” convene in Beijing each spring, the discussions of national lawmakers and political advisors extend well beyond macroeconomic targets and national blueprints. The meetings are also opportunities for them and President Xi Jinping, who is a national lawmaker himself, to drill down …

BEIJING | Xinhua | When China’s national lawmakers and political advisers gather in Beijing for the annual “two sessions,” one document will stand out: a draft 15th Five-Year Plan, the blueprint that will guide the world’s second-largest economy from 2026 to 2030. Five-year plans have long been central to how …

Masindi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The Masindi District Council has approved the relocation of roadside sugarcane weighbridges from farming areas to designated locations along major highways, a move local leaders say is aimed at curbing cane theft and eliminating middlemen in the sugar supply chain. The resolution was passed …

dfcu highlights its dedicated Food and Agriculture Unit, which delivers value chain financing tailored to crop cycles, livestock production and agribusiness expansion needs Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | dfcu Bank has reinforced its position as a leading financier of agribusiness at the Harvest Money Expo 2026, using the platform …

Manafwa, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Manafwa District, through the Production Department and collaboration with partners, has held a successful farmers’ training and exhibition at the district headquarters that attracted hundreds eager to catch up with new trends in the agriculture sector. Mary Teddy Asio, the assistant commissioner for seed …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) joined hundreds of runners at the 8th edition of the Uganda Wildlife Half Marathon at the weekend, standing in solidarity with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to honour Uganda’s fallen wildlife rangers and support their children’s education. …

Spes Medical Centre expands Community Health access with Comprehensive Reproductive Health Camp Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | On the eve of the International Women’s Day celebrations, Spes Medical Centre Kitintale will host a Sexual and Reproductive Health Camp for all on Saturday, 7th March. The camp, which will mainly offer free and subsidised …

  COMMENT | CAROLYNE MUYAMA | On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel carried out military strikes against Iran, accusing Tehran of developing a nuclear weapons programme. In a dramatic turn of events, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the attack. Within hours, tensions across the …

Sunil Bharti Mittal Conferred GSMA Lifetime Achievement Award for Transforming Global Telecommunications New Delhi, India | THE INDEPENDENT | The GSMA has conferred a rare Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, recognising his role in reshaping the global telecommunications landscape and expanding connectivity across …

Advocates stress that while gene therapy is causing a buzz in wealthy countries, African governments must prioritise prevention, screening and accessible treatment NEWS ANALYSIS | JOHN MUSENZE | As Uganda rolls out mandatory nationwide screening of newborns for sickle cell disease this month, a gene therapy celebrated in the United …