Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Public health experts have said decisions into tackling the coronavirus (COVID-19) are largely based on fear than scientific evidence. The experts revealed that because of this, it could continue keeping the country under unnecessary lock in some areas with nothing much to yield. Speaking …
Read More »COVID-19 vulnerability assessment underway in Arua
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | An assessment is underway in Arua Municipality to establish the level of need for food aid and other assistance arising out of the COVID-19 lockdown. The assessment led by the Assistant Town Clerk comes a month after reports that a sizeable number of residents …
Read More »Letshego eases loan repayments for clients
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | As of April 01, Letshego Uganda rolled out a repayment holiday facility to its borrowers in response to the negative impact caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Officials said on May 05 that the repayment holiday involves giving a customer a three month moratorium- meaning …
Read More »Masaka diocese priestly ordination hangs in balance
Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The rite to ordination into priesthood is one of the key ceremonies the Catholic Church performs with great sanctity as Christians welcome new clergy into the spiritual vocation. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has put in balance, the possibility of having this year’s …
Read More »Two IGAD officials quarantined in Moroto
Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Two officials from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development-IGAD attached to East Africa have been quarantined in Moroto district. The two allegedly arrived in the country by road from Kenya through Nakabaat border post in Moroto district. They reportedly tried to sneak into Uganda on Monday …
Read More »Getting by in the pandemic with help from (virtual) friends
Washington, United States | AFP | “It’s so good to hear your voice.” “I was worried about you.” “What would you like to do today?” What sounds like ordinary banter between friends is in fact from a chatbot created with artificial intelligence. The custom-designed chatbots in this case come from California-based …
Read More »Egypt reopens slowly to revive pandemic-hit economy
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Egypt’s economy had just started to recover after years of political turmoil and militant attacks when the coronavirus crisis hit, impacting especially its vital tourism sector. Now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government has loosened a strict curfew for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in an …
Read More »Grim and getting worse: US set for historic unemployment surge
Washington, United States | AFP | Like a global tsunami, the coronavirus pandemic has caused a huge loss of life and taken a massive economic toll. In the US economy, skyrocketing unemployment is the most-visible sign of the devastation: almost overnight, at least 30 million workers lost their jobs. The April …
Read More »Minister Aceng warns hospital directors about new vehicles
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng has warned administrators of regional referral and district hospitals against misuse of government property especially the vehicles. She said while districts of Buyende and Kaliro had earlier been given brand new double cabin picks to facilitate immunization …
Read More »Morocco launches fleet of drones to tackle virus from the sky
Rabat, Morocco | AFP | Morocco has rapidly expanded its fleet of drones as it battles the coronavirus pandemic, deploying them for aerial surveillance, public service announcements and sanitisation. “This is a real craze. In just weeks, demand has tripled in Morocco and other countries in the region,” said Yassine Qamous, …
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