How antiviral pill that costs Shs2.4m per doze shot ahead in the COVID drug hunt | THE INDEPENDENT | On November 4, the United Kingdom became the first country in the world to grant conditional authorisation to a drug used to treat COVID-19. The Molnupiravir antiviral pill manufactured by the …
Read More »Why Orient Bank is rebranding to I&M Bank
This development ends the institution’s 30-year history in Uganda’s financial sector Kampala Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Local lender, Orient Bank is getting a revamp, ending a nearly 30-year history in Uganda. The lender is ditching its name to I&M Bank (Uganda) following the latter’s decision to acquire a 90% …
Read More »‘Rich nations must pay for African conservation’
African Leaders demand compensation for protecting the world’s carbon sinks ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | African leaders, business executives, and climate change activists have stressed the need for financial resources to be mobilized to ensure that the African continent restores and protects its critical ecosystems which are critical in sucking …
Read More »French trade minister shortens Uganda visit
Diplomats tight-lipped as ‘emergency’ is cited ANALYSIS | Ronald Musoke | The business community with French connections in Uganda spent several weeks planning for the visit of Franck Riester, France’s Minister for External Trade and Investment. Riester was scheduled for a two-day official tour of Uganda—a trip which the French …
Read More »Civil society wants bigger role in COVID-19 fight
`This is a moment when the voice and actions of civil society are indispensable,’ they say | THE INDEPENDENT | Governments need to recognise and include Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in their national emergency responses and long-term development efforts. That is one of the main practical solutions that funders and …
Read More »Dissecting Sudan’s Coup
After ousting civilians, the military seeks to consolidate power and install a new government | MANAL TAHA AND JOSEPH TUCKER | On Oct.25, Sudan’s military detained the country’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and key civilian leaders, dissolved the government and declared a state of emergency. The coup, which has put …
Read More »Climate change will hit small farmers
International Fund for Agricultural Development reports tips on adaptation strategies | JOHN ALLEN | Rising temperatures and a decline in rainfall across eight Southern and East African countries are set to slash the production of important food crops in the region by 2050, says a new study. And even when …
Read More »What made Matovu a suicide bomber?
Looking behind emerging domestic terrorism COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | Days after he reportedly blew himself up on a bus full of passengers headed to western Uganda from Kampala city, little is still known about Isaac Matovu; a 23-year old youth. The police say he has been a resident of …
Read More »Writers ignore risks to provoke Museveni
The Ugandan government is known for cracking down on writers who express strong dissent to President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the African country for 35 years. Despite the risks, two writers recently composed deliberately provocative pieces criticising the president. | HALIMA ATHUMANI | Early this month, Ashaba Annah wrote …
Read More »Nobel Peace Prize goes to journalists
It serves as reminder that freedom of the press is under threat from strongmen and social media | THE INDEPENDENT | Thirty-two years ago next month, I was in Germany reporting on the fall of the Berlin Wall, an event then heralded as a triumph of Western democratic liberalism and …
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