NEWS ANALYSIS

In the face of growing repression, Ugandans continue to find new and creative ways to combat the entrenched system of state capture ANALYSIS | MICHELLE GAVIN | Ugandans have limited options when it comes to holding their political leaders accountable. Elections in the country have grown less and less credible over …

Phytosanitary programme intends to equip all 54 countries with technology and technical capacity ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | Agriculture and its related value chains drive most economies across the continent, contributing about 40%  to Africa’s GDP and 15% of its exports, 75% to its intra-African trade, and 60-80% of employment. But the …

Researchers in Johannesburg turn rhino horns radioactive in a groundbreaking bid to thwart poachers and dismantle illegal wildlife trade networks. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Scientists at South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand are implanting radioactive chips into rhino horns in what promises to disrupt the poaching trade. Embedding …

Michael Atingi-Ego confirms Bank of Uganda has joined “Shining Gold Rush” Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | When the Bank of Uganda announced its intention to purchase gold from artisan, small, medium, and large-scale miners, some players in the precious stones industry wondered why a sudden policy reversal. It has been …

DP World plans to invest US$3 billion in expanding ports across Africa in the next 3 to 5 years – a response to the increasing global demand for Africa’s critical minerals. This surge in investment extends beyond ports, encompassing crucial railway infrastructure that links mines to ports. SPECIAL REPORT | …

Artificial Intelligence is beginning to have a profound impact on the documentation and analysis of indigenous languages, with Google Translate taking on a diversity of African languages and dialects. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | More African languages are finding their way to Google’s online translation service, as the giant search …

Thermonuclear blasts and new species ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | For more than two decades, Elon Musk has focused SpaceX, his rocket company, on his lifelong goal of reaching Mars. Over the past year, he has also ramped up work on what will happen if he gets there. Musk, 53, has directed …

How the new Labour government should do it London, UK | IAN MITCHELL | The Labour party was elected with the largest majority in over 27 years at the UK’s July 04 general election. Its manifesto committed to “regain Britain’s global leadership on development” with a headline to “modernise” and a …

Continent to fund own oil and gas projects in wake of Western financial institutions’ hesitancy ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | The African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO), an association of African petroleum producing countries, together with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have zeroed-in on Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja, to host the headquarters …

ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | In response to the growing calls to have the East African Community Treaty amended to reflect its current state, regional foreign and East African Community affairs ministers have demanded the process be accelerated. This was one of the resolutions reached by the ministers from Burundi, DR …