PRETORIA | TASS | A diamond weighing 2,492 carats has been found at the Karowe mine in northeastern Botswana, Canadian mining company Lucara Diamond Corporation said. This “remarkable” find is “one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed,” Lucara President William Lamb said in the statement. He recalled that the …

NAIROBI, KENYA | Xinhua | Six leaders from the East African Community (EAC) on Tuesday vowed to support former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC). The leaders from Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda said Odinga is the right …

Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has joined other leaders in East Africa to support Raila Odinga’s campaign for the African Union Chairmanship. The veteran Kenyan politician, Raila Odinga is competing for the African Union (AUC) post against Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssou, former Mauritius Foreign Minister Anil Kumarsingh …

Nakapiripirit, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Wildlife Authority is concerned about the influx of cattle into the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. It says the presence of livestock in the reserve frustrates tourism activities. Pian Upe located in Nakapiripirit district borders about 8 other districts stretching from Amudat, Moroto, Katakwi, Napak, …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Kenyan National Team Harambee Stars will host their first round of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches at Mandela National Stadium in Uganda. The confirmation came just days after Uganda’s Football Association CEO, Edgar Watson, announced that Kenya and Zimbabwe would play their …

Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Joint security agencies in Hoima have recovered 36 iron sheets stolen from the Hoima city stadium construction site. The iron sheets, along with other construction materials, including iron bars, were stolen when thugs reportedly raided the construction site of the Hoima city stadium, situated in …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The High Court in Kampala has advised former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa, and five of her co-accused, including members of Parliament, that they may consider a plea bargain for the fraud-related offenses against them. Geraldine, along with Igara East …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | dfcu Bank has recorded a robust 45% increase in net profit to Shs 42 billion for the first half of 2024, buoyed by significant reductions in credit losses and strategic cost management. This marks a substantial rise from Shs 29 billion in the same period …

What African cities might learn from Hong Kong’s unique land-lease system ANALYSIS | ASTRID R.N. HAAS | Land prices across many African cities are soaring. This is because land is a city’s key asset. As urbanisation progresses, demand for land will rise, and therefore so will land prices, because the supply of land in …

However, progress on the $4.5 billion refinery remains limited Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Uganda’s oil sector is advancing significantly with 72 out of 457 wells drilled at the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects as TotalEnergies and CNOOC Uganda Limited push towards commercial production slated for 2025. Energy and Mineral …