Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | Ethiopia’s first private telecom firm Safaricom Ethiopia has officially introduced its mobile financial service, M-Pesa, three months after the telecom company received the payment instrument issuer license from the National Bank of Ethiopia. In preparation for the launch, M-Pesa has undergone a rigorous three-month …
Read More »Equity Leaders Program sees 98 scholars join top global universities
Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | Equity Group Foundation (EGF) Executive Chairman Dr. James Mwangi has commissioned the airlift of 98 scholars who have secured admission and scholarships to join 52 global universities located in 18 countries. The scholars are drawn from the Equity Leaders Programs in four countries – Kenya …
Read More »BOU: Currency change policy to determine fate of 1000 shilling note
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Bank of Uganda has clarified that the proposed replacement of the 1000 Shilling currency note with a coin will not affect its operation or legality when the coin is introduced. Rather, the two will continue being legal tender after the printing of the …
Read More »Absa Group reports resilient 2023 first-half earnings, reflecting diverse franchise
Johannesburg, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | Absa Group reported resilient results in an increasingly challenging operating environment during the first half of 2023. Headline earnings increased 2% to R11.2 billion from a high base a year earlier, as strong revenue growth of 16% offset 60% higher credit impairments. “With …
Read More »Bank of Uganda lowers CB rate for first time in 2 years
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Bank of Uganda has lowered the Central Bank Rate (CBR) to 9.5 percent, an indicator of its intention to bring down the cost of credit, for the first time since June 2021. The rate, which the Monetary Policy Committee uses to influence interest …
Read More »Company loses appeal to block URA from accessing its financial records
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The High Court in Kampala has dismissed an appeal in which YO! Uganda Limited, a Financial Technology company was seeking a temporary injunction restraining Uganda Revenue Authority from accessing, reviewing or disclosing information contained in the electronic and manual records seized from the company premises …
Read More »Africa’s fashion industry eyes a US$69 billion market
Africa’s fashion industry is tapping an apparel market that will be worth US$69 billion in 2023, driven by a surge in women’s spending power, innovative design scene and production efficiency in textiles. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa’s bright and dynamic fashion industry is finding itself if the spotlight, …
Read More »BOU: Uganda financial sector robust, to survive World Bank blacklist
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Bank of Uganda has assured the banking and financial industry that it will ensure its stability and the sustainability of the microeconomics of the country amidst the withdrawal of the World Bank from new loan deals. The World Bank decision communicated last week …
Read More »What next for cryptocurrency bill after government declines to give it a green light
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nathan Igeme Nabeta, the Jinja East Municipality Member of Parliament has asked the Speaker of Parliament to apply the rules of the House allowing debate of the Capital Markets Authority Amendment Bill without a certificate of financial implications. The government, through the Ministry of …
Read More »Mining sector blues
Experts want the government to offer incentives to bolster the sector’s growth Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Private sector players have called on the government to offer incentives to players in the mining sector to bolster its growth and create opportunities. Frank Mugyenyi, Founder of Global Minerals Africa Development …
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