Paris, France | AFP | IMF chief Christine Lagarde warned Saturday that economic stimulus from US tax cuts may lead to a rapid rise in interest rates which would weigh on countries with high debt levels. The International Monetary Fund was going to be “attentive” to the consequences of the …
Read More »Google begins blocking annoying ads on its browser
Washington, United States | AFP | Google has begun a new effort to block annoying ads on its Chrome browser, as part of an initiative aimed at improving the online advertising ecosystem that provides the bulk of its revenues. The new ad filtering system rolled out this week aims to …
Read More »Coca-Cola reports 4Q loss on hit from US tax reform
New York, United States | AFP | Coca-Cola reported a fourth-quarter loss Friday due to a one-time hit from US tax reform as growth in some non-cola beverages helped offset continued sluggishness in soda sales. The soft drink giant reported a loss of $2.8 billion in the quarter ending December …
Read More »Microenterprise graduation leads to higher consumption, asset ownership
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A one-year microenterprise graduation program targeting the ultra-poor in rural Africa offers a cost-effective way to tackle extreme poverty, according to preliminary results of a new study released in Kampala on Thursday. These preliminary results suggest that Village Enterprise’s integrated “graduation” model—comprised of targeting, training, …
Read More »MOTOR VEHICLES: Attorney General to study SGS contract
Kampala, Uganda | UGANDA PARLIAMENT | The Attorney General, William Byaruhanga, has requested Parliament for time to study the contract between the government of Uganda and SGS (Societe Generale de Surveillance), the motor vehicle inspection firm. This followed debate Wednesday on the report of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure where …
Read More »Facebook, Twitter not fully complying with consumer rules: EU
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The European Commission said Thursday that certain social media companies need to do more to fully comply with EU consumer rules, singling out in particular Facebook and Twitter. “While Google’s latest proposals appear to be in line with the requests made by consumer authorities, Facebook …
Read More »State-owned enterprises saddled with losses
BoU, UEDCL and Mandela National Stadium listed amongst those in red Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Uganda’s state-owned enterprises seem to be bleeding. The latest Auditor General’s report shows that five out of the 29 state owned enteprises recorded losses in the recent two consecutive years. They include; Bank of …
Read More »Kenya’s Jambojet makes maiden flight to Uganda today
Kenya’s Jambojet makes maiden flight to Uganda today Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | Nairobi based budget airline Jambojet today expands its wings in East Africa with the launch of a double daily flight between Nairobi and Entebbe. Among the passengers on the inaugural flight that took off shortly before …
Read More »URA to host 4th Authorised Economic Operator conference in Kampala
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Over 600 people had registered by Feb.14 to attend the 4th World Customs Organization Authorised Economic Operators Conference to be held in Kampala from March 14 – 16 at Serena Hotel. AEO is a trade facilitation program which URA uses to ease trade. Under …
Read More »‘Uganda’s oil sector is on the right track’
Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Susan Eckey is Norway’s ambassador to Uganda. She spoke to The Independent’s Ronald Musoke on the growing bilateral relations between the two countries. Tell us about your impressions of Uganda since you arrived in 2015? Uganda is my first posting as a bilateral ambassador. I …
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