Paris, France | AFP | Paris city authorities said Thursday they aimed to phase out the use of diesel cars by the time the French capital hosts the Olympics in 2024, and petrol cars by 2030. Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s office said the goals — which are more ambitious time-wise than a …
Read More »Ireland approves massive Apple data centre
Dublin, Ireland | AFP | Ireland on Thursday gave the green light for tech giant Apple to build an 850-million-euro ($1.0-billion) data centre following a battle with conservationists who were seeking to preserve a forest. High Court judge Paul McDermott dismissed the appeals brought by three campaigners, who were concerned about …
Read More »Beauty is skin deep for Benin’s pineapples
Allada, BENIN | AFP | From his chair in the middle of a pile of pineapples, Jean-Xavier Satola supervises cutting and packaging, as Benin — Africa’s fourth-biggest exporter of the fruit — starts trading again after an eight-month self-imposed absence. The fields of Allada in southern Benin are a hive of …
Read More »Ordinary Kenyans feel pinch of political uncertainty
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | “Time for an interview? I have a lot of time at the moment,” said Owino Onyango, sweating as he stepped out of his blacksmith’s shop in Nairobi to talk business, and politics. “Business goes with politics: if politics go down, business also goes down”, said the …
Read More »INTERVIEW: Uganda’s road infrastructure boom
Sam Mutabazi is the Executive Director of Uganda Road Sector Support (URSSI). He talked to Ian Katusiime about Uganda’s road sector and its urban planning. What principles guide your management? I am a democrat. I extend freedom to people around me and give my staff the benefit of the …
Read More »Grand opening of Pearl of Africa Hotel
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A week after the Pearl of Africa Hotel Kampala officially opened its doors with fireworks, President Yoweri Museveni launched the 5-star facility at a colourful ceremony on Tuesday night. Museveni thanked the Aya Brothers for the investment that will create jobs for Ugandans and boost …
Read More »Ethiopia devalues currency in competitiveness bid
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia will devalue its currency by 15 percent in a bid to boost demand for its major exports, a state-run media outlet reported Tuesday. Africa’s second most-populous country is also one of its best economic performers, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimating in …
Read More »Cytonn eyes Kampala’s middle class with Shs 360.5bn housing projects
The new development likely to stir competition in the country’s real estate industry Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Kenya’s real estate investment firm, Cytonn, is set to invest Shs360.5bn (US$100million) in commercial and residential housing units in Kampala targeting middle class population, its Managing Partner and Chief Executive …
Read More »AkzoNobel now picks Crown Paints to sell Sadolin in East Africa
The new move tightens competition in the region’s paint industry Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Dutch paints and Coatings Company AkzoNobel Coatings International BV, which owns the Sadolin brand name in Uganda, has appointed the regional paint maker, Crown Paints East Africa, to manufacture and sell Sadolin Paint in …
Read More »NSSF sees higher returns for savers in FY 2017/18
Savers suggests Fund’s flexibility to allow them access part the saving to meet their needs Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) members are expected to earner higher returns on their savings for the 2017/18 financial year, according to its Managing Director, Richard Byarugaba. Byarugaba …
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