In The Magazine

It is projected that under the AfCFTA, extreme poverty will significantly decline across the continent COMMENT | ZION ADEOYE | Established in 2018, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents perhaps Africa’s biggest opportunity for the next few decades in its battle against poverty of all forms; energy and …

A dichotomy of emotions and indigenous elements on canvas   Two naked human figures stand next to each other with the nubile female figure on the left having her head bowed. She seems to be immensed in the act of pouring a milky substance mixed with red from a pot …

UK, Ireland and UNICEF support COVID-19 fight in schools | THE INDEPENDENT | As schools in Uganda reopen after a prolonged period, the UK and Ireland have partnered with UNICEF to support two key activities which aim to support safe and sustainable reopening. The focus will be on school-based surveillance …

Free trading under the auspices of the African Continental Free Trade Area started in January 2021. One year later, several aspects of the trade pact are being successfully implemented as negotiations are ongoing in other areas. Kingsley Ighobor interviewed the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene and here are …

Failure to operationalise the National Health Insurance Scheme and resurgence of COVID-19 may constrain demand for insurance Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Uganda’s insurance industry is projected to register consistent growth in 2022 riding on technology innovations, government’s investment in infrastructure and increased economic activities as economy opens up. …

  The debt service to tax revenue ratio has increased to 27.1% in Oct. 2021, up from 24.4% in the same period in 2020 Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Coronavirus pandemic induced borrowing has seen Uganda’s public debt raise 3.1% to Shs 73.78trillion compared to June 2021, says the …

Is social media becoming a threat to democracy on the continent? ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | In early 2021, Facebook (Meta) deactivated more than 20 accounts linked to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Shortly afterward, Twitter also followed suit, closing 11% of the nearly 3,500 …

Chilling effect of Kakwenza’s arrest Kampala, Uganda | MUBATSI ASINJA HABATI | The arrest of novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has laid bare what many political observers say are tactics from the playbook of leaders who have clung to power too long, lack legitimacy, and have resorted to using security operatives to …

   Why it’s about hearts and minds; not bullets COVER STORY | ANDREW M MWENDA | Kambi ya Yua is an eight-acre hill site in the middle of a jungle that runs for over 100km from Uganda deep into inside of the DR Congo. It has no neighbouring human settlement, no access …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | These are the top stories in this week’s THE INDEPENDENT. THE LAST WORD UPDF, the DRC and the ADF war: Why it’s about hearts and minds – not bullets ANALYSIS Silencing voices of opposition: Chilling effect of Kakwenza’s arrest COMMENTS Why we need African energy …