`Get Up Stand Up’ theme invites young artists to create art beyond the traditional Kampala, Uganda | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | The Covid-19 pandemic has inspired unusual ways of doing things in many sectors. The creative arts are no exceptional to this new wave as the Kampala Art Biennale 2020 becomes …
Read More »Young people and politics
Why political parties must commit to letting them play a role in political leadership and decision-making | PATRICIA SCOTLAND | Young people around the world are waking up to a growing list of new and harsh realities. Trapped in the shadow of a relentless pandemic, many are being robbed of …
Read More »Import substitution makes a comeback in Africa
As African industrialisation progresses and Covid-19 impacts on long supply chains, the notion that African economies should produce more locally is gaining traction. Liam Taylor reports. Every time a foreign dignitary visits Cipla Quality Chemical Industries Limited (CiplaQCIL), they plant a tree. Visiting presidents show up so frequently that the grassy verge …
Read More »Surging interest rates could slow economic recovery
Lending to be directed to sectors crucial to socio-economic development including SMEs, trade, industry and agri-business Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Interest rates have risen over the past two quarters this year but commercial bank executives say current levels are still fair to both lenders and borrowers. The latest …
Read More »AfDB gives Shs 1.85bn to Ugandan SMEs targeting oil and gas deals
Ugandan micro, small and medium enterprises working within the petroleum sector have received US$ 500,000 (Shs 1.85bn) from the African Development Bank to boost their chances of partaking of the opportunities that will accrue during the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. Kampala, Uganda | …
Read More »Local construction firms court Ethiopians to win big contracts
Firms want to cut into huge value of contracts which go to foreign firms Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Ugandan local firms have been losing out to international players in clinching big deals in the local market but this could soon be reversed if a new business model that …
Read More »Ethiopia: All-out civil war possible
Troubled history provides clues why | FRANCESCA BALDWIN AND HEIKE I SCHMIDT | Ethiopia’s government, under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, is carrying out a military offensive in Tigray, Ethiopia’s most northern state. A six month state of emergency has been declared in the region. Dozens of casualties have been reported …
Read More »Conflict in Ethiopia
From Early Warning to Early Action; a view from the International Crisis Group Unless urgently halted, the ongoing armed confrontation between Ethiopia’s federal forces and those commanded by the northern Tigray region’s leadership will be devastating not just for the country but for the entire Horn of Africa. In a …
Read More »Pfizer COVID vaccine
Promising results – here’s what needs to happen next | ANNE MOORE | Preliminary data from the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine trial suggests it provides 90% efficacy at preventing the disease. At the very least, this news will result in a large sigh of relief across the vaccine community. It signifies …
Read More »Pfizer’s ultra-cold vaccine could be difficult to distribute
The excitement that greeted the news of a vaccine candidate that may be highly effective against COVID-19 was indeed something to behold. If the final results show anything like the numbers quoted in the press release, then the world can indeed be pleased and the scientists behind the scenes very …
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