Technocrats blame Chinese veneer processors, local tree growers blame the technocrats COVER STORY | THE INDEPENDENT | In May last year, President Yoweri Museveni banned the export of ‘unprocessed’ timber products scampering a hitherto booming wood industry. One year later, panic from Museveni’s Executive Order No.3 continues with no end in …
Read More »Biniam Girmay’s amazing Tour de France triumph
24-year old Eritrean becomes first African to win at the world’s oldest and most prestigious cycling race ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | A split second before he crossed the finish line in Turin, Biniam Girmay sat up on his bicycle. He let go of his handlebars, smiled to himself, and then punched …
Read More »Kamala Harris’ battle for the White House
`Twice as good for half the respect’ ANALYSIS | CLARE CORBOULD | Mainstream media are surprisingly muted at the prospect of the world’s most powerful nation being led for the first time by a woman – specifically a woman of colour, Vice President Kamala Harris. Using past elections as our guide, …
Read More »10 African nations with important maths and science innovations
African scientists have achieved global success in science and mathematics by overcoming traditional challenges and bridging longstanding gaps. Here’s a list of some 10 African countries where scientists and mathematicians have created innovations that have had a global impact. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | African scientists have a rich …
Read More »Uganda in race to meet new EU coffee export rules
150 days left to comply with new tough EU regulations on farmers who cut forests to grow coffee Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | With about 150 days left before the European Union (EU) market begins implementing its tough ban on import of ‘deforestation-related products,’ Ugandan farmers, exporters, and regulators are …
Read More »#March2Parliament protests
Did July 23 mark the start? COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | Tired of endless corruption, groups of Ugandans took to the streets under the hashtag #March2Parliament. It was also to express their anger and dissatisfaction against an unaccountable political system they say does not work for majority of citizens. In …
Read More »Africa leads in reducing new HIV infections – report
Africa’s HIV prevention measures are yielding results, with a new UN report revealing that for the first time, most new infections now occur outside the continent. Despite existing gaps, the report offers hope on the path toward 2030 targets. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa’s prevention measures in the …
Read More »The Trump assassination attempt
How it has upended the US election race and what happens next ANALYSIS | LESTER MUNSON | It is tempting to draw grand conclusions from the July 13 assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. The coarse rhetoric currently in vogue in American politics, not to mention the Capitol riot on …
Read More »Military spending rising in EA region
Experts say that could lead to coups ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | Governments that allocate substantial resources to the military can inadvertently increase the political power of the military. “This will in turn lower both civilian control and oversight and increase the risk of an unconstitutional change of government (coups),”says Nan …
Read More »Uganda’s inventive protest culture
In the face of growing repression, Ugandans continue to find new and creative ways to combat the entrenched system of state capture ANALYSIS | MICHELLE GAVIN | Ugandans have limited options when it comes to holding their political leaders accountable. Elections in the country have grown less and less credible over …
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