Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump makes no secret of his empathy for strongmen with spotty rights records, but his embrace of Rodrigo Duterte shows he still has the power to shock. Trump has invited the Philippines leader to Washington, despite his unabashed support for an …
Read More »US spending deal: More military funds, none for border wall
Washington, United States | AFP | US congressional leaders on Monday unveiled a bipartisan deal funding government through September, with a compromise that includes President Donald Trump’s call for increased military spending but ignores his demand to fund a border wall. The agreement was struck late Sunday after weeks of …
Read More »ANALYSIS: After armyworm
Is Uganda ready for the next big attack? Uganda is under attack. It is under attack from the Fall Armyworm in what experts call a “biological invasion”. Unfortunately, it appears, the government was caught unprepared. It has reacted with a mixture of indecision, panic, bluff, and deployment of ineffective intervention. …
Read More »BUSINESS: Why sugar price is going up
Factory price of 50kg bag up by 48% in April 2017 There is bad news for sugar consumers in the country going by current issues happening in the industry. Official figures for the year 2016 from industry controllers Uganda Sugarcane Manufacturers Association (USMA) millers – Kakira, Kinyara and SCOUL …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Kaweesi murder investigation
Kayihura in tight corner as Museveni demands progress On April 21, the Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura, did something unusual. As highly anticipated by the general public, he presented to the Nakawa Magistrates Court in Kampala 13 suspects in the murder of the late force spokesperson, Assistant Inspector …
Read More »COVER: Buganda land wrangles
Next fight between Kabaka, Museveni? Did President Yoweri Museveni recently summon Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II to a hurried meeting over the rampant land evictions in Buganda? Possibly he did or possibly he did not. What is known is that a meeting took place between them on April 07. …
Read More »SPECIAL FEATURE: DR Congo, home to a tenth of the world’s languages
There are 450 languages spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | “I haven’t once spoken my mother tongue Kilokele in the 62 years I’ve lived in Kinshasa. None of my nine children speak it,” says Charles Tongohala. Tongohala’s native tongue is one of 450 spoken …
Read More »Pope says ‘demagogic’ populism does not help peace
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Pope Francis denounced “demagogic populism” on Friday and insisted that violence profanes God’s name, in a wide-ranging speech as he visited Egypt to push for tolerance. “Peace alone… is holy and no act of violence can be perpetrated in the name of God, for it would …
Read More »ANALYSIS: What is the North American Free Trade Agreement?
Washington, United States | AFP | The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a 23-year-old pact has boosted trade among Canada, Mexico and the United States. It might now be renegotiated the White House said Wednesday, after Canada and Mexico agreed to do so “swiftly.” US President Donald Trump …
Read More »Macron age gap ‘unusual’ to French, titillates abroad
Paris, France | AFP | Brigitte Macron, as the 64-year-old wife of the man tipped to become France’s youngest-ever president, is getting used to being in the media spotlight. But the elegant blonde is also having to endure unwelcome scrutiny from a foreign press fascinated by the age gap between …
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