Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Social Security Fund is likely to give a lower interest to savers for the year 2020/21, than what was paid out last year, according to the economic conditions prevailing. The decision to raise, lower or maintain the interest rate largely depends on two factors, …
Read More »IN THE INDEPENDENT: Uganda’s shadow state
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | These are the top stories in this week’s THE INDEPENDENT. COVER STORY Uganda’s Shadow State: Revealing the networks of people with power THE LAST WORD Is Uganda’s economy failing?: Why Ugandan pundits are mistaken in their understanding of why some foreign firms have quit our …
Read More »SME body speaks out on government’s budget plan, COVID-19 and economy
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | John Walugembe, the executive director of Federation of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Uganda has urged the government to practically implement its proposed economic recovery programme in a bid to improve peoples’ livelihoods. Walugembe speaks for the umbrella/business association that brings together over 112,000 micro, small …
Read More »U.S. trade coalition urges Biden administration to end “misguided trade war” as tariffs hurt businesses
Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | Americans for Free Trade, a coalition of more than 150 industry associations that are united in the fight against tariffs, on Tuesday urged the Biden administration to end the “misguided trade war” initiated by the previous administration as tariffs continue to hurt American businesses across the …
Read More »“Serious” possibility of complete economic collapse in Afghanistan, says UN chief
Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the possibility of a complete economic collapse in Afghanistan is “serious.” Guterres was in Geneva on Monday to convene a high-level ministerial meeting on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. He highlighted the acute and urgent need for …
Read More »Go slow on IMF financing, gov’t tells civil society
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The recent allocation of special drawing rights by the International Monetary Fund to its members has triggered fears of misuse, since the resource had been described as free, and not a loan. Special Drawing Rights are an international reserve asset, created by the IMF to …
Read More »MPs endorse tax on passengers flying out of Uganda
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parliament has adopted a raft of recommendations to revive the economy currently battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, key among is implementation of a Tourism Development Levy. “The Committee proposes a levy of $10 to be charged on each ticket for every person who departs from Uganda …
Read More »Africell to exit Ugandan market after 7 years
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Stiff competition and high indebtedness have forced Uganda’s third largest telecom service company by subscriber base, Africell, to quit the country. The company say its services will stop on October 7, this year, according to a letter circulated to its employees, who will continue to …
Read More »Experts call for Ugandan youths to grasp opportunities in agriculture to confront pandemic
A resilient agricultural system is critical for ensuring food and income security Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Experts have stressed the significance of the agricultural sector and encouraged the Ugandan youths to seize opportunities to improve their life during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Agriculture is an important sector and there is …
Read More »Ministry of finance says no more tax discretionary reliefs
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government will no longer give what it is calling discretionary tax relief measures to sectors or enterprises in a financial crisis as has been the case, like under the current Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement comes as entrepreneurs continue to call on the government to …
Read More »