Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has challenged leaders in the country to bring an end to poverty. This is contained in his Easter message to Ugandans. “Whenever we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we remember our deliverance in every situation. This …
Read More »Deaths highlight children’s plight in migrant surge to US
Nentón, Guatemala | AFP | The death of two Guatemalan children in the United States within weeks of each other has highlighted why there are so many children among Central American migrants heading north: smugglers tell them families have a better chance of being allowed in by US border guards, …
Read More »Zimbabwe’s economic crisis wipes out Christmas cheer
Chinamhora, Zimbabwe | AFP | At Solomon Chakauya’s grocery store in Zimbabwe’s Chinamhora district outside Harare, there’s no sign of the seasonal Christmas rush that he needs to keep his business afloat. Even in the country’s toughest times, sales rocketed in the days before Christmas, but this year few people …
Read More »In southern Madagascar, voters struggle for food before ballot
Amboasary, Madagascar | AFP | One after another, the mothers sat their babies in the shade, on a mat placed on the dusty ground. This morning at least, their children will have enough to eat. In the village of Ifotaka, at the southern tip of Madagascar, the noise and excitement …
Read More »Role of trust in prosperity
THE LAST WORD: Why many Ugandans are stuck in poverty and unemployment even in the face of opportunities THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | I have lately been arguing in this column that one of the most important drivers of prosperity is human capital. The better the human …
Read More »Tackle poverty and birth rate to end Boko Haram: emir
Kano, Nigeria | AFP | One of Nigeria’s leading and respected Islamic figures on Tuesday renewed calls to tackle endemic poverty and rapid population growth to help end deadly Boko Haram violence. More than 27,000 people have been killed since the start of the insurgency in the country’s remote northeast …
Read More »Twaweza report on poverty draws mixed reactions in Ankole
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Residents and leaders in the Ankole sub-region have expressed mixed reactions to a report attributing the high poverty levels in Uganda to laziness. In September 2018, Twaweza released findings from a study titled; “The haves and the have-nots: Ugandan’s opinions on poverty, fairness, and inequality” …
Read More »Presidential poll embitters poor Madagascans
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | “If I was to vote, I would definitely vote for the rubbish bins because at least they feed us,” scoffed Claudine Rajaonarison. She had been scouring the streets of Antananarivo since 4:00 am for plastic to sell. Rajaonarison, a 35-year-old mother of three, said she …
Read More »Liberia’s Weah announces free tuition for undergraduates
Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | Liberian President George Weah, who overcame childhood poverty to become one of the world’s top footballers, has abolished tuition fees for undergraduate students in the poor West African country’s state universities. Speaking Wednesday on the campus of the University of Liberia in the name of …
Read More »Ugandans don’t know they are rich – study
Twaweza report shows the government needs to rethink how it pulls the poor from poverty Kampala, Uganda | FLAVIA NASSAKA | President Yoweri Museveni likes to hand out cash. He splashes on anyone lucky enough to cross his path. It could be a person or group in the low income settlements …
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