Opportunities, Challenges, and why full implementation of the historic pact may take years ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | African countries began officially trading under the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on Jan.01. It is a flagship project of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 to stimulate intra-African trade. In …
Read More »WHO chief spells out 3 COVID-19 lessons
Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua |Â The COVID-19 pandemic has so far had three lessons for all member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) agency itself, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated. Addressing the 148th session of the WHO Executive Board, Tedros said that first …
Read More »Byabakama responds to UN suspension of travels to Uganda
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Electoral Commission-EC isn’t bothered by the decision by the UN to suspend the travel of its staff to Uganda according to Justice Byabakama Simon Mugenyi. He told journalists at the Commission headquarters on Tuesday that if the UN travel restriction to Uganda is based on …
Read More »UN issues statement on Uganda
New York, US | THE INDEPENDENT | The UN Secretary General Aantonio Guterres has called for restraint in Uganda in the run up to the elections. This follows reports of more than 30 killed in riots that came after the arrest of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi. ***** FULL STATAMENT …
Read More »UN urges Uganda’s security forces to respect human rights
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |Â The office of the spokesperson for the United Nations (UN) secretary general has called on security forces in Uganda to act in a manner that respects human rights and the principle of the rule of law. The call was made at the daily press briefing …
Read More »UN, Stanbic bank launch fundraising drive for SACCOs
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |Â The UN and Stanbic Bank have launched an initiative in which they hope to raise up to USD 100 million to help small and informal enterprises out of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative dubbed, the Economic Enterprise Restart Fund is a three-year …
Read More »SNV Uganda calls for focus on food security as UN celebrates 75 years
 Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | SNV Uganda has urged United Nations members to rethink how they produce food to face the challenge of over 690 million people in the world today facing hunger and starvation. In remarks to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, SNV Uganda Country …
Read More »Egypt FM reaffirms political solution to Syrian crisis, rejects foreign intervention
Cairo, Egypt | XINHUA | Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry  reaffirmed on Thursday his country’s support for political settlement to the Syrian crisis and rejection of foreign intervention in the war-torn country. Shoukry made the remarks during a virtual foreign ministerial meeting of the Small Group on Syria that comprises Egypt, France, …
Read More »UN Security Council returns to its own chamber for meeting
UNITED NATIONS, USA | XINHUA |Â Â The Security Council on Thursday returned to its own chamber for an in-person meeting, the first time in almost seven months after a lockdown from the coronavirus. At the beginning of the meeting on Mali, Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, who chaired the meeting as …
Read More »UN chief urges efforts to harness digital technologies to accelerate achievement of SDGs
United Nations | XINHUA | United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said that efforts must be made to harness digital technologies to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. “Our collective challenge is to harness digital technologies to serve the world — to be an enabler, an equalizer, …
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