NEWS

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP |  The Eid al-Fitr feast marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is to start on Sunday in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states, the religious authorities announced. Uganda in East Africa also announced the moon had been sighted. Sheikh Yahaya Kakungulu , …

Juba, South Sudan | AFP | South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation gripped by civil war, has cancelled its official independence day celebrations for the second year running. “We are not celebrating… because our situation does not require us to celebrate at a time when there are people in need …

Accra, Ghana | AFP | Former presidents, lawmakers and senior government officials in Ghana will no longer have special privileges for private travel to the United States, Washington’s envoy has said. Until now, such individuals were able to take advantage of “protocol services” where they did not have to physically …

Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | The Chairperson of the Commission of inquiry into land acquisition and management Justice Catherine Bamugemereire has ordered the immediate arrest of a senior registrar of titles in the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development Lwera Atalo Bogere for issuing titles in wetlands. Atalo was appearing before the …

Kampala, Uganda | Michael O’HAGAN | AFP |  The international community pledged $358 million at a fundraising summit Friday to help Uganda tackle the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis, falling well short of expectations. Organisers had hoped the meeting in the central city of Entebbe would raise at least $2 billion …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has blamed the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the United Nations (UN) for not helping stop the declining situation in Congo.  Congo is a leading source of refugees in Africa. He called on support for regional efforts to …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & AFP|  Uganda on Friday co-hosted a summit with UN to raise $2 billion to cover estimated cost of managing a refugee influx from South Sudan. The summit got a boost on Thursday when the EU pledged 85 million euros ($95 million) to Uganda but UN chief …

 Botswana’s former president Masire, who led Mozambique peace efforts, dies Gaborone, Botswana | AFP | Botswana’s former president Sir Ketumile Masire, the southern African country’s second post-independence leader and who led efforts to bring peace to Mozambique, has died aged 91, an aide said on Friday. Masire had been heavily involved …

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi  has revealed that Egypt is suffering from a water deficit of about 21.5 billion cubic metres per year, and is cautious of any agreements related to the River Nile that could affect this supply. According to AharamOnline, this was the main thrust of President Sisi’s speech Thursday …

Kampala, Uganda | PPU| Prosperity for Nile Basin countries is the best way to protect River Nile and other water systems in Africa, President Museveni has said. The President made the remarks at a plenary session of the first ever Nile Basin Heads of State summit held at State House, Entebbe. The …