Madrid, Spain | AFP | The number of international tourist arrivals could plunge by 60 to 80 percent in 2020 owing to the coronavirus, the World Tourism Organization said Thursday, revising its previous forecast sharply lower. Widespread travel restrictions and the closure of airports and national borders to curb the spread …

Paris, France | AFP | As COVID-19 deaths climb ever higher in Europe and the United States, millions of lives are at risk in developing nations where lockdowns and overwhelmed medical systems are disrupting vital testing, vaccination and treatment for other killer diseases. The pandemic has seen unprecedented social distancing measures, …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has questioned the suspension of district council meetings during the coronavirus crisis describing the move by the Ministry of Local Government as a ‘suspension of democracy.’ This followed a concern raised by Nakasongola County MP Noah Mutebi Wanzala …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health and other agencies are facing problems tracking truck drivers who have tested positive to coronavirus disease- COVID-19. According to officials on the National COVID-19 Task Force, it has become increasingly hard to trace drivers and their contacts because as they …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Thirty two commercial sex workers have been quarantined in Kabale district as health authorities hunt for the contacts of a truck driver who tested positive for the coronavirus disease. The truck driver was intercepted on April 24th 2020 as he was returning from Rwanda …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The refusal by Members of Parliament from Moroto to donate 20 million shillings to the district COVID-19 taskforce has angered district leaders. John Baptist Lokii, the MP for Matheniko County and Stella Atyang, the Moroto District Woman MP informed the District COVID-19 taskforce that …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Drug Authority (NDA) is warning the public against using two herbal mixtures on the market after they found them to have high doses of sildenafil citrate also known as Viagra, an oral drug used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. According to …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As the president’s directive for people moving in public to use face masks as a way of halting transmission of the coronavirus- COVID-19 sinks in, several people including health workers and administrators in health sector are finding a challenge to use them. For instance, …

Serere, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The fishing community in Serere district is struggling to survive following the suspension of fishing on Lake Kyoga. The communities argue that they have been deprived of their livelihoods from the lake. Simon Okwi, the Parish Councillor of Kagwara says the suspension has been …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence –CMI has sent five civilians to the General Court Martial on allegations of being in possession of Uganda People’s Defence Forces –UPDF uniforms. UPDF Spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire said in a statement that the culprits were charged at the CMI’s …