How unscientific reality is messing up ‘scientific election’ Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | On June 16 the Electoral Commission issued new guidelines for what has come to be known as “scientific elections”; a series of activities to be conducted mainly digitally via electronic media leading to the general elections …
Read More »World Bank to focus on economic recovery post Covid-19
The World Bank is one of several multilateral lenders on the frontline of Africa’s emergency economic response to Covid-19. World Bank vice president Makhtar Diop shares his insights on how the Bank will help overcome an unprecedented crisis that has plunged Africa into a period of great uncertainty. What’s been your perspective of …
Read More »Facebook faces major ad boycott
It will survive, say experts, but at a public image cost | HANNAH JACKSON | While brands continue to join the #StopHateForProfit campaign and pause advertising on Facebook, experts say the movement may not dramatically impact the social media giant’s bottom line — but it could damage its overall image. …
Read More »Africa’s scientists set out their COVID-19 research priorities
In April 2020, about two months after the African continent recorded its first case of COVID-19, the African Academy of Sciences undertook an extensive survey of its members. This allowed hundreds of scientists in African countries to identify COVID-19 related research priorities across a range of disciplines. The Conversation Africa’s …
Read More »Uganda lions in danger
Numbers fewer than earlier indicated | THE INDEPENDENT | Ugandan lions are one of the most sought-after animals by tourists. This means they have great local tourism value as each lion raises about USD$ 14,000 (Approx. Shs52million) annually in park fees, according to official figures. Tourists find Ugandan lions interesting …
Read More »Africa waited for solutions to health crises in the past
Will it be different for COVID-19? Africa | HAILAY GESESEW | The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently noted that “researchers are working at break-neck speed” to understand SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19). They are also working to develop potential vaccines, medicines and other technologies that are affordable …
Read More »What goes on in institutional quarantine?
Rawlence Ndejjo, is a returnee from Belgium. He returned on March 18 and was quarantined at Arch Apartments and Hotel in Kampala. Arch apartments and Hotel is one of the quarantine centres that the government chose to contain people returning to Uganda from abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. He narrated …
Read More »Spreading COVID-19 controversy
Asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic, symptomatic: what is the difference? Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Do asymptomatic people carrying the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the coronavirus disease COVID-19 transmit it? This question came to the forefront in Uganda recently after a video clip of Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the COVID-19 World Health …
Read More »Elections could kill Uganda economy
What international money lenders fear most about 2021 Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Increased government spending and borrowing as President Yoweri Museveni seeks re-election could destabilise the economy in FY2020/21. That is the view of the latest report by the international credit rating agency, Fitch. It is backed by …
Read More »The 2021 `scientific election’
Are the organisers of the COVID-19-defined general elections informed by science, panic or opportunism? COMMENT | JOSEPH MUKASA NGUBWAGYE | The Electoral Commission (EC) of Uganda on June 16 launched a revised road map for the 2021 general elections. The most controversial pronouncement was that the process, including campaigns and …
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