Lagos, Nigeria | ISAAC KHISA | The Nairobi-based African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) has urged the African countries to focus on de-risking their economies to drive future investment growth. This was revealed during the Afreximbank’s 2018 Annual Meetings and 25th anniversary celebrations in Abuja, Nigeria. ATI’s Chief …

Abuja, Nigerai | ISAAC KHISA | South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has urged Nigeria to sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to create a single continental market for goods and services in member nations, with free movement of persons and investments. Ramaphosa, who was the chief quest during …

URA to collect Shs16.3tnas experts worry about some proposed taxes Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Newly proposed taxes and enhanced revenue collection measures could help the taxman collect an additional Shs1.9trillion to hit the new Shs16.3trillion revenue target. The government has tasked the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to collect more money in …

Johannesburg, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | Barclays Africa Group Ltd shareholders have approved that the group changes its name to Absa Group Limited in July, setting in motion the start of one of the largest re-brand projects in Africa at this time. The group name change will not affect …

The proposed law will make rent expensive Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | John Kityo has been experiencing some tough times in renting a room for his small business in downtown Kampala. The 30-year old has rented seven different places as a result of sudden rent increments. So when Dr. …

Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Kamal Budhabhatti is the founder and CEO of Craft Silicon, a Kenyan software company with a local base and global aspirations that is steadily making inroads in the world of financial technology as well as transport. He spoke to The Independent’s Isaac Khisa about their …

Centenary becomes third bank to unveil micro-loans to customers via mobile phones Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Despite talk that micro-loans may not create a big impact on the economy, the scramble for a share of the small loans business by Uganda’s banking industry continues to gain momentum. Centenary Bank …

Stanbic records sharp drop in profits as DFCU’s NPL nearly doubles Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Uganda’s banking industry appears to be heading towards tougher times again, according to the industry executives.This is owed slow private sector credit growth, volatile trading security market and the declining interest rates amidst …

But the public debt has increased by 9.4% to hit Shs 37.9trillion Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Uganda’s optimism in the first quarter of the Financial Year 2017/18 has been replaced with fear of a slow growing economy. The Central Bank’s latest quarterly report dubbed ‘State of the Economy’ …

Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | The Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda (IRA-U) has started the construction of a Shs 28.4billion tower office and commercial block in Kampala. The 16,500 square meter project known as Insurance Towerswith 11 floors and two basements, is situated along Lumumba Avenue near the Rwenzori Courts. …