Africa’s insurance industry need fewer players to offer better services-Zep Re CEO Hope Murera It is six months since Hope Murera was appointed the chief executive officer of the Nairobi based-Zep Re (PTA Reinsurance Company) that  is charged with the task of promoting trade, development and integration within the  Common Market …

Business leaders want economic reforms to boost the economy Planned government borrowing and increased taxes to fund the Shs29 trillion budget for financial year 2017/2018 have left investors and business leaders worried about the coming year, ahead of the budget announcement next week, an informal survey by The Independent has …

The Foundation plans to replicate the Smart Power India initiative in Africa starting with Uganda and Kenya The Rockefeller Foundation plans to create a Smart Power Africa initiative on the continent starting with Uganda and Kenya, according to its President Rajiv J. Shah. Shah, who was in Uganda on May …

Barclays PLC sells 33.9% more shareholdings in Barclays Africa London based Barclays PLC on June 01 shed 33.7% more shareholdings in Barclays Africa Group to equity investors at South African Rand R37.7bn, further reducing its stake in the latter company. The lender sold 285.7million Barclays Africa ordinary shares reducing its …

Barclays PLC has announced its intention to sell 187 million ordinary shares in Barclays Africa Group, which represents approximately 22% of Barclays Africa’s issued share capital. This follows receipt of the required regulatory approvals, including approval from the South African Minister of Finance, for Barclays PLC to reduce its shareholding …

Fuel distributor, Vivo Energy Uganda, has hired a new managing director, Gilbert Assi, to replace Hans Paulsen who has been at the helm of the company over the  past three years. Paulsen has been promoted to a senior role in the company, working across all countries in Africa where it …

Uganda plans to set up a National Health Insurance Scheme subject to passing of the National Health Insurance Bill 2007. In a speech read by the Vice President Edward Ssekandi at the just ended 44th Africa Insurance Organisation meeting at Speke Resort Munyonyo last week, President Yoweri Museveni said financing the …

Two outlets to be closed in Kampala in the new plan Regional retail chain, Nakumatt Holdings, is targeting Ksh1.5billion (Shs51.1bn) in cost cuts annually with the closure of several branches across East Africa starting this month. The chain has already closed Katwe outlet in Kampala over accumulated rent arrears estimated …

  Rwanda’s telecom regulator has slapped a 7 billion francs ($8.5million, Shs30bn) fine on MTN Rwanda, a subsidiary of the South African-based MTN Group, over breach of contract. The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA)  spokesperson Anthony Kulamba said the telecom firm provided services in contravention of Enforcement Notice and Directives …

Trade ministry bows to pressure, allows duty free import of unprocessed rice Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives now says it has allowed the duty-free import of up to 50,000 metric tonnes of unprocessed rice, commonly known as ‘brown rice’,  to boost supplies and check prices amid a fall …