South Africa is to transition its rail network towards a more open and competitive model, allowing private train operators access to its extensive rail infrastructure. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | South Africa is opening its rail network to private train operators in a commercial pivot to revitalise a …

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Equity Bank in partnership with the Kenya High Commission and Million Trees International has embarked on a tree-planting campaign that will see over 43,000 indigenous trees planted on the slopes of Busoga College Mwiri hill, including 10 acres of orchard. The project is supported …

ARUA, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Two individuals have been apprehended for attempting to bribe the Officer-in-Charge of the Criminal Investigation Division (OC CID) at the Arua District Central Police Station in Odumi, in an effort to evade investigation into a murder case. The suspects, identified as Annet Ajikia and Brian …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Shops in all parts of the city center have closed as traders protest over the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solutions (EFRIS) system. The protests were started last week by traders affiliated with the Federation of Uganda Traders’ Associations (FUTA). On Tuesday, they were …

Twin growth in the number of talented young filmmakers and private investors is powering Kenyan production and viewer interest. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY| Kenyan viewers are beginning to show a strong preference for locally-produced content, regional giant MultiChoice has revealed, with the appetite and consumption of Kenyan-made films now …

GENEVA | Xinhua |  Chinese economic recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic will be an important factor in driving world trade growth, said Ralph Ossa, chief economist of the World Trade Organization (WTO), in a recent interview with Xinhua. On Wednesday, the WTO published the 2024 edition of …

Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Judges at the International Crimes Division of the High Court have rejected an application by the lawyers of the former Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel commander Thomas Kwoyelo seeking to question their client during his defence trial. Kwoyelo’s defence Lawyer Caleb Alaka on Monday …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The government spending plans have fallen short by sh3.337 trillion in the first seven months of this financial year, as revenue mobilization continues to be a thorn in government operations. This failure to meet its spending targets, made it worse for project implementation, as …

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Jinja city used tear gas to disperse Jinja Referral Hospital health workers who were staging a sit-down strike within the hospital premises. The health workers were protesting Minister Samuel Mayanja’s decision to allocate 4.6 acres of contested land to the Uganda Muslim …

  Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Eight Police officers attached to Kira-Police Division in Kira Municipality Wakiso District have been arrested  for reportedly stealing sixty million shillings that had been posted as an exhibit. Addressing Journalists at Police Headquarters Naguru, Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga said out of 192 million …