Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia on Tuesday denounced President Donald Trump’s threat to pull the United States out of the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. “Yes, there are opportunities to improve it… and we are ready — as before — to play an active role in this work,” deputy …
Read More »In Burundi, abuses persist in the shadows: rights groups
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Three years after fleeing persecution in Burundi for refuge in Tanzania, Jean Magorwa returned home, lured by assurances of peace and reconciliation. His family have not heard from him since, and are convinced he is dead. Rights groups say Magorwa is a victim of the political …
Read More »WHO faces virus probe after Trump ultimatum
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | World Health Organization member states agreed Tuesday to launch an investigation into its coronavirus response, after US President Donald Trump threatened to quit the UN agency and branded it a “puppet of China”. Trump has been locked in a bitter spat with Beijing, alleging it covered …
Read More »Australia threatens WTO action as dispute with China deepens
Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australia threatened Tuesday to take China to the World Trade Organisation to counter a fresh round of punitive sanctions, as the two countries clashed over an investigation into the origins and spread of the coronavirus. Canberra said it may seek remedial action to overturn almost 81 …
Read More »Virus fight just one front against epidemics in Africa
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | African nations grappling to contain coronavirus are scrambling to stop the outbreak worsening the impact of other killer diseases. Across the continent, countries regularly face surges from a raft of diseases that flourish in the humid weather and prey on weak health systems. Malaria strikes down …
Read More »Gov’t revenues fall short by UGX 789 Bn in April – Report
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government revenues – taxes, grants and non-tax revenues – suffered the hardest beating in April falling below target by a whopping 789.8 billion Shillings, the clearest indicator of how the coronavirus has battered the Ugandan economy. According to the Ministry of Finance Performance of the …
Read More »Traders ask for interest free loans for businesses
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Traders in Kampala have asked the government to lobby for free interest loans for their businesses that were affected by the outbreak of COVID-19. In March, President Museveni issued several measures to combat the spread of the virus. They included restrictions on the movement of …
Read More »IUIU reconsiders staff suspension, lays strategy for reopening
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Islamic University in Uganda-IUIU has reconsidered the suspension of all staffs’ contracts following the government’s directive permitting universities to reopen their doors for final year students. The University had indefinitely suspended contracts of both teaching and non-teaching staff and temporarily closed all its campuses. …
Read More »Health Minister Aceng appeals for protective gowns for health workers
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng has called on well-wishers to donate protective full-length gowns for medical workers to use during the coronavirus (COVID-19) fight. Although the Ministry has been receiving donations, the waterproof surgical gowns that have been specially designed to stop …
Read More »Father arrested for impregnating step daughter
Kakumiro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kakumiro police are holding a man accused of defiling and impregnating his 15-year-old step daughter. The suspect is Innocent Bafakilira, a resident of Mpanga village in Kyabasaija sub county Kakumiro. Nelson Tumushiime, the Kakumiro District Police Commander-DPC, says the suspect was arrested on Monday following …
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