Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Experts at the Makerere University School of Public Health say there’s no longer need for the whole country to stay under total lockdown as a way of preventing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Uganda has not had any cases of community transmitted infection …
Read More »Half world’s workers risk livelihoods being ‘destroyed’: ILO
Genève, Switzerland | AFP | Nearly half of the entire global workforce is in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic, the International Labour Organization warned Wednesday. The ILO said the risk fell on those workers in the informal economy, and three-quarters of them, some 1.6 billion …
Read More »US GDP contracts 4.8% as virus hit, ends decade of growth
Washington, United States | AFP | The decade of US economic expansion ended dramatically in the first quarter when GDP shrank 4.8 percent as the coronavirus hit, according to government data released Wednesday. It was the biggest decline in GDP in 12 years as the pandemic forced businesses to …
Read More »Wary Russian doctors count their own dead from virus
Moscow, Russia | AFP | When Russian cardiologist Alexei Erlikh and several colleagues started a project to keep track of medics who had died from the coronavirus, he never expected there would be so many names. Launched last week, the database already lists more than 70 dead doctors, nurses and lab …
Read More »Top aide to DR Congo president in court in $51-mln graft probe
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | A key ally of DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi will appear in court on May 11 over alleged fraud totalling $51 million (47 million euros), a document received by AFP on Wednesday said. Vital Kamerhe, a veteran politician who became the president’s chief of staff …
Read More »‘How many have to die?’: Neville voices fears over Premier League plans
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Gary Neville fears Premier League players’ lives will be put at risk if football is rushed back too soon after the coronavirus-enforced lockdown in Britain. Premier League chiefs are aiming for a return to action in June and several clubs opened their training grounds …
Read More »Ministry of Health traces 14,000 travelers for COVID-19 testing
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has said it has so far traced and tested 14,000 people out of the 18,000 who came into the country from 7th to 22nd of March. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the Ministry of Health announced that 18,000 people had …
Read More »Police teargas truck knocks boda-boda cyclist dead
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A boda-boda cyclist was on Wednesday knocked to death by a speeding numberless teargas police truck at Nakawa traffic lights. Witnesses said the cyclist who was identified as Eric Muyinza was crossing the traffic lights when the truck abruptly rammed into him. Patrick Onyango, …
Read More »Truck drivers banned from stopovers in Kumi
Kumi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kumi district taskforce for COVID-19 has banned stopovers of all cargo truck drivers in the district. The municipality is a transit route for long-distance trucks including fuel tanks destined for South Sudan, Kenya and other areas. Kumi Municipality Mayor, Richard Ochom says that more …
Read More »Jinja RDC Eric Sakwa granted bail
Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Jinja Resident District Commissioner Erick Sakwa has been released on bail. Sakwa alongside and two others were charged with three counts of manslaughter, theft and malicious damage, stemming from the death of one Charles Isanga, a trader from Lwanda village in Mafubira sub county, …
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