Investors are targeting continent’s vast untapped gold reserves NEWS ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | Africa, the world’s second-largest gold-producing region after China, is witnessing a surge in gold mining investment in 2025, fueled by strong global demand, favourable prices, and vast untapped reserves attracting increased international interest. So far, billions of …
Read More »Who is Ayodeji, the new World Bank Country Manager for Uganda?
NEWS ANALYSIS | IAN KATUSIIME | The World Bank has named Francisca Ayodeji (Ayo) Akala, a Nigerian national, as the new Country Manager for Uganda effective August 1, 2025. She will lead a country portfolio currently worth $4.5 billion, which includes 18 active projects that cover sectors ranging from energy access …
Read More »BrighterMonday Uganda champions women’s economic empowerment in Mbarara
Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | BrighterMonday Uganda, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, hosted a key “Women in Work” event in Mbarara, marking a significant stride towards championing female employment and leadership in Uganda. The gathering attracted 211 ambitious participants, predominantly women, and served as a crucial platform to …
Read More »Trade Conference: dfcu Bank advances Uganda’s trade ambitions through access to finance
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | dfcu Bank reaffirmed its role as a key driver of Uganda’s economic transformation during the Breaking Barriers to Trade 2025 conference, held at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel. The bank showcased its leadership in inclusive finance, entrepreneurial development, and trade facilitation as a headline sponsor and …
Read More »UNBS automates import inspections to enhance efficiency
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has launched a new electronic imports portal (e-Portal), aimed at streamlining import inspections and reducing clearance times. This should in turn address inefficiencies, which, according to a 2022 World Bank report on African trade logistics, cost Ugandan …
Read More »COMESA merger activity hits record amid economic strain
The financial services sector led the merger activity with seven reported cases, followed by energy, ICT, and agriculture—sectors under pressure from both global shocks and structural transformation. ANALYSIS | JULIUS BUSINGE | The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) saw a record number of merger notifications in 2024, with …
Read More »Ayodeji takes over from Kariuki as World Bank Country Manager for Uganda
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Bank has named Francisca Ayodeji (Ayo) Akala, a Nigerian national, as the new Country Manager for Uganda, effective August 1, 2025. She replaces Mukami Kariuki, who has completed her four-year tour of duty. Akala will lead a country portfolio currently worth $4.5 billion, …
Read More »Uganda secures shs54 billion financing from BADEA
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda has has secured a financing facility worth 150 Million Dollars (about 53.7 Billion Shillings) from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) to support private sector growth. This is under the agreement signed by BADEA and the Minister of Finance, Planning …
Read More »Financial industry calls for incentives to boost diaspora remittances
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The financial industry, local and international, is calling for tax incentives and a general national policy on remittances to boost their inflows and enhance their potential influence on the economy. Officially, Uganda receives 1.4 Billion Dollars or about 5 Trillion Shillings annually from Ugandans …
Read More »MTN Uganda commissions inclusive ICT Lab at Mvara Secondary School in Arua
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Telecom firm, MTN Uganda, has taken another step in its quest to bridge the country’s digital divide by inaugurating a new computer lab at Mvara Secondary School in Arua City. This marks part of a broader Shs 1 billion investment in expanding digital infrastructure …
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