New generations could trigger a drop in tariffs Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Uganda government is expected to commission Isimba and Karuma hydropower dams this year as one big step towards boosting the elec¬tricity supply in the country. The commissioning of the two hydro¬power plants with a combined capacity of …
Read More »ATI doubles its portfolio to US$5bn
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Pan African insurer, African Trade Insurance Agency, is now supporting trade and investments equivalent to 1 – 2 % of the annual Gross Domestic Product flowing into its African member countries, and 2018 also saw a doubling of the company’s exposure from US$2.4 billion in …
Read More »Negotiating infrastructure deals with China
Four things African governments need to get right Kampala, Uganda | FOLASHADE SOULE | You don’t negotiate with China!” I was quickly told when I started interviewing African public servants about their infrastructure deals with Beijing. There is a widespread view in Africa that you accept whatever terms are offered, for fear that …
Read More »African growth strong but unemployment high: AfDB
Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP | Africa’s strong growth will accelerate in 2019 but fail to roll back high unemployment and poverty, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said Thursday. The continent’s gross domestic product expanded by 3.5 percent in 2018 after 3.6 percent in 2017 and should reach 4.0 percent …
Read More »Why 2019 could be good for businesses
Local traders claim foreign nationals involved in petty trade remains a headache Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Following the unexpected past bad year for businesses, there is a good chance that this could be reversed sometime this year, some analysts say. Their hope is that the economy, which has shown signs of …
Read More »Uganda’s oil sector expects US$ 1bn investment in 2019
But will oil companies pump money into key infrastructure projects to meet new first oil timeline? Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Uganda’s oil and gas industry is expected to rake in investments worth over US$ 1 billion this year,according to senior energy ministry officials. The outlay for this year is part of …
Read More »Nike unveils next-generation self-lacing basketball shoes
New York, United States | AFP | In the 1980s, the “Back to the Future” film franchise suggested we would all eventually wear self-lacing sneakers. Then a few years ago, Nike made the movie magic a reality, introducing its first shoe to the public with so-called “power lacing.” And on …
Read More »New retail tools aim to solve e-commerce profit dilemma
New York, United States | AFP | Conventional wisdom in the Amazon era holds that the lowest price wins the battle of the retailers, leading many to just about give away items to make a sale. Yet some data suggest a more nuanced reality: while 76 percent of retailers aim …
Read More »Court okays re-opening of Parliament canteen
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The High Court has allowed Parliament to permit a new firm to operate the Members restaurant and bar. High Court Judge, Lydia Mugambe Ssali dismissed an application by Hellenar’s Restaurant, the firm that had operated the Parliament Restaurant and Bar for the last three …
Read More »Over 200 hectares of land earmarked for cement factory in Moroto
Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Moroto District Local government has offered more than 228.1 hectares of land for the establishment of a cement factory amidst contests from the community. The decision to allocate the land to Uganda Development Cooperation-UDC and its partners TSAVO Engineers and Savanna Mines was reached during …
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