NEWS ANALYSIS

Across Africa, public transport is embracing electrification at an unprecedented pace. Municipal administrations are taking the lead, forging vital partnerships with private enterprises to drive this eco-friendly evolution of bus fleets. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | South Africa is the latest country to take the leap to sustainable urban …

Africa is bringing a new weapon to the war on HIV and Aids, according to health officials. It comes in the form of a rubber and silicone ring being made available to women and girls. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | A number of African nations are boldly embracing a …

As Safaricom launches M-PESA in Ethiopia with plans to mirror its huge success in Kenya, a battle with an incumbent looms large. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Safaricom’s activation of M-Pesa in Ethiopia, will initiate battle for a potentially huge mobile money market. But for once, the regional giant …

Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A rare medical journey unfolded when Scovia Aciro,25, a mother of three, discovered that she was pregnant nearly two months after her initial medical tests failed to reveal her condition. Her story, set against the backdrop of Ayweri village in present-day Gulu District, showcases …

Africa’s fashion industry is tapping an apparel market that will be worth US$69 billion in 2023, driven by a surge in women’s spending power, innovative design scene and production efficiency in textiles. SPECIAL REPORT  | BIRD AGENCY | Africa’s bright and dynamic fashion industry is finding itself if the spotlight, …

But picking new members isn’t straightforward Kampala, Uganda | BHASO NDZENDZE & SIPHAMANDLA ZONDI | Eager to escape perceived western domination, several countries  mostly in the global south  are looking to join the Brics bloc. The five-country bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is also looking to grow its …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Dr. Saudah Namyalo Birabwa has broken through the proverbial glass ceiling to become the second Muslim female Associate Professor in Uganda. With her promotion last month, Professor Namyalo, who is the Dean of the School of Languages, Literature, and Communication at Makerere University, looks back at …

Activists say it is a counterproductive move Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | In a surprising twist, some members of the gay community in Uganda have told The Independent they are not pleased by the recent decision of the World Bank to cut funding to new projects in Uganda because of …

Ivory Coast’s remarkable surge in rubber production has the country poised to secure its place among the world’s top three producers. With the country’s farmers cashing in, international buyers are climbing in too. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Côte d’Ivoire is on a roll with its rubber production, with …

A landmark project in Uganda empowering 108,000 farmers signals of a sea-change in the use of irrigation in Africa. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | With irrigation-fed farming the norm in much of north Africa as well as parts of southern Africa, there have long been calls for more irrigation …