Many were surprised that Nkurunziza would step aside after a referendum in 2018 extended the presidential term to seven years | THE INDEPENDENT | Burundi held a peaceful on May 20 to pave way for President Pierre Nkurunziza to step aside but fear remains that disputes over results could lead …
Read More »COVER STORY: Lake Victoria floods
What living in this historic moment means Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | On May 20 there was heated debate about what should be done about thousands of people displaced or drowned and businesses and livelihoods destroyed by flooding around Lake Victoria. Earlier, the Minister of State for Environment, Beatrice …
Read More »Coronavirus fails to halt conflict in DRC’s powder-keg east
Goma, DR Congo | AFP | Coronavirus has swiftly gained status as the world’s No. 1 threat but in eastern DR Congo, one of Africa’s most volatile regions, militia killings and ethnic violence are an older and — for now — far greater source of dread. Some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 …
Read More »Consumers and prices
They rely on price to determine quality of products A study shows that marketers of relatively high-priced products should consider keeping prices high, as many consumers associate high price with high quality. A study by an assistant professor at The University of Texas at Arlington published in the `Journal of …
Read More »Appetite for sand is fuels a crisis
New report describes roving bandits and looted coastlines | THE INDEPENDENT | We may run out of sand if we do not start paying attention to sand as a resource that needs research, management and governance. That is the conclusion from a study by researchers from the University of Ottawa …
Read More »Face masks as a fashion accessory?
Why we should encourage this trend | THE INDEPENDENT | Celebrities and influencers are joining the #MaskingForAFriend campaign to encourage wearing masks to protect others. Other countries have been embracing face masks in public for several years. Just like sunglasses and hats evolved from sun protection to fashion accessories, masks …
Read More »Coronavirus found in semen
Those recovering from COVID-19 advised to use a condom The latest bit of the COVID-19 jigsaw puzzle comes from a small study conducted in China, which found SARS-CoV-2 RNA (the virus’s genetic code) in the semen of young COVID-19 patients. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, was conducted by …
Read More »Is Kadaga fighting Oulanyah?
Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The rivalry between the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga and Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has once again come to the fore, with a proposal reportedly aimed at impeaching Oulanyah in offing. MPs from the Busoga caucus reportedly started collecting signatures to impeach Oulanyah …
Read More »Coronavirus creeps along East Africa’s trucking corridors
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Every day hundreds of trucks fan out from East Africa’s main ports in Kenya and Tanzania carrying cargo to the landlocked hinterland, and fears are rising they are becoming a major vector for the coronavirus. Their drivers gather at truckstops, weighbridges and customs points, socialising …
Read More »World leaders pledge €7.4bn to research Covid-19 vaccine
EU-hosted talks tout cooperation but is not addressed by India, Russia or US PATRICK WINTOUR | World leaders, with the notable exception of Donald Trump, stumped up nearly €7.4bn (£6.5bn) to research Covid-19 vaccines and therapies at a virtual event convened by the EU, pledging the money will also be …
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