Centenary becomes third bank to unveil micro-loans to customers via mobile phones Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Despite talk that micro-loans may not create a big impact on the economy, the scramble for a share of the small loans business by Uganda’s banking industry continues to gain momentum. Centenary Bank …
Read More »Mutebile’s economy optimism
Governor projects 6.5% economic growth in three years but private sector concerns remain Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | On April 09, the Bank of Uganda Governor, Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, arrivedat the Bank’s conference room on the 7th Floor to announce the Monetary Policy Statement for Aprilpast the usual time, 12:00pm. The …
Read More »Nigerian media under scrutiny over herder-farmer conflict
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | A photograph of a man with an assault rifle in front of cattle is frequently used to illustrate Nigerian media stories about bloody clashes between farmers and herders. Another shows men armed with machetes on the rampage. The issue with both is they have nothing …
Read More »Crime preventers and the pretenders
Museveni struggles to find space for his `election machine’ Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | “We undertake to protect the President and help him keep this country safe. A crime preventer can give his life for the President. We can kill for the President.” Those were the loaded words of …
Read More »Behind the scenes in Uganda’s oil refinery deal
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The signing of the Project Framework Agreement between government and the Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium (AGRC) for USD4 billion oil refinery was a great relief to the Energy Ministry as it races towards first Oil by 2020. Sources at the Energy Ministry have indicated …
Read More »Kampala as best city
The little things that matter Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | A woman walks alone along the street at night. The weather is great and the fruits and vegetables fresh. People discuss the latest political issue without fear, the entertainment scene is vibrant, and the sweet smell of food is everywhere. …
Read More »Trump ‘morally unfit’ for office, fired FBI chief Comey says
6666, United States | AFP | Fired former FBI chief James Comey lashed out at Donald Trump in an interview with ABC broadcast Sunday, calling him “morally unfit” to be president and describing him as a serial liar who will “stain everyone around him.” Comey’s remarks are the latest salvo …
Read More »Mutebile survives coup at central bank
Fly on the wall at lunch between Mutebile and Kasekende Heated top executive meeting Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | It is 1:30 PM April 04. Governor Emanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, wearing a charcoal grey suit, white shirt and blue-checkered tie, is having lunch together with other bank executives in the Governors’ …
Read More »Why is Manhattan becoming a ghost town?
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | If you want to see the future of storefront retailing, walk nine blocks along Broadway in New York city, USA, from 57th to 48th Street and count the stores. The total number comes to precisely one — a tiny shop to buy drones. That’s right: …
Read More »Did Pope Francis deny existence of hell?
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Vatican communications department has been working overtime the past few weeks. They are scrambling to contextualize a remark attributed to Pope Francis by an Italian journalist at the newspaper La Repubblica that hell does not exist. Speaking to the newspaper’s founder, journalist and atheist …
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