NEWS ANALYSIS

New $20mn firm welcomed but analysts say government must strengthen legal and monitoring framework of minerals sector     President Yoweri Museveni’s launch of a $20 million African Gold Refinery Ltd (AGR) – the first in East and Central Africa – in Entebbe on Feb.20 was a bold step welcomed by …

Beijing, China | AFP |  Thousands of politicians from across China have converged on Beijing for the country’s annual legislative meetings known as the “lianghui” or “two sessions”. The gathering provides a glimpse into the country’s politics and priorities, and this year’s event is being monitored particularly closely for hints …

Government, oil companies finally appear to be chasing some useful deadlines   Uganda’s oil sector might look dull and inactive to the uninformed eye but in reality it is now a bee-hive of activities with tight deadlines to be met. At least six major oil-related engineering projects are rolling concurrently at …

  THE LAST WORD: By Andrew M. Mwenda How our overblown expectations of what oil is going to do for our country are likely to cause trouble I had always thought about the “oil curse” in terms of the “Dutch Disease” and the adverse incentives it creates that foster corruption …

Finance PS controls government purse, but new Energy PS has Museveni’s ear A stealth fight is brewing between new Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary, Stephen Isabalija, and veteran Secretary to the treasury, Keith Muhakanizi, with insiders saying it threatens to hurt implementation of government projects worth billions of shillings, if not …

Key accusations levelled at Malaysia by N.Korea over Kim killing Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | AFP |  Malaysia expelled North Korean ambassador Kang Chol on Saturday, giving him 48 hours to leave the country after Kuala Lumpur said Pyongyang had failed to offer an apology over accusations about the investigation into …

Washington, United States | AFP | An avalanche of new revelations about ties between Donald Trump’s aides and Russia forced the White House back on the offensive Friday, overshadowing a presidential weekend trip to Florida and his well-received major speech. Before heading to his Mar-a-Lago resort for the fourth time …

VIDEO: 10 years in a row, the blue party will not have its input at the regional parliament. Forum for Democratic Change lost yet again, and will not send any representative to the East African Legislative Assembly, which loss leaves the party in a fragile state given the events that …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | From ancient Rome to modern times, mankind has suffered devastating periods of hunger caused by drought, war or misguided politics. Last week South Sudan was declared the site of the world’s first famine in six years, affecting about 100,000 people. Here is an exploration of …

Miami, United States | AFP | Colon and rectal cancer rates are rising sharply among young and middle-aged adults in the United States but doctors have yet to pinpoint why, researchers said Tuesday. Generation X and millennials face anywhere from two to four times the risk of colon and rectal …