NEWS ANALYSIS

African consumers are ditching old-style electric light bulbs for LEDs, with the continent’s smart lighting market now forecast to reach US$5.49 billion by 2028. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa’s demand for LED lighting is set to surge in the next five years, as governments promote the use of …

Tokyo has embarked on a charm offensive to secure a future supply of essential electric vehicle (EV) minerals. SPECIAL FEATURE | BIRD AGENCY |  Japan is staking its claim in an African EV mineral bonanza as it seeks to fortify its supply chain and guard against China’s ambitions on the …

It has taken 30 years to appear overnight NEW ANALYSIS | LESIBA SETHOGA | In the foreground, five spades are rammed into a stark, barren plain. In the distance, but framed in the center of the image, is earth-moving equipment to reinforce that this occasion is a groundbreaking ceremony. The …

They are negotiating what could be a model for Africa Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT | The U.S. and Kenya announced a trade and investment partnership in July 2022. During a virtual meeting on July 14, 2022, United States Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, and Kenya’s Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and Enterprise …

Women are raped, patients and others say. But accusers frequently aren’t believed, and justice is rare Kampala, Uganda | APOPHIA AGIRESAASI | The first time CJ was hospitalised for bipolar disorder, she alleges, a staff member who worked in security raped her one evening. She had been admitted at Butabika …

New survey finds 53% positive about future of economy, democracy COVER STORY | BY INDEPENDENT REPORTER | The latest report by the survey research body, Afrobarometer, has brought to the fore both expected and completely unexpected perceptions of Ugandans on a range of topical issues. The survey asked questions about the …

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 …