Van Horn, United States | AFP | For the companies that drill the highest-producing deposit of oil and natural gas in the world, straddling the border between Texas and New Mexico, the crash in oil prices has led to spectacular losses. Craig Blair, the co-owner of the Capitan Energy oil and …
Read More »Battle ‘not yet over’ against locust invasions in East Africa
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Significant gains have been made against Desert Locust encroachment in East Africa, with an estimated 720,000 tons of cereal saved from the swarms of migratory pests across 10 countries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the food saved is enough to feed five …
Read More »Now that we appreciate health workers, it’s time to improve staffing norms Mr. President
COMMENT | Rebecca Nalwoga Mukwaya | During one of his recent national addresses on the status of COVID-19, President Yoweri Museveni thanked health workers who have worked tirelessly to treat patients. He described their work as ‘world class’ as no death from the pandemic had occurred yet. Admittedly, the health workers …
Read More »Border nurses forced to choose between Canada, US
Toronto, Canada | AFP | At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian nurse Nikki Hillis-Walters was asked to choose between her two healthcare jobs — one in Canada, and one in the United States. She picked the latter, telling AFP: “It just felt like I was needed there.” She and …
Read More »Wearing a face mask
Why some governments demand it and others don’t | CLAIRE J. HORWELL AND FIONA MCDONALD | In his latest COVID-19 update address on May 04, President Yoweri Museveni said all people will be required to wear some form of face mask when they step out of their houses. He …
Read More »Kampala MPs oppose taxi, boda boda post-COVID guidelines
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of Parliament from Kampala district have criticized the proposed public transport guidelines to be implemented after the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. These accuse the Minister in Charge of Kampala Betty Amongi of coming up with the guidelines without the necessary consultations with city leaders …
Read More »Postponing AfCFTA would be a mistake-African business leaders
But CSOs say carrying out negotiation virtually will defranchise majority of the stakeholders Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | African Business leaders across the continent have signed a joint letter calling for the ministers and heads of state to stick to the July 1 deadline for the free trade agreement …
Read More »COVID-19: Widespread laxity at Mutukula border alarms health officials
Mutukula, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Communities around the Uganda-Tanzania border at Mutukula remain complacent even as the number of truck drivers who have gone through Mutukula border and have tested positive for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is on an increase. This was revealed by Richard Kabanda, the Commissioner for Health …
Read More »COVID-19 disruptions could cause 500,000 extra deaths from HIV
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Disruptions of antiretroviral therapy could lead to more than 500,000 extra deaths from AIDS-related illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa if efforts are not made to overcome interruptions in health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimates were unveiled by a modelling group convened by the …
Read More »Locked up at work :- The tale of a 50-year-old market vendor
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | 50-year-old Amina Kareem has spent her nights in the market for close to two months now as she struggles to make ends meet amid the ongoing lockdown. Her decision was in response to a call by President Yoweri Museveni to reduce contact with family …
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