Antonio Luis Pubillones, the Cuban Ambassador to Uganda talked to The Independent’s Ronald Musoke about the steady Cuba-Uganda relations and the resilience of the Cuban people amidst a 60-year U.S. economic blockade. You have been living and working in Uganda for almost four years. What has been your impression? I …
Read More »Cuban doctors kidnapped by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Suspected Somali Al-Shabaab jihadis kidnapped two Cuban doctors Friday and killed their police protection officer in northeastern Kenya, police sources said. They said the two doctors and their guard were on the way to work in the town of Mandera when they were attacked. “It …
Read More »Cuba decides to scrap same-sex marriage law in new constitution: official
Havana, Cuba | AFP | Cuba will leave out of its new constitution changes that would have paved the way for legal same-sex marriage, despite majority support in local assemblies, a government official said Tuesday. It was a surprising twist given public popular support shown nationwide — and earlier remarks …
Read More »Colombian crime movie wins top award at Havana’s 40th film festival
Havana, Cuba | AFP | The Colombian crime film “Pajaros de Verano” has won the prized Coral Award at the 40th edition of the popular Havana Film Festival. The festival, which in its heyday in the 1980s drew a half-million moviegoers but of late has struggled with reduced budgets, continues …
Read More »Cuban applicants fail to meet minimum requirements at Kyambogo University
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The proposal by Kyambogo University to recruit Cuban lecturers has hit a snag following the failure by ten applicants to meet the minimum requirements. The University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ely Katunguka – Rwakishaya, says while their plan was to recruit between 10 to 15 Cuban …
Read More »Cuba to pull thousands of doctors from Brazil in Bolsonaro row
Havana, Cuba | AFP | Cuba announced Wednesday it will pull thousands of its doctors out of Brazil in response to president-elect Jair Bolsonaro’s “direct, contemptuous and threatening” remarks about its medical aid program. The far-right leader has repeatedly criticized the Communist-run island’s “More Doctors” program — which sends thousands …
Read More »UN rejects US bid to criticize Cuba and calls for end to embargo
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN General Assembly on Thursday called for an end to the decades-old US embargo on Cuba, adopting a resolution by an overwhelming majority and rejecting US moves to criticize Havana’s human rights record. It was the 27th time that the 193-nation assembly …
Read More »Cuba mourns after 107 killed in airliner crash
Havana, Cuba | AFP | Cuba begins two days of national mourning Saturday for victims of the crash of a state airways plane that killed all but three of its 110 passengers and crew. President Miguel Diaz-Canel said an investigation was under way into Friday’s crash of the nearly …
Read More »Cuban doctor controversy
Does medical union, NOTU, understand what they are fighting? Kampala, Uganda | FLAVIA NASSAKA | June 23 might mark a turning point in Uganda medical service sector. The National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) gave the government up to that day to ensure it has raised the minimum pay of …
Read More »Museveni defends proposal on Cuban doctors
Sembabule, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has defended a government proposal to import medical personnel from Cuba to work in public hospitals in rural areas, saying the move was intended to avert a crisis created by Ugandan doctors. Reports indicate that government intends to import at …
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