Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kenyans will pay more for paints, resins and shoe polish on increased cost of kerosene, putting pressure on housing and furniture costs. The country’s Business Daily reported on Oct. 11 that the imposition of 8% value added tax (VAT) and Sh18 adulteration fee per litre …
Read More »Farmer network hits 1 million users in Uganda, Kenya
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Wefarm, one of the world’s largest farmer-to-farmer digital networks has announced that it has reached over 1.1 million users across Kenya and Uganda. The network said in a notice shared on Oct.16 that farmers have asked and answered more than one million questions through Wefarm …
Read More »Keino one of 7 Kenyan officials charged over 2016 Olympics graft
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Two-time Olympic gold medallist Kipchoge Keino was one of seven Kenyan officials charged Monday in a scandal involving the mismanagement of funds during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Four of the suspects were in court while the others, including former sports minister Hassan Wario …
Read More »More than 40 dead in Kenya bus accident
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | More than 40 people have been killed in a bus accident in western Kenya early Wednesday, police said. “Reports reaching me are that more than 40 people died on the spot but it could be more because the roof of the bus was ripped off,” …
Read More »Lake Victoria, African lifeline regularly hit by sinkings
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Lake Victoria is the biggest lake in Africa and crossed every day by scores of boats that are often poorly maintained and overloaded, making them vulnerable to poor weather. Here is some background on the vast lake where more than 200 people drowned last month …
Read More »ENTEBBE: DNA sleuths bolster case against three ivory cartels
Tampa, United States | AFP | DNA tests on smuggled elephant tusks have identified three major ivory cartels in Africa and are helping investigators bolster the criminal cases against some of the most dangerous traffickers, researchers said Wednesday. Around 40,000 African elephants are killed every year for their tusks, which …
Read More »COMMENT: The economic cost of corruption in Kenya
The theft jeopardises the country’s short-term skills provision objectives and causes irredeemable long-term opportunity costs COMMENT | ODONGO KODONGO | Kenya is perceived as one of the world’s most corrupt countries. It ranked 143 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2017 corruption perception index. The only African countries that scored …
Read More »COMMENT: A loss for Kenyan democracy
Mass resignation of columnists from The Nation shows press freedom means holding owners accountable COMMENT | NANJALA NYABOLA | On March 27, eight columnists from the Nation Media Group resigned from the Nation newspaper, citing a lack of editorial independence. For Kenya’s largest daily, the exodus of top talent was the …
Read More »Kenyatta signs into law the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Bill, 2018
Kenyan president signs controversial cyber-crimes law Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday signed into law a sweeping cyber-crimes act criminalising fake news and online bullying, with clauses that critics argue could stifle press freedom. The bill imposes stiff fines and jail terms for hacking, computer …
Read More »Now Café Javas in Nairobi
The bold move extends competition to established brands – Chicken Inn, Java House and American chains Hardee’s, Burger King Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | The news of Café Javas’ entry into Nairobi, East Africa’s largest capital was greeted with elation by its Ugandan patrons. Social media was inundated with …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price