TECH NEWS

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT& XINHUA | Reports from Uganda’s capital Kampala indicate government has switched back on the internet Monday, midday. However social media remains blocked, with access to it only through a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Government had said they switched off social media and the internet, fearing …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A nationwide shutdown of the internet did not stop Ugandans from turning up early and in numbers to vote. The internet was switched off at 8pm on Wednesday night. TV stations remain on, and most of them broadcast Ugandans lining to vote. NTV Uganda broadcast …

Rakai polling officials struggle to master Biometric Voter Verification System Rakai, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | With just hours to the elections, several polling officials from different sub-counties in Rakai District say they didn’t fully understand how to use the Biometric Voter Verification System (BVVS) after a two-day’s training session they …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A day after Facebook confirmed it had shut down several pro-Government accounts, access to the social media site could only be accessed by users on VPN. Social media Tuesday woke up to complaints by users in Uganda, who were unable to access the Facebook …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has joined 54 other organizations in a letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni calling on him to ensure open and unrestricted internet access during and after the country’s presidential election. The letter notes that disruptions to internet access would …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s Electoral Commission has eased restrictions on use of cameras and other recording devices at polling stations on election day. Earlier this week, the chairman of the commission Justice Simon Byabakama had communicated new guidelines that would apply to the January 14, general election. Contentious …

  Washington, US | THE INDEPENDENT | Twitter has announced a permanent suspension of the US President’s personal account @realDonaldTrump. They join other social media companies Facebook and Instagram that earlier announced indefinite suspension of activity on Donald Trump’s accounts on their platforms. ***** TWITTER FULL STATEMENT After close review …

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT | Two rheumatoid arthritis drugs have shown to be effective in stopping the occurrence of death in severely sick COVID-19 patients. The drugs, tocilizumab and sarilumab are anti-inflammatory medication used to treat arthritis by stopping inflammation from taking place.      Results from a double-blinded phase …

Washington, US | THE INDEPENDENT | Twitter has lifted the suspension on US President Donald Trump’s account, and he has used the opportunity to concede defeat and promise a smooth transition. “A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and …

  Washington, US | THE INDEPENDENT | Mark Zuckerberg says President Trump has been banned from Facebook and Instagram ‘indefinitely’. In a statement, facebook said, “We believe the risks of allowing President Trump to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great, so we are extending …