Uganda - The African Mirror

Sep

03

2024

Mpox could spread into conflict zones in east Africa – how to manage the response

NEWS

KENYA, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda are some of the east African countries that have reported cases of mpox – a viral infectious disease – in the latest outbreak which started in the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2023. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and the World Health Organization in August 2024. There is a danger of the virus spreading further afield. The most vulnerable are countries in east Africa and the Horn that are at war or have recently faced serious conflicts. Past – or ongoing…

Aug

24

2024

By The African Mirror

Uganda’s Oil Discovery: A Potential Economic Game-Changer for East Africa

NEWS

THE discovery of oil in Uganda promises to dramatically transform the economic landscape of the country and the East African region as a whole. The potential impact on government revenue is substantial, offering a significant opportunity for Uganda if the proceeds are wisely invested in critical areas such as infrastructure development, agricultural modernization, and human capital enhancement. With approximately 1.4 billion barrels of Uganda's 6.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves estimated to be economically recoverable, the country stands on the brink of a major economic shift. These reserves, primarily located along the western border with the Democratic Republic of…

Aug

17

2024

By The African Mirror

UGANDA: Lumumba Amin’s quest for justice for his mom

NEWS

IN a poignant quest for truth and justice, Lumumba Amin, son of Uganda's notorious former leader Idi Amin, is shedding light on a dark chapter of his family's history. Forty-four years after the mysterious death of his mother, Kay Amin, Lumumba is determined to unravel the circumstances surrounding her brutal murder. On August 14, 1974, Kay Amin - a devout Christian and advocate for women's rights - was abducted from her Kampala residence by four unknown men. Her body was later discovered in the trunk of a vehicle, a grim end to a life dedicated to uplifting women and children…

Aug

11

2024

By The African Mirror

Death toll in Uganda’s deadly landslide rises to 21

NEWS

IN a grim echo of Ethiopia's recent disaster, Uganda has become the second African nation to face a devastating landslide tragedy this month. The bustling capital of Kampala now stands as a scene of heartbreak and devastation after a catastrophic landslide claimed eight lives, including two children. The disaster unfolded in Kiteezi, where heavy rainfall triggered the collapse of a massive landfill that has loomed over the area for decades. As the earth gave way, nearby homes were engulfed, trapping residents beneath tons of debris and waste. The death toll has risen from eight to 21, police have announced, as…

Aug

06

2024

By AMY S. PATTERSON; MEGAN HERSHEY and TRACY KUPERUS

Young, urban, African: research explores what it means to be a good citizen in Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania

NEWS

YOUNG people between the ages of 18 and 35 make up two-thirds of Africa’s population. The number is expected to reach 75% by 2030. They live in an environment of rapid urbanisation, high unemployment rates and poor state services. These are some of the factors that incline young people towards political involvement – as seen in Kenya and Uganda most recently. As the Kenya example illustrates, youth can use protests, advocacy, or voting to express their citizenship. At its most basic, citizenship is a legal recognition by the state that gives individuals rights and obligations. But it’s more than that.…

Jul

26

2024

By STEPHEN GRANGER, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Road to Paris: Marathon contenders from Tanzania, Uganda, and Lesotho aim to upset legendary Ethiopians and Kenyans

SPORT

WITH the countdown to the Paris Olympics entering its final stretch, most attention in the marathon event remains focused on the formidable marathon talents of Kenyan, Ethiopian, and South African runners. However, athletes from other African nations could have a significant impact in Paris. Tanzania is gearing up to challenge its northern rivals with hopes pinned on its leading marathoners. Gabriel Geay clocked an impressive 2:03:00 in Valencia in 2022, and Magdalena Shauri ran 2:18:41 in Berlin in 2023. The duo head the list of Africa's top marathon contenders outside the world-leading Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes. Two other Tanzanian qualifiers…

Jul

24

2024

By The African Mirror

Youth-led protests spread to Uganda, raising concerns of regional unrest

NEWS

IN a development that threatens to ignite wider regional unrest, youth-led protests have spread to Uganda, marking the second East African country to face such demonstrations. The movement has raised alarms in Nigeria, where authorities have issued stern warnings against similar actions. On Tuesday, Ugandan security forces detained dozens of young protesters in downtown Kampala during a banned rally against official corruption and alleged human rights abuses. The crackdown comes as governments across the region grapple with growing discontent among their youth populations. According to Ugandan human rights groups, more than 45 people were detained during the protest. The protesters,…

Jul

13

2024

By DER RICHARD BRACZKOWSKI, CHRISTOPHER J. O'BRYAN, DUAN BIGGS and ROBYNNE KOTZE

Lions in a Uganda park make a perilous journey across a 1.5km stretch of water: study suggests the drive is to find mates

ENVIRONMENT

DOMESTIC cats will do almost anything to avoid contact with water. Not so for their wild cousins, though. Lions, tigers and jaguars have had to adapt to water and sometimes take the plunge for survival. And this is what we observed on the late evening of 1 February 2024. Our research team in Uganda filmed two male lions swimming in a waterway in the Queen Elizabeth National Park. But what was unusual was the distance and the danger: the lions swam an estimated 1.5km across the Kazinga Channel, which connects two lakes in the park. The channel has a high…

Jun

22

2024

By The African Mirror

Uganda signs deal with UAE to build third international airport

BUSINESS

UGANDA has signed a pact with a business association from the United Arab Emirates to build a new international airport, President Yoweri Museveni's office said. The deal for the East African nation's third such airport expands the UAE's economic footprint beyond its interests in the renewable energy and oil and gas industries. The UAE's Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry will build the airport just outside the Kidepo National Park in the northeast near Uganda's border with Kenya, Museveni's office said in a statement, without giving the cost. Construction will start in August, said Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of…

Jun

14

2024

By ELIAS BIRYABAREMA

Uganda to curb commercial borrowing to limit debt build-up

BUSINESS

UGANDA hopes to limit rising debt by focusing on concessional borrowing and curbing commercial loans next fiscal year, its finance minister said, after a credit rating downgrade last month. The East African country's public debt has been mounting as the government of President Yoweri Museveni splurges on big infrastructure projects, prompting warnings from its central bank. In May, Moody's lowered Uganda's sovereign rating, citing increasingly constrained financing options. Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said in a budget speech that total public debt stood at $24.7 billion at the end of last year and was seen rising to $25.7 billion by the…