Author: Agencies

Released globally as an acquired Netflix Original on 22 September, Nigerian film The Black Book has taken the streaming world by storm. Netflix says the action-thriller, starring Nollywood icon Richard Mofe-Damijo as Paul Edima, an avenging ex-security operative on the hunt for the murderers of his only child, ranked fourth globally amongst the platform’s English-language titles after the first weekend of its release. The Editi Effiong-directed film also pulled in at least 5.6 million views in the first two days, ranking in the top ten in at least 38 countries, with audiences in South America and Europe also tuning in. “The…

This year’s Nobel economics prize has been awarded to Claudia Goldin, an American economic historian, for her work on women’s employment and pay. Prof Goldin’s research uncovered key drivers behind the gender pay gap, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. She is only the third woman to receive the prize, and the first to not share the award with male colleagues. The 77-year-old academic currently teaches labour market history at Harvard University in the US. She had “advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes”, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said, pointing to her work examining 200 years…

For weeks, Uganda’s political scene has been rocked by a scandal involving the country’s second-largest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Allegations have surfaced that key party leaders received campaign funds from President Museveni in 2021, purportedly to co-opt the FDC and thwart a potential alliance with the largest opposition party, Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP). The accused leaders – FDC party president Patrick Amuriat and Secretary General Nandala Mafabi – have admitted to receiving the money but have declined to disclose its sources, purportedly to protect their donors’ security. This ambiguous stance and the NRM’s history…

The average debt ratio in sub-Saharan Africa has almost doubled in just a decade—from 30 percent of GDP at the end of 2013 to almost 60 percent of GDP by end-2022. Repaying this debt has also become much costlier. The region’s ratio of interest payments to revenue, a key metric to assess debt servicing capacity and predict the risk of a fiscal crisis, has more than doubled since the early 2010s and is now close to four times the ratio in advanced economies. As of 2022, more than half of the low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa were assessed by the…

Abnormal bacterial communities in the oral cavity have been linked to liver disease, renal failure, cancers, heart disease and hypertension. The oral cavity is the door to the gastrointestinal tract and the rest of the body. Like the gut, the mouth is home to several diverse colonies of bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. It’s the second largest microbial community in humans, after the gut. More than 700 species of microorganisms reside in the mouth. New technologies, such as 16S rRNA analysis, have allowed researchers to study their genetic makeup and family trees. These microbes are found all over the mouth: in and around the teeth, the gums, tongue, palate and saliva. They usually remain…

By Crispin Kaheru I would like to express our gratitude to Africa Freedom for Information Centre (AFIC) for hosting this event, marking the International Day for Universal Access to Information. The significance of access to information, along with the challenges associated with navigating the digital space, cannot be overstated in today’s ever-changing world. At the international level, the right to access information is firmly established by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). In this era of digital transformation, the internet has emerged as…

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park lies at the centre of Ghana’s capital, Accra. Recently renovated, it is dedicated to the memory of Kwame Nkrumah, the leader of Ghana’s independence struggle and its first president. Marking the spot of his final resting place at the park is a massive statue. The statue has been continuously contested since its original commission in 1956 and its unveiling at the first anniversary of independence in 1958. As a social anthropologist who has researched and written about Kwame Nkrumah themed monuments, I have explored the contradiction that generally characterises monuments: built as lasting memories, they remain embedded in social and political conflict. Nkrumah is…

By Crispin Kaheru This year’s 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China presents a remarkable opportunity for Uganda and the broader world to take stock of a profound journey of mutual learning and collaboration. Looking at the intricate web of lessons that China and Uganda exchange, it becomes evident that this relationship is not merely about learning; it’s a dynamic exchange that continues to enrich and challenge both nations. Each lesson carries the weight of experience, shaping the roadmap for Uganda’s modernization journey. Building a Strong Domestic Foundation: China’s ascent to global prominence underscores the importance of strengthening…

Malawi’s president has launched a large-scale crop production initiative known as “mega farms,” aimed at boosting the country’s agricultural-based economy and help end persistent food shortages. Malawi has long faced food shortages at both national and domestic levels each year. This, despite various efforts to boost agricultural production, including the Targeted Inputs Program, in which farmers buy seed and fertilizer at cheaper prices. According to a report last month from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, 4.4 million Malawians, representing 22 percent of the country’s population, are facing food shortages. And the situation is expected to worsen from October to…

By Crispin Kugiza Kaheru The by-election of the district Chairperson in Hoima, is currently underway today. The total number of voters in Hoima district is 94,825, with slightly more females than males. There are 173 polling stations in the two sub-counties of Bugahya and Kigorobya that make up Hoima district. Five candidates: Patrick Musinguzi (FDC); Uthman Mugisha Mubaraka (NRM); Vincent Muhumuza alias Savana (Independent); Aguuda Moses (NUP), and Lennox Mugume (Independent). Preliminary observations: Crispin Kugiza Kaheru, the election observer who also doubles as Commissioner, Uganda Human Rights Commission, in an email communication to The Albertine Journal said polls opened at 7:00am at a few polling stations.…