Tag: uganda

  • Uganda birthday party boat capsizes on Lake Victoria, killing 29

    Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Saturday’s coincidence occurred off Uganda’s Mukono district, near Kampala

    At Least 29 individuals are now known to have died after a cruise boat sporting party revellers capsized on Lake Victoria, Ugandan police say.

    The vessel used to be carrying close to ONE HUNDRED people whilst it sank on Saturday near Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

    Ugandan media named a bunch of well-identified other folks mentioned to be at the boat, including that the prince of a standard kingdom had survived.

    Lake Victoria sees regular accidents, regularly regarding overcrowded vessels.

    Scores of people died when a ferry sank on the lake off Tanzania in September.

    Image copyright Reuters

    Cries from the coastline

    The BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga, at the scene

    The families and buddies of a few of the people involved accumulated through the shoreline. They sat below timber, looking through the twine fence and each time a body was once pulled out of the water, there were screams and cries as some folks acknowledged their liked ones.

    On the grass some non-public pieces had been laid out – footwear, sweaters, wallets, keys – anything else that could be used to identify the sufferers. Overhead the police deployed a helicopter to assist search for extra bodies that would have washed up by way of the shoreline – however they’ve given up hope that they are going to find any further survivors.

    Among those rescued was once Prince Daudi Kintu Wasajja, a brother of the king of Uganda’s biggest conventional kingdom, Buganda.

    Ugandan media stated musical artist Iryn Namubiru also survived.

    A choice of other fashionable artists and socialites have been believed to be on board.

    The boat was reportedly employed out for weekend parties.

    Many of these on board had no lifejackets.

    Local officers said small fishing boats that came to the rescue additionally was overloaded and sank.

    Five things about Lake Victoria

    Image copyright AFP With a floor house greater than Switzerland, Lake Victoria is the world’s second-largest lake and the most important in Africa Shared through Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, some 30 million people rely on its resources Challenges come with air pollution and falling water levels – biodiversity in Lake Victoria has dropped via 50% for the reason that nineteen eighties English colonialist John Hanning Speke named it after Britain’s Queen Victoria whilst he travelled there in 1858 Some have known as for the lake’s title to be changed – proposals include its Luganda-language identify Nalubaale, and Lake Jumuiya which means “togetherness” in Swahili

  • Ex-Zimbabwe President Mugabe ‘unable to walk’

    Robert Mugabe Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Ex-President Robert Mugabe went to vote in July’s elections with his spouse Grace (left)

    Zimbabwe’s former President Mugabe, NINETY FOUR, is unable to stroll as a result of in poor health well being, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has stated.

    Mr Mugabe has been in Singapore for treatment for an undisclosed illness for the earlier months, he added.

    The former president also made a couple of scientific journeys there towards the end of his time in energy.

    Mr Mnangagwa become head of state a yr in the past after Mr Mugabe was ousted following the intervention of the army.

    Up to that point, Mr Mugabe was once the only president Zimbabwe had known, having been in energy for 37 years.

    Image copyright Reuters Image caption President Emmerson Mnangagwa informed supporters that his predecessor can be again within the u . s . subsequent week

    President Mnangagwa was addressing a rally in his predecessor’s house space while he mentioned the previous leader’s well being.

    “he is now old. of course, he now’s not able to stroll but whatever he asks for we will be able to provide,” the AFP information company costs him as saying.

    When Mr Mugabe was once in power officials mentioned he was once being treated for eye problems, denying rumours that he had cancer.

    Despite being unable to walk, Mr Mnangagwa stated the former leader was once feeling better and would be again in the country subsequent week.

    “we are taking care of him. he’s the founding father of the country of Zimbabwe. he’s our founding father of free Zimbabwe,” the president added, AFP reports.

    The government is purchasing Mr Mugabe’s remedy.

    After taking up from him final yr, Mr Mnangagwa gained a disputed presidential election in July.

  • Uganda’s Bobi Wine problem: Court Docket frees pop superstar MP

    Uganda's prominent opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi known as Bobi Wine (C) appears at the chief magistrate court in Gulu, northern Uganda, on August 23, 2018 Symbol copyright Getty Pictures Image caption Bobi Wine has seemed unsteady and in need of enhance during his court docket appearances

    A judge in Uganda has granted bail to widespread musician-became-baby-kisser Bobi Wine and 32 opposition politicians who’re dealing with treason charges.

    They are accused of allegedly throwing stones at a car in President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy in advance this month.

    Bobi Wine, affectionately known as the “ghetto president”, gave the impression on crutches in courtroom.

    the military, who had detained him, denied stories that he have been overwhelmed, calling the allegations “rubbish”.

    Africa Are Living: In This and more tales The president and the pop celebrity who is Bobi Wine?

    Bobi Wine, whose actual title is Robert Kyagulanyi, was once arrested on THIRTEEN August after a marketing campaign rally within the north-western the city of Arua.

    Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Bobi Wine’s supporters protested in Kampala ultimate week

    The 36-12 months-old musician was once initially to be tried in a military court docket over accusations of unlawful possession of firearms but the rate was dropped. A civilian courtroom later charged him with treason.

    Bobi Wine, along the 33 co-accused, is predicted again in courtroom on 30 August.

    Taxing ‘gossip’ at the internet Profile: Yoweri Museveni

    The Afrobeats superstar has been a thorn in the facet of Mr Museveni’s executive. Due To The Fact his election just over a yr ago, he has sponsored applicants in 3 via-elections who’ve overwhelmed those from the ruling National Resistance Motion (NRM) birthday celebration, including in the Arua the town by-election.

    He used to be also a number one campaigner towards the move to scrap the presidential age limit – set at 75 – which might have locked out the 74-yr-old Mr Museveni’s bid to run for a sixth term in 2021.

    Wine also joined native activists in July to protest towards a social media tax introduced ostensibly to boost state income and to end what Mr Museveni referred to as “gossip” on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter.

    Critics, on the other hand, said the 200 Uganda shillings ($0.05, £0.04) day by day tax was once meant to suppress dissenting voices.

    The government has on account that backtracked and mentioned it is going to review the tax.

    Bobi Wine’s rise to popularity

    Born four years prior to Yoweri Museveni turned into president Describes his track as “edutainment” – leisure that educates one of his earliest hits, Kadingo, was once about private hygiene Even after turning into famous, stored his recording studio in Kamwokya slum Nicknamed “the ghetto president” He and his spouse have subsidized education and sanitation projects Changed Into MP for Kyadondo East in June 2017 Led a campaign in opposition to a social media tax Charged with treason August 2018.

  • Bobi Wine: Uganda’s Afrobeats MP status up to Museveni

    Bobi Wine greets supporters Symbol copyright AFP Image caption Bobi Wine beat applicants from the primary political events in remaining year’s via-election to become an MP

    Ugandan Afrobeats musician-turned-baby-kisser Bobi Wine is due to appear prior to an army court on treason charges later.

    The opposition MP used to be arrested after a vehicle in President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy was once attacked on Monday.

    Wine’s driving force was once later shot dead.

    Another opposition politician Kassiano Wadri, who gained Wednesday’s fiercely contested municipal by means of-election against the ruling party in the northern town of Arua, is facing equivalent charges.

    Wine has long been an outspoken critic of Uganda’s govt.

    Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption Critics say Bobi Wine has enthusiastic about crowd mobilisation but has no longer introduced bills in parliament for the issues he campaigns for

    Mr Kirunda says that Wine is being “oversold”. “He’s an unbelievable mobiliser however he’s but to enjoy the ability of the state equipment like Besigye has”.

    The long-time Uganda opposition chief has persevered arrests, physical attack and detention. “Bobi is yet to enjoy this,” Mr Kirunda says.

    “I additionally suppose there’s a fundamental distinction between management and drawing a crowd. i have, for instance, not noticed him convey a bill to parliament,” he provides.

    in line with arts journalist and blogger Moses Serugo, Bobi Wine’s oratory talents and his alignment to individuals who live within the “ghetto”, most commonly the youth, have allowed him to attract them.

    He says Wine’s career as an actor, now not a singer, is what has helped him become such an influential politician in Uganda.

    (more…)

  • Ugandan wins Africa prize for cold malaria take a look at

    Picture of Brian Gitta Image copyright Africa Proof Symbol caption Brian Gitta was impressed to strengthen the instrument, known as Matibabu, after 3 blood assessments failed to diagnose his malaria

    A Ugandan inventor has won an important prize for a device which tests for malaria without drawing blood.

    Brian Gitta, 24, won the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for a device that detects tell-story indicators of malaria by shining a crimson beam of sunshine at the patient’s finger.

    The analysis is set to be shared to a mobile phone in a minute.

    He developed the instrument, known as Matibabu, after blood exams didn’t diagnose his personal malaria.

    Malaria is the major reason behind demise in Uganda, nevertheless it took four blood checks to diagnose Mr Gitta with the illness, Shafik Sekitto, who is part of the Matibabu team, advised the BBC’s cope with Africa programme.

    “Gitta pointed out the speculation: ‘Why cannot we find a new approach of using the skills we’ve got found in pc technological know-how, of diagnosing a illness with no need to prick somebody?” Mr Sekitto said.

    Africa Are Living: More on this and other tales from the continent ‘Malaria killed my daughter, I Am protecting others now’ Malaria experts worry disease’s resurgence GM plant tech boosts malaria drug yield

    “Matibabu is simply a sport-changer,” Rebecca Enonchong, Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation judge and Cameroonian era entrepreneur, stated in an announcement.

    “it is a easiest example of how engineering can release construction – on this case by way of bettering healthcare.”

    Matibabu, which means that “treatment” in Swahili, clips onto a patient’s finger and doesn’t require a consultant to function.

    Its pink beam can detect changes within the colour, form and focus of crimson blood cells – all of that are affected by malaria.

    the majority of world deaths because of malaria – frequently transmitted by means of the chew of an inflamed Anopheles mosquito – occur in sub-Saharan Africa.

    His crew hopes the instrument can sooner or later be used as a way to raised detect malaria around the continent.

    ‘Not a very simple adventure’

    But earlier than that, Matibabu has to head through a bunch of regulators sooner than being available in the marketplace, Mr Sekitto advised the BBC.

    It is “not an easy adventure because you have to end up beyond reasonable doubt that the instrument is protected for human use”, he mentioned.

    in the meantime, the Matibabu staff are lately writing an educational paper on their findings, have been approached through global researchers providing enhance, and are lately appearing box trials at the software.

    The prize, which was once arrange in 2014, supplies enhance, funding, mentoring and trade training to the winners, the Royal Academy of Engineering said in a statement.

    Mr Gitta has additionally been presented £25,000 ($33,000) in prize money from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

    “the popularity can assist us open up partnership possibilities – which is what we need most on the moment,” Mr Gitta said in an announcement.