Africa Biz

Category: News

  • Trump’s Travel Ban on 12 Countries Goes Into Effect Early Monday

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s order banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States goes into effect at 12:01 am ET (0401 GMT) on Monday, a move the president promulgated to protect the country from “foreign terrorists.”

    The countries affected by the latest travel ban are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

    The entry of people from seven other countries – Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela – will be partially restricted.

    Trump, a Republican, said the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbor a “large-scale presence of terrorists,” fail to cooperate on visa security, have an inability to verify travelers’ identities, as well as inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the United States.

    He cited last Sunday’s incident in Boulder, Colorado, in which an Egyptian national tossed a gasoline bomb into a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators as an example of why the new curbs are needed. But Egypt is not part of the travel ban.

    The travel ban forms part of Trump’s policy to restrict immigration into the United States and is reminiscent of a similar move in his first term when he barred travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations.

    Officials and residents in countries whose citizens will soon be banned expressed dismay and disbelief.

    Chad President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said he had instructed his government to stop granting visas to U.S. citizens in response to Trump’s action.

    “Chad has neither planes to offer nor billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and its pride,” he said in a Facebook post, referring to countries such as Qatar, which gifted the U.S. a luxury airplane for Trump’s use and promised to invest billions of dollars in the U.S.

    Afghans who worked for the U.S. or U.S.-funded projects and were hoping to resettle in the U.S. expressed fear that the travel ban would force them to return to their country, where they could face reprisal from the Taliban.

    Democratic U.S. lawmakers also voiced concern about the policies.

    “Trump’s travel ban on citizens from over 12 countries is draconian and unconstitutional,” said U.S. Representative Ro Khanna on social media late on Thursday. “People have a right to seek asylum.”

    (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Writing by Mary Milliken Editing by Sandra Maler)

  • Uganda Airlines Launches First Ever Flight to London

    Uganda Airlines has made a historic return to Europe, successfully completing its first flight to the United Kingdom in decades. On Sunday, the airline’s Airbus A330-800neo touched down at London Gatwick Airport after taking off from Entebbe International Airport at 10:05 a.m., marking the start of direct flights between Uganda and the UK.

    This is not the first time Uganda Airlines has flown to London. During the days of former president Idi Amin, the airline operated flights to London Gatwick. However, in 1989, those flights stopped as the country went through a period of political and economic instability. The recent revival of this route is not just a new development—it is a return to the skies and a powerful symbol of progress for Uganda.

    Leading the inaugural flight was the Minister of Works and Transport, General Edward Katumba Wamala, along with a high-level delegation of Ugandan government officials. These included Minister of Trade Francis Mwebesa, officials from the Uganda Tourism Board, Kampala Capital City Authority, and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development. The team is in the UK to strengthen ties, attract investment, and promote Uganda as a destination for tourism and trade.

    UK High Commissioner to Uganda Kate Airey was also aboard the flight. She praised the new route as an exciting opportunity for both countries. According to her, this direct flight comes at the right time, when Uganda and the UK are looking to deepen their trade and economic relationship. She noted that members of the British Chamber of Commerce were already on board, eager to explore business prospects in Uganda.

    General Wamala made it clear that the mission is about encouraging partnerships and economic growth. “We are not going to London to ask for donations,” he said. “We are going to seek investment. We will speak directly with people who can bring their businesses to Uganda. You are going out there to promote trade. We have what the UK and the world need—you must not come back empty-handed.”

    The flight was piloted by Senior Captain Sam Masaba and Captain Clive Okoth. Upon arriving in London, the delegation received a warm and emotional welcome from the Ugandan community living in the UK. Many wore traditional outfits, waved national flags, and greeted the delegation with open arms and heartfelt joy.

    The direct route from Entebbe to London is expected to significantly boost the number of travelers and goods flowing between the two countries. The convenience of flying directly between the UK and Uganda will make it easier for tourists, investors, and business people to connect with Uganda, supporting the growth of tourism and trade.

    Ramathan Ggoobi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, emphasized how important this new route is for Uganda’s development. He said the flight will not only grow tourism and business but also help Uganda access new knowledge and technologies. He added that more international destinations are being considered for future Uganda Airlines routes.

    Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki expressed her gratitude to everyone who played a role in making this launch successful. She invited travelers to consider flying with Uganda Airlines between Uganda and the UK, promising quality service and a reliable connection.

    The airline will now operate four flights a week to London Gatwick. With this direct route, Uganda is once again opening itself up to the world and showing that it is ready to grow, connect, and thrive on the global stage.

  • Regional Efforts to Tackle Human-wildlife Conflicts

    Mountain Gorillas, hippos and various bird species are some of the most common tourist attractions in Rwanda’s Volcanoes Park. The well protected Agashya family of mountain Gorillas frolick in dense undergrowth at the Virunga National park.

    The park covers approximately790, 000 hectares of forest in the three countries of Rwanda, Uganda the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

    According to figures from Rwanda Development Board (RDB), last year tourism sector generated US$253 million. The population in the vicinity of the national park has over the years closely worked together to conserve it. But stray animals that destroy crops pose a major threat to the communities.

    Recently residents living around the park, in Rwanda and DRC, built 2 kilometres parameter of stones and a trench to deter stray buffaloes and other wild animals which destroy crops whenever they come out of the park.

    “It is a way of ensuring that residents do not lose their harvests as a result of wildlife,” says Sam Mwandha, the Executive Secretary of Greater Virunga Trans-boundary Collaboration (GVTC).

    A mechanism to coordinate joint conservation efforts in the park is underway under which the government engages other partners both at the national and regional levels.

    Under the arrangement, a team of conservation managers, including park wardens, is constantly in the field, assessing and conducting patrols. The team also shares basic intelligence information.

    Rica Rwigamba, the Head of Tourism at RDB, says the institution has established a regional monitoring body in collaboration with the Uganda Wild Life Authority and the Congolese Institute for Conservation.

    “There is already an existing agreement which stipulates specific areas of collaboration where a team holds regular meetings to share ideas on how to address challenges regarding conservation,” she said.

    According to Rwigamba, some of the existing benefits include the revenue sharing policy where each of the countries has equal access to collected revenue depending on the origin of the wild animals.