East Africa

Ugandan authorities have closed the boarding section of a primary school in the central Mubende region after seven schoolboys reported to have been sodomised by the school’s caretaker, local media reported. The caretaker reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges in court last week and is waiting for sentencing. State Minister …

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said anti-LGBT draft legislation passed by Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday undermines fundamental human rights and urged the government to reconsider implementing it, the BBC reported. The hastily passed bill says anyone identifying as LGBT could face a long prison sentence. Individuals belonging to …

Ugandan MPs on Tuesday passed an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that would make same-sex acts punishable by death, prompting strong condemnation from human rights defenders. Almost all of the 389 legislators voted late Tuesday in favor of the anti-homosexuality bill. The new law provides life imprisonment for sexual relations between homosexuals and …

The Tanzanian health ministry says a mysterious disease that killed five people has been identified as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, local media reported. The virus causes high fever, often accompanied by bleeding and organ failure. It is part of a group of viruses that includes Ebola. Tanzania’s health minister, Ummy Mwalimu …

Some Russian secondary schools have started teaching African languages, a way to strengthen the country’s relationship with Africa, Professor Alexeï Maslov announced at the 2nd Russia-Africa Parliamentary Conference. It is above all about Swahili and Amharic, which are languages originating in East Africa, Alexeï Maslov, director of the Institute of …

Uganda’s parliament is expected to vote on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 on Tuesday amid mixed reactions from various stakeholders, DailyMonitor reported. The Bill will be presented for the second and third reading by the Bugiri Municipality legislator, Mr Asuman Basalirwa, local media reported. It is not yet confirmed whether the voting …

Forty-three Facebook content moderators in Kenya are suing the social media site’s parent company Meta for unfair dismissal. The moderators say they lost their jobs with Sama, a Kenya-based firm contracted to moderate Facebook content, for organizing a union, the Reuters news agency reports. They also say they were blacklisted …

President William Ruto declared that he will not condone “impunity in the country” after violent protests rocked the capital, Nairobi and the western city of Kisumu, the BBC reported. The demonstrations were organized by opposition politician Raila Odinga who blames the government’s policies for exacerbating the rising cost of living. …

Kenyan police tear gassed the leader of the opposition on Monday and arrested senior lawmakers in his parliamentary faction, as protesters took to the streets to march against President William Ruto and the high cost of living, Reuters reported. The convoy of Raila Odinga, who was defeated by Ruto last …

Gianni Infantino was re-elected as head of FIFA at the end of the 73rd Congress of the organization held in Kigali in Rwanda as he was the only candidate. He will lead FIFA at least until 2027. In office since 2016, the lawyer was reappointed by acclamation. “Being president of …