
<p>Report by Elias Biryabarema</p>



<p>KAMPALA (Reuters) &#8211; Uganda will request the World Bank for a loan of $190 million to help cushion its economy from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, its finance minister said.</p>



<p>The government has cut its economic growth forecast this fiscal year to 5.2–5.7% from an initial projection of 6%, the minister, Matia Kasaija, said in a statement late on Thursday. </p>



<p>The disruption caused by the coronavirus are expected to cut industrial output, tourism earnings and the government’s tax collections.  </p>



<p>The government will seek a $100 million budget support loan for this financial year and a further $90 million for the next financial year , Kasaija said.   </p>



<p>It will also approach the International Monetary Fund for help with a projected decline in foreign exchange reserves from 4.2 months worth of imports to 3.5 months.  </p>



<p>The Ugandan shilling  declined sharply this week, prompting the central bank to intervene three times in a row to sell dollars and offer support. </p>



<p>Kasaija said as a result of the economic upheaval from the outbreak, Uganda’s imports were expected to decline 44% in the four months to June. The expected widespread loss of jobs was likely to push an estimated 780,000 people into poverty, he said.    </p>



<p>Uganda has not reported any cases of the coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year and has been spreading around the world. </p>



<p>Nevertheless, on Wednesday, the government ordered the closing of schools, bars and it banned public gatherings to prevent any outbreak. </p>



<p>($1 = 3,835.0000 Ugandan shillings) </p>



<p>(Editing by Duncan Miriri and Robert Birsel)</p>



<p>This article was first published on Reuters Africa <a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKBN2171ED-OZABS">https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKBN2171ED-OZABS</a> and is republished with its permission.</p>


Uganda to seek $190 mln from World Bank to cushion coronavirus blow

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<p>‘Telling Stories’ is a programme by the British Council Arts Program aims at supporting disabled artists. Arts Manager at British Council of Rwanda Hyppolite Ntigurirwa joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


East Africa

East Africa, UK collaborate to give disabled people platform to express themselves with ‘Telling Stories’

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<p>With some of the world&#8217;s major companies already looking at scaling down staff as the impact of COVID-19 continues to affect businesses, gig economy workers might be the most vulnerable. But how can the industry and those that depend on it survive these times? Digital Marketer and Blogger, Bernard Ewalu Olupot joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


How can the gig economy survive in times of COVID-19?

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<p>Despite measures put in place in the hospitality industry to contain the spread of the coronavirus, hotels are already feeling the impact of the virus outbreak. Jean Nepomuscene Bazimaziki, Director Manager of Ruhondo Beach Resort for more.</p>


How COVID-19 is impacting Rwanda’s hospitality industry

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<p>With the steady rise of the middle class in Rwanda, international brands are now setting up shop in the country to get a piece of the pie. Derrick Van Houten, Group Managing Director of Kuku Foods East Africa Holdings Ltd joins CNBC Africa on the recent opening of the first KFC outlet in Rwanda.</p>


Kuku Foods secures opening of first KFC franchise in Rwanda

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<p>As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise globally, social media giant, Facebook has stepped up its fight against misinformation regarding the virus on its platforms. Kojo Boakye, Facebook Head of Public Policy for Africa for more.</p>


Facebook steps up fight against misinformation regarding COVID-19 pandemic

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<p>Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the closure of all schools in the country and suspended public gatherings for 30 days effective Friday 20th March. In a televised address to the nation, the President said that the move is a measure to contain the potential spread of coronavirus. Analyst, Ronald Mugobera joins CNBC Aftrica for more.</p>


Uganda takes pre-emptive COVID-19 measures

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<p>The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) agreed with the banks to waive mobile money transfer charges starting Monday night until June 30 in the push for cashless payments aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. Also, the US Trade Department has started negotiations on comprehensive trade agreement with Kenya in a move that will extend country’s preferential access after the current deal ends in 2025. Maryanne Ng’ang’a, Investment Analyst at Cytonn joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


COVID-19: Central Bank of Kenya directs banks to quarantine cash

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<p>Babyl, a health service provider has signed a ten-year partnership with the government of Rwanda to enable access quality healthcare services through their mobile phones. Dr. Singa Muhoza Patrick, Medical Director at Babyl joins CNBC Africa to understand what this means to the company and how they will work alongside the government during this crisis.</p>


Rwanda

Rwanda, Babyl partner to expand healthcare access through mobile phones


<p>By Cooper Inveen</p>



<p>FREETOWN (Reuters) &#8211; Shoppers threaded their way between stalls hawking everything from watches to pigs’ feet in Sierra Leone’s capital on Wednesday, two days after the government banned large gatherings to combat the coronavirus but exempted markets such as this.</p>



<p>Buyers and sellers at the Abacha market say they can’t afford to stay away anyway. They depend on it for their daily food and wages.   </p>



<p>A growing number of African countries are announcing increasingly restrictive measures to try to halt the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 200,000 people globally and killed nearly 9,000. They have shut borders, closed schools and universities and barred large public gatherings.  </p>



<p>On Wednesday, Uganda banned religious gatherings and weddings, despite not having a single coronavirus case. South Africa strongly encouraged restaurants and bars to provide take-out services only.  </p>



<p>Sierra Leone, despite not having a reported infection, banned gatherings of more than 100 people on Monday. Markets that draw thousands of people were exempt. </p>



<p>“We don’t have this virus here yet, so why should we stop?” said Abacha soap vendor Adama Jalloh, as a baby dozed against the back of her traditional print dress.  </p>



<p>“Even during Ebola time we were able to sell,” she said, referring to a deadly outbreak that killed thousands in West Africa in 2013-16. </p>



<p>Africa was slower to feel the impact than Asia or Europe, but 31 African nations have now recorded cases, with 13 reported deaths. The World Health Organization on Wednesday advised African countries to avoid mass gatherings and “wake up” to the growing threat. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">PATIENTS ON THE RUN </h3>



<p>On Wednesday, Kenya &#8211; which has seven cases &#8211; announced that anyone entering the country who fails to observe the required 14 days of self-isolation would be arrested. But there’s no system for monitoring new arrivals, and some flout the rules.  </p>



<p>A Kenyan legislator who turned up in parliament this week was forced out by cries of “quarantine! quarantine!” after another lawmaker pointed out he’d recently arrived from London.  </p>



<p>In South Africa, which has 116 cases &#8211; more than any other sub-Saharan nation &#8211; a family that tested positive for the virus refused to go into quarantine this week, forcing officials to get a court order. </p>



<p>“Patients who are tested positive for the COVID-19 virus are required to stay (in quarantine). Not for their safety, but also for the safety of others,” said Kwara Kekana, spokeswoman for the Gauteng provincial health department.  </p>



<p>Some Africans find the measures draconian.    </p>



<p>In western Ivory Coast, which has only six coronavirus cases and no deaths, some people thought it was a bit much when the government told them to keep one metre apart and wash their hands rigorously.  </p>



<p>“People are exaggerating a bit. The disease hasn’t really spread far here, and they’re scaring us by telling us not to greet and to wear masks,” said Namory Doumbia, a 28-year-old chauffeur. </p>



<p>Bans on large gatherings are sometimes selectively applied, confusing citizens. Senegal, a mostly Muslim West African country, cancelled religious festivals five days ago, but initially spared Islamic prayers.  </p>



<p>“We cannot forbid religious gatherings,” said Mbackiou Faye, a representative of Senegal’s powerful Mouride Muslim brotherhood. “It is with our prayers and our incantations that God answers them and spares us from diseases.” </p>



<p>Late on Wednesday, Senegal &#8211; which has 36 cases &#8211; ordered both churches and mosques closed. But they remained open in other nations like Burkina Faso, where hundreds prayed together side-by-side in one of the capital’s largest mosques.  </p>



<p>Both Kenya and South Africa have directed public minibuses that provide transport to millions of people to provide passengers with hand sanitizers. Checks by Reuters revealed that few had done so.  </p>



<p>Passengers at a busy minibus rank in Johannesburg’s financial centre said they lived too far from their jobs to walk, and there was no other transportation.  </p>



<p>“I don’t feel safe in the (minibus) taxi,” said 29-year-old Lerato Sibandi, who needed to travel to her retail job. “But I don’t have a choice.”  </p>



<p>(Reporting by Tumelo Modiba in Johannesburg, Humphrey Malalo, Omar Mohammed and George Obulutsa in Nairobi, Hereward Holland in Kinshasa, Christophe Van Der Perre in Dakar,and  Loucoumane Coulibaly in Abidjan; Writing by Tanisha Heiberg and Katharine Houreld; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Nick Macfie)</p>



<p>This article was first published on Reuters Africa <a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN2160WG-OZATP">https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN2160WG-OZATP</a> and is republished with its permission.</p>


Clarification on COVID-19 “hotspots” as SA moves to level 3 lockdown

Africa talks tough against coronavirus but many wonder why

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<p>Authorities from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Private Sector Federation of Rwanda have warned traders against hiking prices. They were also requested not to use substandard materials amid coronavirus outbreak. Theoneste Ntagengerwa, Spokesperson of Private Sector Federation joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Rwanda warns traders against coronavirus price gouging

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<p>What happens when the very product that your company is based on, becomes unavailable for the foreseeable future? That in essence is what Kenyan event ticketing company, Mookh Africa is facing at the moment. Eric Thimba, Co-Founder of Mookh Africa joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


How COVID-19 event cancellations is hurting ticketing companies

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<p>Yesterday a notice was circulated by the Rwanda Development Board outlining and reminding the hospitality sector and general public of the Covid19 prevention measures that the body has established. Emmanuel Nsabimana, Head of Tourism Regulation joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Rwanda suspends mountain gorilla tourism due to COVID-19 outbreak

Rwanda announces further COVID-19 prevention measures


<p>NAIROBI (Reuters) &#8211; Kenyan banks will allow personal borrowers who get into difficulties due to the new coronavirus pandemic to extend their loans for up to a year, the central bank governor said on Wednesday. </p>



<p>The East African nation has four confirmed cases of the COVID-19 and the government has imposed measures aimed at reducing its spreads including banning public gatherings and closing schools indefinitely. </p>



<p>“We don’t want this health crisis to become a financial crisis,” Patrick Njoroge, the governor, told a televised news conference. </p>



<p>Small and medium enterprises who encounter difficulties will also be allowed to restructure their bank loans at no cost, he added.  </p>



<p>(Reporting by Duncan Miriri and George Obulutsa, editing by Louise Heavens)</p>



<p>This article was first published on Reuters Africa <a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKBN21512O-OZABS">https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKBN21512O-OZABS</a> and is republished with its permission.</p>


Kenyan banks to offer relief to distressed borrowers -central bank

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<p>Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) is evaluating possible recovery strategies for the Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Events industry, which has been hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Nelly Mukazayire, CEO of Rwanda Convention Bureau joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Rwanda’s MICE sector postpones events due to COVID-19

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<p>With a number of events scheduled to be held in different countries in the region postponed or cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, the hospitality industry is counting losses and evaluating possible recovery strategies. Earlier we were joined by Nsengiyumva Barakabuye, President of Rwanda Hospitality Association joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Rwanda‘s hospitality industry seeks bail-out to cushion COVID-19 impact

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<p>As the world continues to grapple with the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the travel industry has been one of the sectors that have been heavily hit. Many Africa airlines have cancelled flights to mainland China, Italy, South Korea and other countries where the pandemic has spread very fast. But what kind of effect will this have on the aviation sector? Derek Nseko, MD of iFly Aviation joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


East Africa

Uganda to seek $190 mln from World Bank to cushion coronavirus blow

East Africa, UK collaborate to give disabled people platform to express themselves with ‘Telling Stories’

How can the gig economy survive in times of COVID-19?

How COVID-19 is impacting Rwanda’s hospitality industry

Kuku Foods secures opening of first KFC franchise in Rwanda

Facebook steps up fight against misinformation regarding COVID-19 pandemic

Uganda takes pre-emptive COVID-19 measures

COVID-19: Central Bank of Kenya directs banks to quarantine cash

Rwanda, Babyl partner to expand healthcare access through mobile phones

Africa talks tough against coronavirus but many wonder why

Rwanda warns traders against coronavirus price gouging

How COVID-19 event cancellations is hurting ticketing companies

Rwanda announces further COVID-19 prevention measures

Kenyan banks to offer relief to distressed borrowers -central bank

Rwanda’s MICE sector postpones events due to COVID-19

Rwanda‘s hospitality industry seeks bail-out to cushion COVID-19 impact

Coronavirus sends Africa’s aviation industry into a tailspin

News Tips

Advertise With Us

East Africa

Uganda to seek $190 mln from World Bank to cushion coronavirus blow

East Africa, UK collaborate to give disabled people platform to express themselves with ‘Telling Stories’

How can the gig economy survive in times of COVID-19?

How COVID-19 is impacting Rwanda’s hospitality industry

Kuku Foods secures opening of first KFC franchise in Rwanda

Facebook steps up fight against misinformation regarding COVID-19 pandemic

Uganda takes pre-emptive COVID-19 measures

COVID-19: Central Bank of Kenya directs banks to quarantine cash

Rwanda, Babyl partner to expand healthcare access through mobile phones

Africa talks tough against coronavirus but many wonder why

Rwanda warns traders against coronavirus price gouging

How COVID-19 event cancellations is hurting ticketing companies

Rwanda announces further COVID-19 prevention measures

Kenyan banks to offer relief to distressed borrowers -central bank

Rwanda’s MICE sector postpones events due to COVID-19

Rwanda‘s hospitality industry seeks bail-out to cushion COVID-19 impact

Coronavirus sends Africa’s aviation industry into a tailspin

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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