Kampala, Uganda — Host Uganda settled for a 1-1 draw against Tanzania in their Group A opening match of the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone on Sunday. The visitor started the match looking like the stronger side and took the lead in the 19th minute through Saleh Alley at Nakivubo Hamz Stadium in Kampala. After the interval, a pep talk by Uganda coach Brian Ssenyondo paid off as his team began to dictate the pace. After 58 minutes, Uganda leveled the score through Isima Magala. The home side gained momentum after scoring and continued to attack in numbers as the Tanzanians held firm in defense. Magala had a last-minute chance to win the match for Uganda, but his shot missed the target. Aggrey Morris Ambros, the Tanzanian coach, said picking a draw against a strong Uganda side was a good start. “We started...

Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace. The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation. The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives. “The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment...

On Sunday, 8th December, East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)-impacted communities gathered in Kikuube district in Uganda to hold a press conference and peaceful demonstration in response to the recent claim by the Government of Uganda indicating that financing for the destructive East African Crude Oil Pipeline would come through from numerous Chinese state-owned entities by the end of December 2024. Since September 2023, the Government of Uganda has repeatedly stated that Chinese financial institutions, including Sinosure and China Exim Bank, are expected to finance the project. However, the anticipated support from China appears to have been delayed, prompting EACOP shareholders to increase their equity stake from 40% to 52%. However, the silence from the Chinese stakeholders regarding the claims by the Government of Uganda has raised serious concerns among the affected communities and civil society in Uganda and Tanzania. These concerns are further compounded by the significant role already played by the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation...