East African Business Notifier

  By Owor Domisiano, In November 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan, became a hub for climate negotiations as Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) gathered for the 29 th  Conference of the Parties (COP29). This session marked the 19 th  for the Kyoto Protocol and the 6 th  for the legally binding Paris Agreement.  The two-week event was filled with negotiations aimed at tackling climate change’s causes and impacts. One of the most contentious issues at COP29 was unilateral measures. Early in the negotiations, a deadlock emerged between developed and developing countries, preventing agreement on the agenda.  The core dispute centred around the inclusion of unilateral measures; an issue prioritised by developing countries. Unilateral measures refer to climate policies adopted by individual countries that significantly impact others without their participation. These measures often take the form of trade sanctions, import/export ba...

The   East   African   Crude   Oil   Pipeline   (EACOP)   Ltd,   the   company   leading   the   development of   Uganda’s   crude   oil   export   pipeline,   has   donated   a   chain-link   fence   to   Busanga   Primary School in Kasambya Village, Katikara Sub- County, Kakumiro District as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Busanga Primary School, a government-aided co-educational institution, is located approximately 300 meters from the Main Camp and Pipe Yard-1 (MCPY1). The school currently serves 635 learners. The   fence   was   officially   handed   over   by   EACOP   Deputy   Managing   Director   &   GM   UG   – John Bosco Habumugisha   during a ceremony held at the school. Speaking at the event, Habumugisha   highlighted the importance of th...

  By wielding the threat of imposing across-the-board tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China for no justifiable reason, US President Donald Trump has demonstrated that he is a major risk for America and its trade partners.  But how other countries respond to Trump’s reckless policies will ultimately determine how much damage the global economy will sustain. America’s trade partners need to keep their cool and resist the temptation to magnify the insanity. Most analysts seem to believe that responding in kind is the right thing to do. As expected, Canada and Mexico both threatened retaliation and eventually reached deals with Trump to avert the tariffs temporarily.  But it is not clear why retaliation should be regarded as normal and desirable when the tariffs that trigger them are viewed (correctly) as crazy. Policymakers elsewhere must not lose sight of the truth that Trump has chosen to disregard: the costs of tariffs are borne mainly at home. The instinct to retalia...

EACOP Ltd. has handed over 15 boreholes to communities aiming to alleviate water scarcity and provide access to clean, safe water for approximately 3,600 people (600 households).   This   initiative,   part   of   the   company's   corporate   social   responsibility,   includes the in-kind replacement of 10 project-affected water points along the pipeline route and the creation of five new boreholes for safe water access. This effort aligns with the National Development Plan III (NDPIII) 2020-2025, which prioritizes   human   capital   development   by   improving   health,   safety,   and   water   access.   The government targets increasing safe water supply coverage from 70% to 85% in rural areas and from 74% to 100% in urban areas. Speaking at the handover ceremony, EACOP Deputy Managing Director & GM Uganda John Bosco Habumugisha   reiterated the company’s commitment t...

By Rodney Hood Adriko Fraud targeting bank customers has become increasingly prevalent in today’s digital era. The most common types of fraud in the market involved phishing, smishing, and vishing, where fraudsters impersonate bank officials to extract sensitive information.  For example, a customer might receive a fake SMS, WhatsApp text or email that looks identical to official bank correspondence, prompting them to input their login credentials into a fraudulent website. When these are entered, the fraudster can access them and initiate unauthorised transactions.  Digital banking comes with risk because the same way a legitimate customer can initiate transactions from anywhere, the fraudster equally can. Fraudsters are actively using fake banking websites and Social Media pages to deceive customers.  Scammers have created counterfeit banking apps and websites that closely mimic official ones, tricking customers into revealing account details. Recent fraud cases illustr...

Carbon pricing is a crucial climate-policy tool. By assigning a monetary value to greenhouse-gas emissions, it creates incentives for firms to emit less and generates revenue that can be spent on sustainable development.  More than  70 jurisdictions worldwide  have already implemented carbon taxes or emissions-trading systems, as a way to reconcile economic growth with climate objectives. The international community has recently focused on strengthening the frameworks for global carbon markets. At last year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, countries finalized negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris climate agreement, which aims to standardize such markets. This involved adopting rules to facilitate cross-border cooperation on emissions-reduction projects. While the transparency and accountability provided by these rules will almost surely build trust in carbon markets, a standardized framework poses some risks for Africa. Specifically...

  Mining in Africa has long been a cornerstone of economic development on the continent but discussions about the sector often focus on large-scale extraction. However, a shift in perspective is gaining traction, one that highlights the importance of downstream industries in shaping a more sustainable and value-multiplying sector. Beyond raw material exports, businesses involved in refining, processing, logistics and supply chain integration are proving essential to unlocking mining’s long-term economic benefits. A ccording to the African Development Bank, Africa is home to 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, yet much of its economic benefit is lost when raw materials are exported without value addition. The move toward beneficiation, processing, and mining-related services is increasingly recognised as a way to capture more value locally while supporting sustainable industrial growth. “As we engaged with more of our SME clients at this...

On February 3-6, policymakers and industry leaders will gather in Cape Town for the annual   Investing in African Mining Indaba . At the top of their agenda will be Africa’s reserves of critical minerals and how the continent can capitalize on their role in the global economy. Africa has long served as one of the world’s primary suppliers of raw materials, making it a focal point of resource diplomacy and geopolitical competition.  In 2024, the European Union adopted the  Critical Raw Materials Act , which aims to secure greater access to the continent’s resources in exchange for a larger role in local processing and a development pathway aligned with political roadmaps like the  Africa Mining Vision . Yet a recurring question will be asked in the halls of Cape Town’s International Convention Centre: To whom are these resources critical? In the context of raw materials and minerals, the term “critical” is often associated with the energy transition.  In fact, a ...