TLDR Weekly
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🗑 Garbage in; garbage out

🗑 Garbage in; garbage out

TLDR Weekly
April 03, 2023

Good morning ☀️

A SACCO scoops up a swamp, Kamala visits Africa to allay China’s growing influence, and Twitter is dying.

Let's do this 🚀

— Gloria Mbabazi, Shem Opolot

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Headlines

🗑 Trash talk

Source: The Daily Monitor

NEMA, Uganda’s largely impotent environment watchdog, was compelled to review their proposed legislation mandating all motorists to carry dustbins in their vehicles after the Uganda Law Society ostensibly repudiated the rubbish law as, well, rubbish. NEMA—bless their meddling well-intentioned hearts—was quick to clarify that the fight is against littering and not waste baskets.

⚖️ The local content bill

In a rare display of cooperation and fairness, the Local Content Bill was passed and approved by the President. Notably, Clause 4 had suggested preferential treatment be given to goods, works, and services provided by Ugandan entities, but President Museveni amended the clause, citing its diversion from the EAC policies.

🌾 Swamps Acquisition Cooperative Society (SACCO)

Some MPs speaking on condition of anonymity in order not to contradict the official position, said the parliamentary Sacco acquired the land without involvement of, or briefing to, all members but they were surprised when they found part of the land was soggy.

In a micro-scandal that has inspired Spiderman meme-level finger pointing, the Parliament SACCO allegedly bought and developed land in a swamp. The group built houses in the swamp and [even] installed a police post for their protection. We hope NEMA can find the time in their busy schedule of drafting rubbish policies to intervene.

Other headlines

Kenya lifted its ban on Ugandan milk products (again)

Uganda defeated Tanzania to keep AFCON dreams alive

270 mysteriously missing cult members in Serere District turn up in Ethiopia

5000 UPDF soldiers deployed for peacekeeping efforts in DRC

Health Minister calls for regulatory policy to improve blood transfusion services

Masaka Kids Africana rack up the views on YouTube and UGX 5 billion (?)

Renewed labour export deal between Uganda and Saudi Arabia to safeguard Ugandan workers

Go watch Loukman Ali’s new film on Netflix

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Beyond Borders

🌍️ Africa

Source: AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

🌍 🇺🇸 Business and besties: US Vice President, Kamala Harris visited Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia this past week to shore up US interests on the continent. On the agenda were the usual platitudes, deluxe dinners, massive debt restructuring and more empty promises than your toxic ex could muster. With China’s burgeoning global influence, the US is edgier than a cactus in a nudist colony, and it’s hardly a coincidence that two of the countries on Kamala’s itinerary (Tanzania and Zambia) boast large amounts of nickel—an important component for electric car batteries. (Watch)

🇰🇪 Politics and protests: Former Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga, paid off his promises by encouraging anti-government protests in Kenya on Mondays and Thursdays. Odinga, who claims an assassination attempt was made on his life, is seemingly using the economic plight of the ordinary Kenyan for his politically motivated purposes. Before Odinga suspended the protests on Sunday and agreed to talks with President Ruto, at least four people, including a police officer, had been reported dead.

Other headlines

The Ethiopian government dropped all charges against TPLF leaders

Oscar Pistorius’ request for a parole hearing was denied

Uhuru Kenyatta’s farm was raided and looted in a coordinated attack.

Bolloré Africa Logistics rebrands as Africa Global Logistics (AGL).

Mozambique faces a cholera outbreak after Cyclone Freddy

Watch: Gold heist

🗺️ The rest of the world

Source: TIME

🇮🇱 Israel riots: After the defense minister, Yoav Gallant insisted PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s government delay their unpopular judicial overhaul that most Israelis believe would castrate the judiciary and overpower Netanyahu, Netanyahu fired the defense minister, setting off strikes and riots that strained Israel’s economy. To “avoid civil war,” Netanyahu delayed the judicial overhaul until the parliament’s session at the end of April.

🇨🇳 🇹🇼 🇺🇸 Taiwan ties: China is strongly opposing US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's scheduled meeting with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, as it views Taiwan's independence as a provocation and a false recognition of its sovereignty (Background). The US has maintained a strategic ambiguity policy towards Taiwan for decades, but this is increasingly untenable as China becomes more assertive.

🐦 Flippin’ the (Twitter) bird: In a scramble for much-needed cash, Twitter announced it will charge a monthly fee of $8 for the verification badge, except for the top 500 advertisers and the 10,000 most followed organizations. The move, intended to increase the company's revenue, wasn’t well received, as several notable accounts, ranging from Lebron James and CNN to your local public figure with an overinflated sense of self, vowed not to buy the badge. *Grabs popcorn*