💰 More Money, More Problems

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Good morning 🌤️ We expect a Nyege Nyege hangover to reflect in the readership of this week’s issue, so we won’t take it personally. In fact, we’d like to do more. Here’s a link to a video on the art of pickpocketing. We have a feeling it might be relevant.

Have a good week!

—Gloria Mbabazi, Shem Opolot

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HEADLINES
💰 More Money, More Problems

Through its dealings with Kenya, the Uganda government can relate to the betrayal you felt after your last relationship. The recent decision by Uganda to contract Vitol to supply all of its petroleum needs was a result of Kenya signing two government-government fuel deals with the UAE and Saudi Arabia without informing Uganda of the negotiations. Feeling spurned (another feeling you’ve shared with the pearl of Africa), Uganda decided to start buying its fuel on a government-to-government basis, cutting out Kenyan oil marketing companies. This has put more ice on an already chilly relationship between the two governments. Kenya refused UNOC’s request to use its oil pipeline, citing technicalities, and the Kenyan High Court hasn’t made a decision on it yet.

Kenya has a well-documented history of mood swings when it comes to trade with Uganda (see milk, poultry, and sugar).

🔒 Opposition 1 Government 0

After weeks of political tension and opposition boycotts, the government has agreed to launch new investigations into the disappearance of 18 missing individuals belonging to or affiliated with NUP. This breakthrough came after a meeting facilitated by the Speaker of Parliament, where both the opposition and government engaged in dialogue. The government had initially refused to provide further explanations but has now agreed to do so. The opposition, however, will only return to parliamentary sessions when the government specifies a date for their statement. The opposition remains steadfast in its demand for transparency and accountability, and another meeting is scheduled for next week to assess progress.

🇰🇪 Kenya

Kenya wants $237.55M to transform its 1,000 troops into Haiti's saviours as part of the Multinational Security Support mission. This hefty bill excludes all the other countries that have also volunteered to send troops. Heroism comes at a very steep price, indeed.

 🇷🇼 Rwanda

In a commendable effort, 6,600 refugees in Rwanda have found new homes, marking a total of 30,000 resettlements since 2010. This program, hailed as a durable solution, provides refugees, predominantly from DR Congo and Burundi, a chance to rebuild their lives.

🇹🇿 Tanzania

Tanzania and Uganda join forces for a gas pipeline, promising energy security and economic growth. The pipeline, which taps into Tanzania's natural gas and aims to fuel electricity and industries in Uganda, marks a noteworthy step in East Africa's energy integration.

Other headlines

M7 defiant over removal from U.S. trade pact. 

EU commits Shs. 78b for refugee response.

U.S., and U.K. issue terror alerts on Nyege Nyege.

Shs. 6bn deal signed to fund seven innovators.

Witnesses present iron sheets in Lugoloobi anti-corruption trial.

Disbursement of Parish Development Model funds kicks off in Kampala.

World Bank funding sought by government to train artists.

EACOP Project: truth, myths and facts.

Hoima-Kampala road closed after River Kafu floods.

UPDF ready to evict defiant Balaalo.

Kidepo National Park airport given green light by M7.

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BEYOND BORDERS 
Africa 

🇸🇦 Saudi-Africa Summit. Riyadh turned into the hottest diplomatic runway on November 10, 2023. The three-day event was a historic first, as leaders from 50 nations across the Middle East and Africa, flocked to Saudi Arabia to boost ties—because nothing greases the wheels of friendship better than oil and investment. The Saudi finance minister waxed poetic about the shared history and blossoming romance between Saudi Arabia and Africa while the Investment Minister, armed with a bouquet of cash, declared love in the form of significant investments, leaving Africa swooning. Some of the African leaders in attendance included the presidents of Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia, Djibouti, and Mauritania, the prime ministers of Ethiopia and Niger, and the foreign minister of Egypt. Highlights include:

• The "Riyadh Declaration - Roadmap of Saudi-African Cooperation" was issued, describing the summit as an "important historical turning point in the relations of African countries with the Kingdom."

• The summit saw the signing of deals worth around €500 million.

• The King Salman Development Initiative in Africa was launched, which aims to bring water to African countries over a period of 10 years.

🇸🇩 Sudan war update. Over 6 months later, the war in Sudan between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rages on, causing significant loss of lives and displacement of millions of people. Since April 2023, the conflict has devastated the capital Khartoum and sparked ethnically driven attacks in Darfur, threatening to plunge Sudan into a protracted civil war and destabilize the region. Here are updates:

• The war has caused 1,017,449 people to cross from Sudan into neighbouring countries, and those displaced within Sudan are estimated to number 3,433,025.

• Despite efforts led by Saudi Arabia and the United States to negotiate a ceasefire, the conflict continues, and humanitarian agencies have struggled to provide relief due to insecurity, looting, and bureaucratic hurdles.

• Multiple ceasefires negotiated by Saudi Arabia and the United States in Jeddah, and agreed to by both warring parties, have been regularly violated.

Other headlines

South Sudan set to take EAC chairmanship.

Malema criticises Ruto for 'failing to deliver.' 

UN, DRC army launch joint operation against M23 rebels.

Somalia swamped by flooding after historic drought.

Credit Suisse ends 'tuna bond' dispute with shipbuilder Privinvest.

Namibia starts construction of Africa's first decarbonised iron plant.

Davido bags three Grammy nominations.

Kenyan preacher of deadly doomsday cult found guilty.

Tinubu approves spending millions on a presidential yacht and SUVs for lawmakers.

South Africa deploys army to combat illegal mining.

The rest of the world 

🤖 AI is coming. ‘Twas a riveting week for advancements in artificial intelligence, and because the prevailing circumstances in your life (being Ugandan and whatnot) conspire to keep you in the dark, we’re bringing you up to speed. Two major product updates dropped this week that could change everything forever:

The Humane AI pin. In a sterile but riveting 10-minute video launched on their X/Twitter page, Humane, a company founded by two former Apple employees, launched their AI pin. The pin, which is meant to be worn like a lapel pin and is designed to replace the smartphone, comes with a cellular plan, ChatGPT integration, a partnership with Tidal for music, and a laser pointer that projects images onto the user’s palm. While reviews of the device, which hits the U.S. market at $699 with a $24 monthly subscription, are mixed, Humane’s innovation is likely a watershed moment for cellular technology and AI-smartphone integration.

OpenAI lets you create your own GPT. OpenAI released its latest version of the technology that underpins its viral ChatGPT, known as GPT-4 Turbo, which has been trained with information dating to April 2023.
But more interestingly, OpenAI launched GPTs to allow individuals and businesses to build customized versions of ChatGPT. For example, you can create a GPT to solve only your company’s problems or to teach your child primary-level math. The possibilities are endless.
But it gets better—OpenAI will let users share their customized GPTs with the public via a GPT store, and if their GPTs are popular, users can earn income.

On a lesser note, Elon Musk announced the launch of his own AI chatbot called Grok, which he claims will “have a sense of humor.” However, more importantly, Grok will have real-time access to Twitter’s database, and therein lies its competitive edge (for what Twitter’s worth).

In less than a year since ChatGPT launched and plucked artificial intelligence from Terminator movies on our TV screens to our doorsteps and beneath our fingertips, the advancements have been fast, if not terrifying.

However you feel about it all, it’s in your best interest not to be ignorant. So, here’s an encyclopedia of all the AI tools that exist, and here’s a bible for your reference.

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NN’EBIGENDERAKO
Politics and Government

18-hour hostage drama in Hamburg

Portugal Prime Minister steps down

King Charles III delivers the first King’s speech in seven decades.

Israel-Hamas war update

Business and Finance

WeWork bankruptcy

ICBC, the world’s biggest bank, was hit by a ransomware attack that forced them to trade using a USB stick.

Science and Technology

YouTube has started blocking ad blockers.

Elon Musk’s brain implant startup has authorization to start surgery.

The world’s largest aircraft tests the sky.

A successful eyeball transplant

Sports

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are backing a new golf league

Lifestyle and Entertainment

The actors' strike is over.

Grammy nominations are in.

PROCRASTINATION CORNER
Games and Puzzles

From Braingle.
When you curtail a word, you remove the last letter and still have a valid word. You will be given clues for the two words, longer word first.
Example: Begin -> Heavenly body
Answer: The words are Start and Star.

1. Long, deep cut -> Petrol; a state of matter
2. Fabric; textile -> Coagulate; a lump
3. Shrub; low plant with many branches -> Multi-passenger vehicle
4. Low-lying wetland -> A planet
5. Lavish; fabric with a long, soft nap -> Math operation
6. Gateway with a curved top -> Part of a circle
7. Forward in time or place -> Strong building for troops
8. An ordinal number -> Portable shelter for camping

Answer at the bottom.

Our picks

💡 Watch: Globalization is breaking

💡 Choo choo! A round-the-world train ride is coming soon

💡 Learn: How Netflix conquered Hollywood

Games answer

Answer:
1. Gash -> Gas
2. Cloth -> Clot
3. Bush -> Bus
4. Marsh -> Mars
5. Plush -> Plus
6. Arch -> Arc
7. Forth -> Fort
8. Tenth -> Tent

Have a good week!

— Too Long; Didn’t Read (TLDR)

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