Pope Francis addresses Italian Catholic Action and emphasises the importance of embracing others through reflections on missing, saving, and life-changing embraces. Pope Francis greeted some 50,000 members of Italian Catholic Action in St Peter’s Square on Thursday 25 April as they gathered for their meeting between parents, grandparents, and children.  Speaking of the theme of the meeting, “With Open Arms”, the Pope noted that “embrace is one of the most spontaneous expressions of human experience” and that it is through an embrace that life begins.  For this reason, the Pope introd ..read more

Flooding and landslides in Tanzania caused by weeks of heavy rain have killed 155 people and injured 236 others, the country’s prime minister has said, as intense downpours continue across East Africa. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told Parliament that the El Nino climate pattern has worsened the ongoing rainy season, causing the flooding and destroying roads, bridges and railways. “The heavy El Nino rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods and landslides in various parts of the country, have caused significant damage,” Majaliwa told Parliament on Thursday. El Nino is a naturally occurring ..read more

Muslim extremists set on fire several homes of Christians in Minya, a province in southern Egypt, in a continuation of anti-Christian violence less than two weeks before Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter. According to The New Arab, when anti-Christian fanatics failed to dispossess Christians of their homes in retribution for attempting to build a church in Al-Fawakher village, they proceeded to burn down the houses on the evening of April 23. On his official Twitter account, Coptic Orthodox Bishop Anba Macarius wrote on April 24 that Egyptian security forces “brought the situation under con ..read more

Roads have turned into rivers in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, as a top official said flooding had “escalated to extreme levels”. Heavy rain has pounded Kenya in recent days, causing widespread devastation. The UN says that at least 32 people have lost their lives and more than 40,000 have been forced from their homes because of the rain and flooding. Edwin Sifuna, who oversees Nairobi county, posted footage showing an entire neighbourhood flooded. In the clip, residents can be seen trapped on the roofs of their homes. “The situation in Nairobi has escalated to extreme levels. The County Governm ..read more

Cecilia Kengoro Mutabanura is an Investment Specialist- Partnership and Engagement Affairs, Young Africa Works: Lead Firm Structure Project at Private Sector Foundation Uganda. Amelia Joannie Zanette caught up with her and she shared her notch in the business. Who is Mrs. Mutabanura I am a Christian, a wife and an introvert. I love music, film, travel and spending time with loved ones. Faith, family, compassion and humility are important values that have shaped my life. I work in the private sector development space, to influence the environment that enables more businesses to thrive and eleva ..read more

By Jimmy Odooki Acellam The 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) took place in Kampala, Uganda from January 15-17 and the theme of the conference was; “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.” Uganda’s President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni took over the mantle of NAM Chairperson from Chair of the 18th Summit, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Heydar Oghlu Aliyev. President Museveni will chair NAM for three years. NAM was the antidote to the irrational polarization of the World at the time between the Capitalist (Western countries) and the Communist (mainly Eastern co ..read more

Dr. Richard Komakech, PH.D. Nutritional richness positions chia as a versatile ingredient, Salvia hispanica L. (Family Lamiaceae), commonly known as chia, emerges as a botanical gem with a rich history rooted in Southern Mexico and Northern Guatemala. The vast Salvia genus, encompassing approximately 900 species, has been dispersed globally for thousands of years, leaving its botanical footprint across diverse regions, including Africa. In Uganda, a kilogram of Chia seeds can go for a price of between 4,000/= to 7,000/= shillings. Chia’s allure is not merely botanical; it extends to the realm ..read more

By Crystal Kiseka With multiple colourful vegetables, aromatic spices, and fluffy rice, this dish not only satisfies one’s taste buds but also provides a wealth of essential nutrients. The combination of vegetables and rice creates a well-balanced meal rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Dive into this vegetable curry with rice, savouring the medley of flavours and relishing the nutrient-packed goodness of a well-balanced meal that nourishes both your body and soul. INGREDIENTS For the Vegetable Curry 2 tablespoons vegetable oil – 2 cups mixed vegetables (carrots, bell peppers ..read more

By Fr Edward Kanyike MCCJ In traditional Africa, dance is more than entertainment. It is a celebration of life. This is why, watching Africans dance can give a clue of both their core values and main economic activities. It even gives insight into the geography of their land and the history of their tribe. Cattle keepers dance jumping. These are men of the spear; they are fighters by nature since they have to defend themselves and their cattle against raiders and predators. It seems as if they jump as high as possible to detect enemies from afar. Their women folk imitate the domestic animals b ..read more

By Joseline Byakatonda TIt is subtle to say that youth today find: Nothing breeds success like failure, most people admit, yet we still fear to fail. In life, we all experience rain showers of success and happiness and deserts or hot sun of failure, disappointments. Failure is an unpleasant experience, no doubt about that. It comes dressed in different forms; not achieving a desirable grade, unsuccessful job application or interview, a relationship gone sour, not being able to save a loved one, or any other set back. Yet as a reality, failure is a normal and necessary part of life and in most ..read more