Could Ugandan Rail Deal Convince China To Help Get Kenyan Project Back On Track?
October 23rd, 2024
Via South China Morning Post, a report on a recently announced rail project in Uganda could have wide-ranging implications for neighbouring Kenya: A Ugandan construction deal could provide the impetus needed to see China hand over extra financing to a stalled rail project in Kenya, according to observers. On Monday last week, Uganda awarded Turkish construction firm Yapi […]
Read more »Africa’s EV Revolution: Two Wheels, Not Four
October 22nd, 2024
Via The Economist, a look at why Africa’s EV revolution has two wheels not four: With his electric motorcycle resting on the curbside, Stephen Omusugu explains the economics. The two-wheel-taxi man from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, went electric a month ago, after watching several of his colleagues do the same. He took out a loan for the […]
Read more »God, Bars, Roads, and The Struggle for The African Economy
October 9th, 2024
Via Pan African Review, commentary on how a drive into Africa’s heartland serves up endless churches and loud roadside bars rather than factories or other businesses: Some years ago, the Uganda government rebuilt and widened the road from the western region city of Mbarara to Kabale onwards to the border with Rwanda. It was a […]
Read more »Vroom, Vroom: Cheap Asian Motorcycles Are Transforming African Cities
August 19th, 2024
Courtesy of The Economist, a look at how inexpensive Asian motorcyles are transforming African cities: At the Haojue showroom in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, Gaston Kamo dusts the latest model’s ruby-red fuel tank. “With motorcycles you can go everywhere, even muddy roads,” says the salesman for the Chinese manufacturer. The gleaming 125cc bike costs 1.25m Rwandan francs […]
Read more »Uganda Doubles Oil-Industry Budget as Start of Production Nears
June 16th, 2024
Via Bloomberg, an article on Uganda’s decision to increase its oil industry budget: Uganda more than doubled its annual budget for the oil and gas industry as it moves closer to the start of production, targeted for the next financial year. The government allocated 920.9 billion shillings ($246 million) to the sector for the year […]
Read more »The End of Secondhand Clothes
June 1st, 2024
Via Foreign Policy, an article on how a major source of work for women in East Africa is suddenly under threat: At Kampala’s sprawling Owino market, Millicent Mukwezi opens up a bundle of secondhand clothes while her assistant keeps an eye on the buyers eagerly rifling through in search of bargains. Mukwezi buys the clothing […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.