BLOG

Tackling road safety

Road traffic fatalities increased in Africa in the decade up to 2021, but declined in the rest of the world, suggesting a need to strengthen road safety on the continent. A World Health Organisation survey shows that Africa’s road traffic fatality rate — 19.4 deaths per 100,000 people — exceeds

Fighting the continent’s waste problem

Nigeria announced a ban on single-use plastics in government offices this week, ahead of a nationwide ban due to begin in January. It joins the growing list of African countries aiming to tackle one of the world’s biggest pollution problems. Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest share of “uncontrolled” municipal solid waste disposal,

African pedestrians challenge.

African cities are largely inaccessible and unsafe for pedestrians because urban planners typically ignore their needs, a new study suggests. Urban development researchers focused on Ghana’s Accra New Town and Dome areas for the study. They found that policies and municipal plans pay little attention to how walking can be made

‘Birds are everywhere!’ Women bird guides in Uganda set a global example

Birdwatching is a rapidly growing and lucrative part of the tourism sector worldwide, but women make up a very small minority of professional guides. Uganda Women Birders, a bird guide club, is revolutionizing the industry by encouraging and supporting women who want to get into the business. Anita Elash reports

Plant scientists turn their attention to African staples.

Improved varieties of crops such as teff and cassava could alleviate hunger on the continent. Teff is a staple cereal that is grown across Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and parts of Kenya, where it feeds some 150mn people. It tends to grow tall and thin, though — which makes it fragile.

New upcountry tournée 😃

We are very proud to inform you that our next tournée, escorted by Doctors with Africa CUAMM and founded by The Mercury Phoenix Trust, will propose an integrated approach to reduce HIV/AIDS risky practices and increase the adoption of safer sexual behaviours among adolescents in Oyam District within the Lango peoples in northern Uganda. This will be achieved through circus

Africa is looking to nuclear power

Ugandan Energy Minister Okasai Sidronius Opolot said he had acquired land for the construction of East Africa’s first nuclear power plant. Already in 2017 the government announced its intention to build a 2,000 megawatt nuclear power plant by 2032. The project received authorization from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Africa sees a sharp rise in road traffic deaths as motorbike taxis boom.

The number of people who died in traffic incidents in Africa rose by 17% in the past decade, despite global road traffic deaths falling by 5%, according to the World Health Organization. The Road Safety report found that nearly one in five fatal traffic incidents across the world occurred in Africa. “Part

The world’s biggest bat colony gathers in Zambia every year.

Everybody who visits Kasanka National Park in Zambia during “bat season” agrees that the evening emergence of African straw-coloured fruit bats from their roost site is one of the wildlife wonders of the world. The bats (Eidolon helvum) arrive at Kasanka every year around October. The numbers swell rapidly until

Concerns Grow over Sports Betting in Africa.

In at least five African countries, many people consider sports gambling a way to get regular income. Some consider sports gambling a way out of poverty. But critics warn that sports betting in Africa is increasing while poverty, unemployment and a lack of industry rules remain big problems. In one

A collection of exciting news, pictures and insights about Hiccup Circus Uganda activities with interesting stories from our communities, our country and Africa.