Traditionally, microfinance in Africa was a costly business that carried credit risk. Loan officers often made transactions with limited customer data. These customers may be scattered across remote areas with varying physical conditions. The labour involved would discourage officers from attracting more customers. Advances in digital financial services (or fintech) and the introduction of regulation in recent years has increased…
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt.” MP, David Lammy obviously has not heeded the advice of Abraham Lincoln. His pontification, this week, regarding Stacey Dooley visiting Uganda, do him no favours. She is representing Comic Relief in an advocacy role, in defence of the poorest of the poor. His…
We always know when it is summer here in Ireland – the rain is warmer! The Emerald Isle is soaked, and the winter drizzle shows no sign of relenting. But it will. When it does, I will walk down the country lane and enjoy a million shades of green in this very lush land. I spare a thought for my…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yXL50avh7c A recent news investigation by media outlet NBS has highlighted the horrific and shocking world of child trafficking in Karamoja in eastern Uganda. In the nation’s capital of Kampala the percentage of people classed as poor and vulnerable is less than 11% – in Karamoja the number rises to more than 90%. One distressing by-product of this is that…
The inspiration for the Disney’s ‘Queen of Katwe’ was a girl who lived in the largest slum of Kampala, Uganda. The film showcases the incredible determination of a girl, all that she had to overcome, and what many girls like her face each day. This Queen of Katwe, Phiona Mutesi, has gone on to represent Uganda at four chess Olympiads and win three…
