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Rwanda Considers Removing Statute of Limitations on Human Trafficking Prosecutions
Kigali, Rwanda | 25 July 2026
EAC Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme and Other Regional Awards Open to Applicants
Regional | Application window open, deadlines through August 2026
The East African Community Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme remains open for applications, offering 197 scholarship slots for diploma, undergraduate, master's and PhD study across 28 universities in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
File Photo
President Paul Kagame. File Photo
WFP and UNICEF Launch Joint Cash and Nutrition Response for Karamoja, Uganda
Karamoja, Uganda | July 2026
WFP and UNICEF are running a joint humanitarian nutrition response in Uganda's Karamoja region, funded through the Uganda Humanitarian Fund, after the 2026 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification found that 473,000 people, about 32 percent of the region's analysed population, face crisis level hunger or worse between April and July, including roughly 41,000 in Emergency phase.
Rwanda is considering legislation to remove the statute of limitations on human trafficking offences, which would allow prosecutions regardless of when the crime occurred, according to reporting carried on 25 July. The reform is intended to close prosecutorial gaps in cases that can take years to investigate across multiple jurisdictions, during which evidence and witness availability often lapse under standard limitation periods.
Rwanda Begins Compensation Payments for Regional Rusizi III Hydropower Project
Rwanda | 24 July 2026
Arms Smuggling Flagged as Key Risk to South Sudan's December 2026 Elections
Juba, South Sudan | 24 July 2026
A 24 July analysis from the Institute for Security Studies warned that illicit arms flows, compounded by spillover from the Sudanese civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces, pose a serious threat to South Sudan's scheduled December 2026 general elections. Despite a UN Security Council arms embargo in place since 2018, illicit weapons inflows persist.
Statistics House-Uganda. File Photo
Mohsin Tahir, the project leader. Photo Courtesy
Members of the Election Security committee. Photo by UNDP/Amos Agiro
Uganda's Fuel Price Surge Pushes Inflation Toward Central Bank Ceiling
Kampala, Uganda | 24 July 2026
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics reported, in data released around 24 July, that headline inflation reached 3.7 percent for the twelve months to June 2026, up from 3.2 percent in May, driven principally by fuel costs linked to disruptions tied to the Middle East conflict. Energy, fuel and utilities inflation rose to 11.9 percent for the year to June, up sharply from 9.1 percent in May.
Rusizi III Energy Limited confirmed that signing of compensation agreements for project affected households under the 206 megawatt Rusizi III Regional Hydropower Project began in Rwanda's Nzahaha Sector on 20 July, with reporting on the exercise current as of 24 July. Approximately seven million US dollars, roughly ten billion Rwandan francs, will be paid to Rwandan households
Rwanda Reports Repatriation of 289 Human Trafficking Victims Since 2025
Kigali, Rwanda | 23 to 24 July 2026
Kenyan Detectives Rescue 48 Women in Trafficking and Webcam Exploitation Raids
Nairobi, Kenya | 24 July 2026
Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations announced on 24 July the rescue of 48 young women following coordinated raids on two suspected trafficking and sexual exploitation operations in Kajiado County. In Ongata Rongai's Rimpa area, detectives acting on a public tip found 30 women aged 19 to 27 inside a residence converted into a commercial webcam production studio equipped with camera fitted laptops and streaming equipment.
EAC Central Bank Governors. Courtesy/Photo
File Photo/Courtesy
DCI Headquarters in Nairobi. Courtesy Photo
EAC Central Bank Governors Report Uneven Progress on Single Currency Roadmap
Kampala, Uganda | 24 July 2026
Governors and senior officials from the central banks of the East African Community convened in Kampala on 24 July for the 29th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Monetary Affairs Committee, chaired by Bank of Uganda Governor Michael Atingi Ego. The meeting reviewed progress toward the bloc's revised roadmap for a single East African currency, targeted for 2031.
Rwanda's Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, told the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Unity and Security on 23 July that the government has facilitated the return of 289 trafficking victims from four countries since 2025. The breakdown given was 101 individuals from Cambodia, 99 from Oman, 58 from Laos and 31 from Myanmar, tracked between 2025 and March 2026.
President Ruto Meets British High Commissioner, Advances Kenya-UK Economic Partnership and National Infrastructure Fund
NAIROBI — 23 July 2026
Ethiopia's National Dialogue Conference Enters Second Week with 4,000 Delegates Deliberating Constitutional Reform
ADDIS ABABA — 23 July 2026
Ethiopia's National Dialogue Conference, which opened on 15 July 2026 in Addis Ababa, is examining some of the most sensitive questions in the country's political life, including federalism, citizenship, and the constitutional amendment process. The three-week conference has brought together more than 4,000 representatives from regional states, political parties, civil society organisations, religious institutions, and the diaspora.
Tanzania's Minister for Finance Khamis Mussa Omar speaking at the event. Courtesy/Photo
President Ruto and UK Envoy Matt Baugh. Courtesy/Photo
Delegates and Representatives at the National Dailogue- Addis Ababa. Courtesy Photo
Tanzania Lists Inaugural Offshore Shilling-Denominated Bond on London Stock Exchange, Signals Possible Eurobond
LONDON / DAR ES SALAAM — 23 to 24 July 2026
Tanzania listed its inaugural Tanzanian shilling-denominated offshore bond on the London Stock Exchange on Friday 24 July 2026, marking a major step in the government's efforts to diversify financing for development projects and deepen access to international capital markets.
President William Ruto held talks with British High Commissioner to Kenya Matt Baugh at State House, Nairobi on 23 July 2026, focusing on deepening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment, and strengthening cooperation on regional peace and security.
East Africa Remains Continent's Fastest-Growing Region at 6.4 Percent as Ethiopia and Rwanda Lead Expansion
NAIROBI — July 2026
Rwanda Ranked Among Africa's Top Performers in 2026 IIF Investor Relations and Debt Transparency Report
KIGALI — July 2026
Rwanda has been ranked among Africa's top performers in the 2026 Institute of International Finance Investor Relations and Debt Transparency Report, highlighting the country's growing reputation for transparency in public debt management and communication with international investors.
Tanzania's Minister for Finance Khamis Mussa Omar speaking at the event. Courtesy/Photo
GDP Growth by region,2025
President Paula Kagame. Courtesy/File Photo
EAC Calls for New-Generation Border Reforms Following Monitoring Mission to Namanga and Lungalunga One Stop Border Posts
ARUSHA-20 July 2026
Following a monitoring mission to the Namanga and Horohoro/Lungalunga One Stop Border Posts, the East African Community has called for new-generation border reforms to modernise border operations, citing that regional trade is growing and East Africa's borders must evolve to keep pace.
East Africa is the continent's fastest-growing region in 2026, expanding at approximately 6.4 percent as Ethiopia and Rwanda power ahead. Ethiopia is projected to grow at approximately 9.8 percent, Rwanda at 7.3 percent, and Tanzania at 6.1 percent.
EAC to launch Uganda's virus institute as regional centre of excellence
Kenya's Rift Valley lake flooding reaches breaking point after years of rising waters
Baringo County, Kenya, 20 July 2026 – Communities around Kenya's Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria have reached a tipping point after months of continued flooding, following years of above average rainfall across the Rift Valley basin, according to researchers who have documented the crisis.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper Photo/Courtesy
UVRI-Entebbe. Photo/Courtesy
Not actual Image, for illustrative purpose only. @Pixels images-Safari Consoler
UK confirms deep aid cuts across East Africa, Kenya faces 93 percent reduction
London, 17 July 2026 - The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office published country-by-country allocations on 17 July confirming bilateral aid to Africa will fall 56% by 2028/29 as it cuts overall aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI. Kenya faces a 93% reduction, among the steepest cuts announced anywhere.
Entebbe, 20 July 2026 – The East African Community announced it will officially launch the Uganda Virus Research Institute as the EAC Regional Centre of Excellence in Virology on 22 July, in a move intended to strengthen the region's capacity to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks including Ebola and Marburg.
East African Community adopts Bujumbura Resolutions on Kiswahili and artificial intelligence
UNICEF and UN mission support reintegration of South Sudan's child soldiers
Juba, 16 July 2026
The United Nations Children's Fund, together with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, said it continues to work with the Government of South Sudan to support the release and reintegration of children associated with armed forces and armed groups.
Photo/Courtesy
Regional leaders adopt the Bujumbura Resolutions on Kiswahili, Multilingualism and AI and unveil first steps towards a Kiswahili Trust Mark for artificial intelligence systems
@UNICEF/UN0275978/Chol
EAC launches online courses to strengthen regional statistical capacity
Arusha, 17 July 2026
The East African Community Secretariat launched a series of self paced online courses intended to strengthen statistical capacity across its Partner States, part of continuing efforts to improve the quality and comparability of regional data used for planning and policy making.
Bujumbura, 17 July 2026
The East African Community said its Partner States have adopted the Bujumbura Resolutions on Kiswahili, Multilingualism and Artificial Intelligence, committing the region to treating Kiswahili as a strategic component of its digital infrastructure.
Kenya health ministry reviews audit committee progress on governance
Gavi reports record childhood immunisation in 2025 but warns of funding gap
Geneva, 15 July 2026
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance said lower income countries achieved record levels of childhood immunisation in 2025, with 73 million children protected by Gavi supported vaccines, the highest number in the Alliance's history.
Photo/Courtesy
Kenya-MOH Officials
File/Photo
UNFPA marks World Population Day highlighting Tanzania's demographic choices
Dar es Salaam, 15 July 2026
The United Nations Population Fund marked World Population Day 2026 by highlighting its partnership with the Government of Tanzania to support young people's health, economic resilience and demographic planning.
Nairobi, 15 July 2026 –
Kenya's Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening governance, accountability and prudent management of public resources, following a meeting between Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga and the Ministerial Audit Committee at the ministry's Afya House headquarters.
Nyarugusu camp nears closure as final Burundian refugees leave Tanzania
WFP activates South Sudan's first drought anticipatory action plan
Juba and Eastern Equatoria, 10 July 2026
The United Nations World Food Programme and the Government of South Sudan activated the country's first ever drought anticipatory action plan, targeting more than 65,000 people in Budi and Kapoeta North counties as drought risk intensifies in Eastern Equatoria State.
Photo/Courtesy
/File Photo
File/Photo
AfDB to convene East Africa regulators on Mission 300 electricity access
Regional, 10 July 2026 –
The African Development Bank Group announced it will host a webinar on 14 July 2026 focused on regulatory readiness for Mission 300 in East Africa, bringing together regional electricity regulatory authorities, senior officials from African energy ministries, development partners and Mission 300 Compact Delivery and Monitoring Units.
Nyarugusu, Tanzania, 8 July 2026 –
The Nyarugusu refugee camp, which hosted more than 50,000 Burundian refugees less than a year ago, is now almost empty, with fewer than 200 Burundians remaining as repatriation operations accelerated over the preceding two months.
East African Community's new financing formula and budget take effect
Kenya's health insurer to disburse 16 billion shillings in payments for July
Nairobi, 2 July 2026
Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the Social Health Authority would disburse approximately 16 billion Kenyan shillings in payments covering the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund, the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund and the Primary Healthcare Fund for the month of July.
Somalia Minister of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Gamal Mohamed Hassan
EAC Heads of State/File Photo
Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale. File Photo
Somalia's embassy in China hosts industrialisation and special economic zones forum
Beijing, 2 July 2026 –
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in the People's Republic of China hosted the Somalia Industrialization and Special Economic Zones Forum, bringing together more than 300 Somali and Chinese business leaders, investors and chamber of commerce representatives to explore trade, industrial and investment opportunities between the two countries
Arusha, 1 July 2026
A revised financing formula for the East African Community took effect, requiring the bloc's eight partner states, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, to fund half the Community's budget through equal contributions and half according to each country's economic size.
African Union Convenes 8th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting with RECs in El Alamein
South Sudan: 7.8 Million Face Acute Food Insecurity as Famine Risk Persists in Four Counties
JUBA, June 2026
Four counties in South Sudan face a credible risk of Famine through July 2026, according to the FAO-WFP Hunger Hotspots report released in mid-June. The counties of Luakpiny/Nasir, Ulang, Akobo, and Nyirol are at highest risk, contingent on a renewed escalation of conflict, further displacement, and reduced humanitarian access.
EAC Member states Flags
AU/ Photo/Courtesy
Hunger In South Sudan. Photo/Courtesy WFP
East Africa secures US$9 million for regional financial integration
ARUSHA, Tanzania, 24 June 2026
The African Development Fund has approved a US$9 million grant to strengthen financial integration across East Africa, providing new support for efforts to deepen regional capital markets, modernise payment systems and improve regulatory cooperation among participating countries.
EL ALAMEIN, EGYPT, 27 June 2026
The African Union convened the 8th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting between the AU Commission and the Chairpersons of the continent's eight recognised Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms in El Alamein, Egypt, on 27 June, the principal continental forum for aligning AU and REC agendas.
EAC Advances Single Digital Market at D4D Forum
Somalia: Famine Risk Identified in Burhakaba as Drought-Driven Displacement Accelerates
MOGADISHU / GENEVA, June 2026 — The FAO-WFP Hunger Hotspots report identified Burhakaba District in Somalia as carrying an active risk of Famine, reflecting a broader deterioration in acute food insecurity conditions driven by multiple consecutive below-average rainy seasons, record-low crop production, conflict, and declining humanitarian assistance.
FAO-WFP Hunger Spot Report. Photo/Courtesy
Ms Paola Trevisan Speaking at the EAC D4D forum. Photo/Courtesy
An internally displaced Somali woman, and her children stand near the carcasses of their livestock following severe drought near Somalia. © Feisal Omar, REUTERS
FAO and WFP Identify DRC and South Sudan Among World's Most Critical Hunger Contexts for June to November 2026
ROME, 17 June 2026
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme released their biannual Hunger Hotspots report, warning that acute food insecurity is expected to worsen across 13 countries between June and November 2026.
ARUSHA, 24 June 2026
The East African Community convened the 2026 Digital for Development Forum under the theme "From Strategy to Implementation: Building the Digital Single Market," advancing concrete steps toward cross-border digital integration across its eight partner states.
African Development Bank Advances Somalia Economic Governance and Infrastructure Development Project"
Kenya: AfDB Approves 68.39 Million Euros to Complete Thwake Multipurpose Water Dam
NAIROBI — June 2026
The African Development Bank Group's Board of Directors approved 68.39 million euros in additional financing on 22 May 2026 to secure the completion and long-term sustainability of Kenya's Thwake Multipurpose Water Development Program Phase I.
Photo/Courtesy
Mogadishu, Banadir, Somalia. Photo/Courtesy/Pixel Images
Photo/Courtesy/ AFDB
Kenya Hosts First Our Ocean Conference on African Soil
Mombasa | 18 June 2026
Kenya hosted the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa from 16 to 18 June 2026, marking the first time the global ocean summit was held on African soil.
Abidjan | 17 June 2026
The African Development Bank listed a Somalia project appraisal report dated 17 June 2026 for the Strengthening Economic Governance and Infrastructure Development Project.
AfDB Approves 155.99 Million Euros to Upgrade Uganda's Arua Airport into International Facility
Countries Adopt Mombasa Declaration to Fight Illegal Fishing
Mombasa | 18 June 2026
Fifteen countries adopted the Mombasa Declaration during the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Kenya, committing to strengthen action against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The initiative is intended to improve transparency in fisheries governance and protect marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.
File Photo/Pixel
Photo/Courtesy/ AFDB
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UNESCO Ocean Commission Advances Science Agenda at Mombasa Conference
Mombasa | 18 June 2026
UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission participated in the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, advancing the role of ocean science, data and international cooperation in marine protection.
ARUA, UGANDA — 19 June 2026
The African Development Bank Group's Board of Directors approved financing of 155.99 million euros on 19 June 2026 to upgrade Arua Airport in northwestern Uganda into an international-standard aviation facility under Phase 1 of the Uganda Airports Development Programme.
EAC Kicks Off Political Confederation Constitution Consultations in Rwanda; Process Covers Four Cities Through 27 June
President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina. Photo/Courtesy
EAC Partner States Officials. Photo/Courtesy
Photo/Courtesy/ IGAD
World Bank and AfDB Say Mission 300 Has Connected Over 50 Million People to Electricity
Cape Town | 16 June 2026
The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group announced that Mission 300 has connected more than 50 million people to electricity across 40 African countries.
KIGALI, 15–16 June 2026.
The East African Community launched national stakeholder consultations in Rwanda on 15 June on the drafting of a constitution for the proposed EAC Political Confederation.
Tanzania Economy Reaches USD 91.81 Billion in 2025 After GDP Rebasing; Government Targets 1.7 Million New Jobs in 2026
Ethiopia Tables Record 2.34 Trillion Birr Budget for 2026/27; Finance Minister Cites Macroeconomic Reform Progress
Ethiopia's Council of Ministers approved a record 2.34 trillion birr (USD 14.8 billion) budget for 2026/27 on 9 June, tabled in Parliament on 11 June. Finance Minister cites macroeconomic reform progress; IMF projects 9.2 percent GDP growth.
DODOMA, June 2026.
Tanzania's GDP reached USD 91.81 billion in 2025 at 5.9 percent growth, confirmed by a National Bureau of Statistics rebasing exercise tabled in Parliament by the Planning and Investment Minister. Government targets 1.7 million new jobs in 2026.
UN Team Ethiopia/Addis Ababa. Photo/ Courtesy UN
Professor Kitila Alexander Mkumbo, Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment
Ethiopia's Council of Ministers. Photo/Courtesy
WHO Ethiopia Promotes Action on Physical Activity and Hypertension Control
Addis Ababa | 12 June 2026
WHO Ethiopia has highlighted efforts by United Nations staff in Ethiopia to promote physical activity and hypertension control, drawing attention to the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases.
Tanzania, EU and UNCDF Align Actions Toward 80 Percent Clean Cooking Access by 2034
Arusha | 11 June 2026
Tanzania, the European Union, and the United Nations Capital Development Fund have aligned actions to support the country’s target of reaching 80 percent clean cooking access by 2034.
Photo by: IOM Somalia
Mogadishu | 14 June 2026
The International Organization for Migration has announced a new housing scheme to advance durable solutions for 600 displacement-affected households in Mogadishu.
EU Ambassador to Tanzania and EAC, Christine Grau and an exhibitor in an interaction. Photo: UNCDF
Photo by: WHO Regional Offices
Kenya and Africa CDC Deepen Collaboration on Health Security
Kenya Tables Health Tariff Amendments to Strengthen UHC Financing
Uganda Presents FY 2026/27 Budget Focused on Full Monetisation of the Economy
Kampala | 11 June 2026
Uganda presented its Budget Speech for the 2026/27 financial year under the theme of full monetisation of the economy through commercial agriculture, industrialisation, expanding services, digital transformation, and market access.
Nairobi | 10 June 2026
Kenya and Africa CDC have opened high-level consultations aimed at strengthening cooperation on regional health security, epidemic preparedness, and Africa’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
Photo/Courtesy
Nairobi | 12 June 2026
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation to present the Tariffs for Healthcare Services Amendment Regulations, 2026.
Photo/courtesy: Finance minister Henry Musasizi presents the FY 2026-27 budget in Kampala- June 11, 2026.
Photo/courtesy
Regional Health Leaders Formalize Cross-Border Health Security Cooperation
WHO Ethiopia and AHRI Explore Strategic Health Innovation Partnership
WHO Hands Over KSh 43 Million Maternal and Cancer Care Equipment to Kenya
Nairobi | 10 June 2026
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has received maternal and cancer care equipment worth KSh 43 million from the World Health Organization to strengthen services for women and newborns.
Arusha | 04 June 2026
Senior health officials from twelve countries in East, Central, and Southern Africa have concluded discussions aimed at strengthening regional cooperation on disease surveillance and emergency response.
Photo by WHO
Addis Ababa | 11 June 2026
The World Health Organization Ethiopia Country Office and the Armauer Hansen Research Institute are exploring a strategic partnership to advance health research, innovation, local pharmaceutical production and health security.
Photo By:
Photo by: MoH
AfDB Approves 650 Million Dollars for Uganda's Kampala to Malaba Standard Gauge Railway
Somalia Hunger Crisis Deepens as WFP Warns Emergency Assistance Faces Collapse by July Without New Funding
Tanzania Invests 56 Million Dollars in Southern Safari Circuit Infrastructure Upgrades
DAR ES SALAAM — June 2026
Tanzania has invested 56 million dollars in tourism infrastructure upgrades across its southern safari circuit, targeting Nyerere, Ruaha, and Mikumi national parks.
BRAZZAVILLE — Late May 2026
The African Development Bank has tentatively allocated approximately 650 million dollars to partially fund the construction of a standard gauge railway linking Kampala to Malaba on the Kenyan border, Uganda's Finance Ministry disclosed following meetings at the Bank's annual meetings in Brazzaville.
Photo /Courtesy/WFP
MOGADISHU — 7 May 2026 (updated June 2026)
Somalia's humanitarian crisis worsened significantly in the first half of 2026 as drought, reduced humanitarian funding, and the economic impact of conflict in the Middle East deepened food insecurity across the country.
Photo By:
Photo/Courtesy
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