Uganda

KAMPALA, Sept 12 (NNN-NEW VISION) — The asylum seeker and refugee population in Uganda has increased by about 48%, a report by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has revealed, indicating an increase in asylum seekers from Burundi, DR Congo and South Sudan.

According to Yonna Tukundane, the social media expert for UNCHR, by July, Uganda was host to 1,313,802 asylum seekers and refugees.

KAMPALA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. tourist and her tour guide who were kidnapped in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park on Tuesday by unknown gunmen have been rescued.

Ofwono Opondo, Uganda's government spokesman tweeted that the American tourist and her guide, who doubled as driver, were rescued on Sunday by the Ugandan security forces.

"Rescued alive from the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), safely back in Uganda. The kidnappers have escaped and operations continue," said Opondo.

KAMPALA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people on Saturday took part in a run in Uganda's capital Kampala aimed at popularizing China's proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China in 2013 proposed the BRI which refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa through the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road.

KAYUNGA, Uganda, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday inaugurated the Chinese-built Isimba Hydropower Plant on the Victoria Nile in the central part of the African country.

Addressing the inauguration, Museveni thanked the Chinese government for financing his country's transport and energy infrastructure projects, which are expected to put the country onto a fast track of development.

KAMPALA, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's security agencies and immigration department have deported the chief executive of the largest telecommunications company in the country over security reasons.

MTN Uganda on Friday confirmed the deportation of Wim Vanhelleputte.

"MTN has not been notified of the grounds for the deportation," the company tweeted.

Vanhelleputte, a Belgian national, was deported to Belgium late on Thursday over circumstances of threatening national security, said police spokesman Fred Enanga.

KAMPALA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday unveiled the largest solar power plant in East and Central Africa which has the capacity to generate a total of 20 megawatts of electricity.

The Kabulasoke Pilot Solar Park is located in the central Ugandan district of Gomba.

According to the State House Uganda, the president's official residence, the solar park project is already connected to the national grid and will serve more than 5 million people in rural areas.

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Poor countries around the world are facing a dangerous shortage of toilets that puts millions of live at risk, according to campaigners marking World Toilet Day by urging governments and businesses to invest more in sanitation.

The toilet crisis is most severe in parts of Africa and Asia facing extreme poverty and seeing a population boom.

by Ronald Ssekandi

LUWEERO, Uganda, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- At a middle school called Everest College in Luweero town of the Luweero district in central Uganda, Smith Mugisha said that he already has learned the Chinese language for nearly one year.

Customs in the Chinese culture must be followed in Chinese language learning, just like chopsticks have to be used when eating food, Mugisha said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Mugisha is among the 500 students at this middle school who have enrolled to learn the Chinese language.

WAKISO, Uganda, July 21 (Xinhua) -- China and the Ugandan government have launched a satellite television (TV) project in the central Ugandan district of Wakiso that will benefit over 500 villages.

Speaking at the launch on Friday, Janet Museveni, minister of education and sports said the initiative would be critical in digital learning.