Author: Jane Babirye

President Paul Kagame was on 24 October 2024 recognized by the All-Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in collaboration with CNBC Africa as the African of the Year at Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa. According to the organizers, the winner is awarded for “their commitment to excellence and transformative leadership that inspires us all to embrace the potential of our continent.” Thus, a rigorous selection process is employed, where a panel of esteemed judges evaluate nominees on various criteria. Among these are: Vision and Leadership, where candidates must demonstrate visionary leadership that aligns with their country’s growth trajectory. Social Impact,…

Ugandan pastor Martin Sempa recently took to his X account to announce that his son, Josiah, will marry his girlfriend, whom he met on a dating app. The phrase “online dating” sparked a storm of reactions from the so-called “online in-laws” (myself included). Why? It’s ironic, given Sempa’s image as a self-proclaimed moral crusader—his viral “eat da poo poo” and “are you gay” videos from 2021—seems at odds with the digital matchmaking world. As we navigate the 21st century, relationships have evolved, but culture and religion continue to hold strong significance for many Africans. In fact, we’re embracing our heritage…

Let’s be honest, the announcement by RDB postponing Kwita Izina to a later date than the earlier communicated 18th October was a bummer. We were sat– moods high, ready to wind up summer with a blast. Having spent the first months of the season in Kigali, we couldn’t wait to go out of the city for some fresh air and breeze. Nonetheless, we’ll still take advantage of the pleasant weather October offers. The big plan: wildlife viewing in Volcanoes National Park, Akagera, and Nyungwe, among other things. Want to tag along? Read on as Jessica Umutesi, a tourism expert from…

If there’s one phrase we use more when ushering in a fresh year than ‘Happy New Year’, it’s “New Year New Me”. For the writers, entering a new year can be compared to owning a new book, its pages blank, while holding the pen to write the story you want. For those in the business world, it can be related to being handed a blank cheque and told to fill in whatever figures suit your desires. That feeling is priceless. For the rest of us, a new year is a fresh start. A second chance that the universe grants us…

For decades, Dative Mukeshimana and her family lived off the lush rainforest in Volcanoes National Park, Northern Rwanda, where they thrived as foragers, hunting wild animals and gathering crops like wild honey, vegetables, and meat. What seems like the ‘perfect life’ today—hiking through nature, tracking wildlife, and enjoying fresh, hunted food—was once a dangerous life – style that constantly put their lives at risk. Mukeshimana recalls numerous life threatening encounters with wild life while scavenging for food. This same way of life also led her and her community to be labelled as ‘society’s marginalised group,’ facing discrimination at social gatherings…

You didn’t have to be a TikTok user to learn about the ‘very demure, very mindful’ phrase that took the internet by storm in August 2024. Created by Jools Lebron—username joolieannie—the phrase in question means ‘being mindful and considerate of the people around you, but also of yourself and how you’re represented to the world.’ “See how I do my makeup for work? Very demure, very mindful. I don’t do too much. A lot of you girls go to the interview, looking like Marge Simpson and go to the job looking like Patty and Selma, not demure,” said Lebron in…

Fashion is supposed to be personal, right? We should all express ourselves and our individuality. But, come on, there are some style choices that make you want to roll your eyes or scream internally. We’ve all been there—walking down the street, seeing someone wear something so off-putting that it makes you wonder, “Why?” Here’s a rundown of some of those clothing icks and appearance styles that the SENS fashion police neither finds demure, mindful nor cutesy!! Socks with Sandals Let’s just start here. Sandals are made for the sole purpose of letting your feet breathe, yet some people feel the…

Primarily restored to combat the profound impacts of flooding at Nyandungu wetland due to runoff water that flows from the areas of Rusororo, Kimironko, Remera, and the vicinity, Nyandungu Eco Park has revolutionized to become a den of tranquility for city dwellers. Open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, 7 days a week, this sanctuary’s innovative environmental ethos, a blend of ecological preservation and community engagement, ranks high on must-visit places in Kigali, attracting over 6,000 persons a month. According to Peace Izamukuza, the park manager, their guests are charmed mainly by the scenic nature cycling, scooting, and walking trails…

In a strategic move to address the rising threat of Mpox in the country, the City of Kigali has called upon all commercial building owners–private or public–to put in place handwashing stations for people accessing the premises. According to a press release by the City of Kigali, the initiative is aimed at promoting personal hygiene as well as preventing the spread of diseases, particularly Mpox that has recently affected a number of countries in the region. The authorities thus warned all those who will fail to abide by the directives to await penalties as per the 2021 Kigali City Council…

In her remarks at the recently concluded Women’s Mental Health and Gender Equity in Business Forum, Vanessa Zuba, a Gender Equity Advocate raised concerns about how everyone talks about ‘Women Empowerment’ and never ‘Men Empowerment’. Her thesis was that empowered women have to deal with unempowered men, which affects women’s overall well-being. My friend Liv echoed the same sentiment days back, though from a marriage perspective. In her words, “I hate how they make us do all sorts of things, especially to our bodies, all in the name of ‘this will help you once you get married’, but you never…