The Uganda Development Bank (UDB) has embarked on an aggressive plan to persuade the local business community to borrow money at relatively lower interest rates with longer term repayment periods, compared to most lenders in Uganda.

Officials from the development bank say they have funds provided by a number of agencies such as Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KF), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) which can be lent out at below market rates.

On July 1, 2011 the common market for East Africa will mark its first anniversary whose commemoration is expected to reveal outstanding concerns on realization of its bench-marked initial achievements.

A lot of activities have been going on in the East African Business Council and have involved, among others, arrangements to harmonize standards for the goods and services as well as having a monetary union in place by 2012.

For those working in Uganda's tourism and hospitality sector, the much-feared adverse effects of the current political unrest has already caught up with them.

The tourism sector - which includes air transport and facilitators, hotels, tour and travel companies and crafts sellers - has recorded negative sales because of the recent violence arising from police crackdown on Walk-to-Work protestors.

Some key players in the tourism industry this week came out to warn that unless some peaceful means pursued between the government and the opposition to resolve the political crisis, their businesses - which are sensitive to unrest - is headed for some catastrophe as earnings, jobs will be lost.

A group of women in Arua town have found fame for producing affordable quality washing soap made from a backyard factory.
At a time when prices of soap and other essential household commodities have sky rocked, dozens of people and retailers have discovered they can make savings by buying Rupa Quality Soap manufactured by the Wapendani women's group.

With a daily output of 140 bars, the women are finding themselves unable to meet the soaring demand for their product from hundreds of people who flock their rudimentary factory to obtain the basic item.