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Somali Parliament passes press law

 

The Federal Parliament of Somalia has passed the Media Bill, eliciting praise from media lobby groups like the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).

According to NUSOJ, the passage of the bill is a “landmark achievement for the Somali media”.

“We welcome the approval of media law by (the) Federal parliament of Somalia; it is a milestone achievement for the Somalia media and journalists,” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said adding that the bill protects the media workers from unwarranted arrest and to freely exercise their freedom.

“A the major political change ahead and upcoming elections, the bill secures the safety of the journalists as well during the election period.” Mr. Ibrahim added.

Representatives from NUSOJ, Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA), Somali Women Journalists (SWJ) and the Network 2013, Media Association for Puntland (MAP) representing journalists and employers have been widely consulted throughout the process and have repeatedly submitted their concerns to the concerned authorities including the Parliamentary Media subcommittee, all of which were given at most considerations.

“It’s vital for our media and journalists to have a press regulations, in order for us to challenge the punitive criminal code, which criminalizes the work of the journalists,” Mr. Ibrahim said and implored the authorities to implement the law to its letter and spirit.

 

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Top musician shot dead in bar brawl

Master Blaster

Master Blaster of the ‘Embooko’ fame was in the wee hours of Tuesday morning shot dead in a bar brawl in Eden Service Park, Bwaise, EagleOnline has learnt.

Master Blaster
Master Blaster

According to Bukedde, Master Blaster was fighting with a yet to be identified South Sudanese national. When police tried to intervene and separate them, he was shot ‘accidentally’. Police, however, still holding investigations.

Ebooko became a house hold hit following its release by the deceased in 2007. To some, the late’s ‘Embooko’ hit was just another of those nonsense lyrics and yet to those with pregnant imaginations, Emboko reeks of vulgarity and sexual innuendo. May his soul rest in peace.

 

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Trillions spent on construction of Health Centres – Museveni

President Museveni

Close to two trillion shillings has been injected in the construction of Health Centre IIIs and IVs in Uganda.

According to President Yoweri Museveni, since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government came to power in 1986 it has constructed 930 Health Centres III and 193 Health Centres IV at a cost of Shs1.5 billion and 2.5 billion each, respectively.

In effect, the HCIIIs were constructed at a cost of UgShs 1.395 trillion, while the HCIVs cost 482.5 billion, bringing the total cost to 1.877.5 trillion shillings.

Mr Museveni made the revelation in a five-page communication while responding to assertions made following a visit to Abim Hospital by the Forum for Democratic Change flag bearer Dr Warren Kizza Besigye, who decried the current state of the medical facility in Northern Uganda.

‘Basing the Health care at the sub-county and the county (HC IIIs and HC IVs) has caused a Revolution in Uganda.  Infant mortality has declined from 122 to 44 per 1000 live births; life expectancy has risen from 43 years to 58.7 years in spite of the AIDs epidemic.  The immunization takes place, mainly in these Health Centre IVs and Health Centre IIIs not in Abim Hospital,’ Mr Museveni wrote.

Despite the development Mr Museveni said Shs700 million has been earmarked for the annual-phased rehabilitation of Abim hospital, to be carried out alongside the rehabilitation of other hospitals like Kiboga, Bundibugyo, Kitagata, Atutur, Bugiri, Kapchorwa, Kitgum, Itojo.

Mr Museveni also said the government had also strengthened its redevelopment programme of the existing health facilities, with the district hospitals of Kabale, Mbarara, Fort-Portal, Masaka, Hoima, Mubende, Arua, Gulu, Lira, Moroto, Soroti, Jinja, Mbale and Naguru already complete.

Those currently under renovation, he said, include Entebbe, Mityana, Nakaseke, Kiryandongo, Anaka, Nebbi, Moyo, Iganga, Kawolo, Kayunga, Yumbe and Busolwe.

Meanwhile, Mr Museveni said the Health Centres are conveniently located to serve more people and as a result, have led to a reduction in infant mortality and in several diseases and, to increased immunization.

According to Mr Museveni, who is also the NRM flag bearer in the 2016 elections, the new health structure adopted by his government has also seen the population of Uganda grow from 14 million in 1986 to 38 million by 2015.

‘Hospitals, however, have not stopped the improved health status of Ugandans because the majority of the answers were in prevention (immunization, hygiene, nutrition, behavior change, malaria control, vector control – tse tse flies, river blindness fly, etc.).  That is where the NRM started from.  If Dr. Besigye does not know that, I am informing him’ Mr Museveni noted, and also chided Dr Besigye for not taking note of the improved security in the country.

‘Is it not dishonest for Dr Besigye, to zoom around the country, by night and by day, in total peace, yet fail to even mention that?  Did Dr. Besigye see the electricity in Abim?  What did it cost the state to take power there, all the way from Lira?  As he noticed the unrehabilitated state of Abim hospital, surely, as an honest person, he could have also noticed the great improvements,’ Mr Museveni wrote.

Full text below;

RESPONSE TO DR. KIIZA BESIGYE ON THE ABIM HOSPITAL VISIT

 

As usual, Dr. Besigye is either not honest or not serious in the manner he visited and propagandized about the unrehabilitated state of Abim Hospital.  We all know that a number of the old hospitals are not yet rehabilitated, including Abim.  I have visited Abim Hospital myself several times, the last time being on the 24th of August 2015.

 

Following the collapse of the economy and the social services of Uganda of 1971-1986, the NRM decided to start with the prevention of diseases rather than waiting to cure them.  Hence, a totally new structure of health care was initiated in the country levels.  This was centered on the brand new Health Centre IVs at the county and Health Centre IIIs at the sub county.    These are 193 Health Centre IVs and 930 Health Centre IIIs (mostly new) in the whole country.  Dr. Besigye, if he was honest or serious, should have visited the 3 Health Centre IIIs in Abim.  These are at: Rwogom in Nyakwai Sub-County, Alerek in Alerek Sub-County and Orwamuge in Notuke Sub-County.  It is these that have carried out the successful immunization programmes for the majority of the 13 diseases.    These are: polio, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, tuberculosis, diphtheria, influenza, Pneumonia/Meningitis, Hepatitis B, diarrhea, cervical cancer, mumps and German measles.  They also carry out curative work for many sicknesses.  Some of the staff have problems of absenteeism and stealing of drugs.  That is why I set up a Health Monitoring Unit, headed by Dr. Atwiine, in my office.  This unit has made 227 arrests of health staff engaged in malpractices that include criminal negligence, including death of patients, stealing of drugs, etc.  The unit, however, is being frustrated by the Judiciary that continues to release the culprits.  I have complained to the Principal Judge and the Chief Justice about this.

 

Given the chaos in the region, drugs are smuggled to Congo, South Sudan, etc.  Fortunately, earlier on, I had already ordered the embossing of all government drugs (tablets, capsules, bottles etc.).  They are, therefore, easy to track.  That is why I fell out with the former Permanent Secretary, Ms. Nannono.

 

Basing the Health care at the sub-county and the county (HC IIIs and HC IVs) has caused a Revolution in Uganda.  Infant mortality has declined from 122 to 44 per 1000 live births, life expectancy has risen from 43 years to 58.7 years in spite of the AIDs epidemic.  The immunization takes place, mainly in these Health Centre IVs and Health Centre IIIs not in Abim Hospital.  We spent huge amounts of money in building these Health Centre IVs and Health Centre IIIs.  A Health Centre IV, on the average, costs Ug. Shs. 2.5bn including accommodation for 10 critical medical workers.  A Health Centre III, on the average, costs Ug. Shs. 1.5bn including accommodation for 6 critical medical workers.

 

I rejected the plans to extend Health Care to HC IIs at the Parish.  Indeed, 2,729 of them had been built in the whole country.  However, that entailed recruiting another 45,000 Health workers which would take too much money.  Instead, we agreed that the Health Centre IIIs should be fully manned with 19 workers and Health Centre IVs with 49 workers each.

 

It is this new Health structure that has seen the Population of Uganda grow from 14 million in 1986 to 38 million today.  I am always quarrelling with the Ministry of Health about their failure to add a sustained campaign for good nutrition and hygiene, working with the Ministries of Local Government and the Ministry of Information, to this very successful programme of immunization mentioned above.  That would eliminate over 70% of the sicknesses.  They should also consolidate the anti-malaria campaign of distributing treated bed-nets and residual indoor spraying.

As for the district Hospitals, we know which ones have been rehabilitated and those that have not been renovated.  The ones that have been renovated include: Kabale, Mbarara, Fort-Portal, Masaka, Hoima, Mubende, Arua, Gulu, Lira, Moroto, Soroti, Jinja, Mbale and Naguru. These ones have already been completed.

 

The ones under renovation are: Entebbe, Mityana, Nakaseke, Kiryandongo, Anaka, Nebbi, Moyo, Iganga, Kawolo, Kayunga, Yumbe and Busolwe. 

 

We also have those ones that have not been rehabilitated but whose rehabilitation process has just begun.  The Ministry of Health is providing a budget of Ugx. 700M to each of these Hospitals every financial year for rehabilitation work in a phased manner.  These include: Abim, Kiboga, Bundibugyo, Kitagata, Aturtur, Bugiri, Kapchorwa, Kitgum, Itojo.  The unrehabilitted Hospitals, however, have not stopped the improved health status of Ugandans because the majority of the answers were in prevention (immunization, hygiene, nutrition, behavior change, malaria control, vector control – tse tse flies, river blindness fly, etc.).  That is where the NRM started from.  If Dr. Besigye does not know that, I am informing him.   It is also not serious for Dr. Besigye to go to Karamoja and not talk about the peace.  When Dr. Besigye left us in 2000 or thereabout, there were 40,000 illegal guns in the hands of the cattle-rustlers.  Kony was still killing people in Northern Uganda.  ADF was killing people in the Rwenzori Region.  The NRM and the UPDF have totally pacified the Country by defeating the terrorists and disarming the cattle-rustlers.  Is it not dishonest for Dr. Besigye, to zoom around the country, by night and by day, in total peace, yet fail to even mention that?  Did Dr. Besigye see the electricity in Abim?  What did it cost the state to take power there, all the way from Lira?  As he noticed the unrehabilitated state of Abim hospital, surely, as an honest person, he could have also noticed the great improvements.

 

I thank you.

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Louis Van Gaal: Man Utd manager will not quit after Chelsea draw

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he will not resign after his side drew 0-0 with Chelsea on Monday.

United have now failed to win in eight games in all competitions – the first time that has happened since 1990 – and are five points behind fourth place.

416957-louis-van-gaal-epl-wave-700

But Juan Mata and Anthony Martial both hit the woodwork in an improved United display against Chelsea.

Van Gaal said: “When the players give such a performance with a lot of pressure, there’s no reason to resign.”

It has been a testing week for Van Gaal, who before Christmas walked out of a news conference after criticising the media for speculating about his position.

The Red Devils then lost 2-0 at Stoke, while United scarves with the name of recently sacked Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho on them were sold outside Old Trafford before Monday’s game.

Van Gaal, though, is confident he has the support of both the players and the club’s board.

“The crisis here is the environment and you [the media] are part of that,” added Van Gaal.

“The players are willing to fight for every metre. The manager is willing to fight. The members of staff are willing to fight and the board has every confidence in the staff and the manager.”

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Child Asthma rates leveling off, except among poor and older Kids: Study

AnAsthma patient having difficulties in breathing.
AnAsthma patient having difficulties in breathing.
AnAsthma patient having difficulties in breathing.

 

MONDAY, Dec. 28, 2015 (Health Day News) — Rates of childhood asthma appear to have plateaued, except among the poor and kids aged 10 to 17, U.S. health officials report.

Researchers found that childhood asthma rates increased from 2001 to 2009 — a trend that began in 1982. The rate peaked in 2009 at close to 10 percent, then leveled off before dropping to slightly more than 8 percent in 2013.

“Trends in childhood asthma have recently stopped increasing,” said lead researcher Dr. Lara Akinbami, who’s with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.

“This is mainly due to the leveling off of prevalence among black children, who previously had large increases in the prevalence of asthma,” she said.

“However, more years of data are needed to clarify if asthma prevalence among children will continue to decline, or if it will plateau around current levels,” she added.

The report was published online Dec. 28 in the journal Pediatrics.

For the study, researchers used data from the 2001 to 2013 National Health Interview Survey to analyze the prevalence of asthma in children from birth to the age of 17.

“We found that not all groups of children had the same trends,” Akinbami said.

Among children who are living in families with income below the poverty level and those aged 10 to 17, researchers found that asthma rates increased between 2001 and 2013.

“Trends increased and then leveled out among children aged 5 to 9 years and children living just above the poverty level,” Akinbami added.

Among white and Puerto Rican children, the prevalence of asthma remained the same from 2001 to 2013, Akinbami said. Puerto Rican children had the highest prevalence of asthma compared with all other groups, she said.

These overall findings are good news on two fronts, Akinbami said. First, if asthma rates stop increasing, fewer children are at risk for poor asthma outcomes, such as emergency room visits or even death, she said.

Second, among white and black children, the racial disparity in asthma rates has stopped increasing, Akinbami said. “Previously, asthma prevalence was increasing among black children, but not white children,” she said.

Black children were disproportionately at risk for poor asthma outcomes because they were more likely to have asthma, she said. In 2001, the asthma rate was 30 percent higher among black children than white children. But by 2011, it was over 100 percent higher. This increase in disparity now seems to be stopping, Akinbami said.

“The not so good news is that asthma prevalence still seems to be increasing among children living in poverty,” she said.

These statistics can’t pinpoint the reasons why changes in asthma rates are happening, Akinbami said.

“However, the increase in asthma rates among poor children may be due to their having greater or more persistent exposures to environmental factors that increase the risk for asthma,” she said.

Dr. Jeffrey Biehler, chair of pediatrics at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, said, “It’s not unexpected that asthma rates would level off at some point. It’s also not surprising that asthma rates haven’t leveled off among poor children.”

Biehler said that poorer children are often exposed to environmental factors that increase their risk for asthma. These include tobacco smoke, mold and mildew, pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches and smog, he said.

In addition, the stress associated with poverty may increase the risk for asthma, Biehler said.

“We need to continue decreasing environmental exposures and help children at every level to reduce their chances of having asthma,” he added.

 

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MUBS Don appointed MUST Deputy Vice Chancellor

Prof. Nixon Kamukama has been appointed new Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST). He has the instruments of power and he assumes his duties in 2016. The new Deputy Vice-Chancellor was appointed by the Mbarara University of Science and Technology Council On December 2015. He replaces long-serving former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pamela Kasabiiti Mbabazi.

Prof. Nixon Kamukama
Prof. Nixon Kamukama

Prof. Kamukama, is currently the Head of Department of Procurement and Logistics Management in the Faculty of Computing and Management Science. The university is one of the eight public universities and degree awarding institution in Uganda.
The Dean faculty of Computing and management Science Assoc. Prof. Moya Mosa said, “I am confident you will continue to hold MUBS flag high along side MUST flag, be MUBS ambassador and MUBS shall remain proud of you”.

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KCCA to introduce road user fees next year

Starting next year, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) says it will introduce road user fees levied on all vehicles accessing the city.

KCCA Executive Director,  Jennifer Musisi says this is one of the ways of reducing traffic congestion within the city centre.

Musisi notes that some of the roads entering the city, majorly connecting from the major highways are sequentially damaged due to the heavy vehicles like trailers and trucks that carry heavy load.

She says the fees collected from the vehicles will be allocated towards rehabilitation and construction of city roads. Charges are expected to be levied according to the vehicle weight and distance traveled.

parki

Musisi said it is a practice allover the globe for developed cities to charge parking fees as well as road user fees to generate revenue to maintain the city roads and services.

Musisi was however non-committal on the roads where the user fees will be charged, saying the final details will be released at the beginning of January, 2016.

In 2008, government scrapped the road license fees, charged on all motorists and incorporated into fuel prices remitted to the road fund set up to manage road construction and rehabilitation.

“Our revenue collections have not been very good this financial year. Government also cut Shs 35bn from our budget so we need to find means to raise revenue,” Musisi says.

Musisi says the authority is also considering increasing street parking fees within the centre. The proposals are contained in the Kampala Physical Development Plan (PDP), which covers the city’s development between 2012 and 2040.

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Re-launch of Burundi dialogue

 

Dr Kiyonga

His Excellency President Yoweri K. Museveni, Mediator of the Burundi crisis has re-launched the process of EAC mediated dialogue on Burundi crisis today  Monday 28 December 2015.

The ceremony  is in continuation of consultations undertaken in July 2015 in Bujumbura by His Excellency Yoweri Museveni and followed up, as per his instructions, by Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga, Minister of Defence, with political authorities as well as the entire Burundi political actors.

For this occasion, the Government of Burundi will is represented by a delegation led by His Excellency Alain-Aimé Nyamitwe, Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation. The main opposition leaders, religious leaders, civil society organizations, women associations as well as former Heads of State will participate in this meeting.

The Chairperson of the EAC is represented by Dr. Augustine Mahiga, Minister of Foreign Affairs, EAC, Regional and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The Meeting will also be attended by Special Envoys as follows:
Prof. Ibrahima Fall (AU Special Representative for the Chair of the Commission), Mr. Koen Vervaeke (EU Special Envoy), Mr. Thomas Perrielo (US Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region), Mr. Jamal Benomor (Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Burundi) and Prof. Ntumba Luaba, the ICGLR Executive Secretary.
The following Ambassadors and High Commissioners will also be in attendance:
EAC Member States: H.E Jean Bosco Barege (High Commissioner of the Republic of Burundi), H.E. Rtd Maj. Gen. Geoffrey L. Okanga (High Commission of the Republic of Kenya), H.E. Maj. Gen. Frank Mugambage (High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda) and H.E. Dr. Ladislaus Columban Komba (High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania).
AU Peace and Security Council members: H.E. Farid Boulahbel (Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Algeria), H.E. Degefe Bula Wakijera (Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Ethiopia), Mr. Fawzi B.M. Bouketf (Chargé d’ Affaires – Embassy of Libya), Mr. Alus W. Twoden (Chargé d’ Affaires – High Commissioner of the Republic of Nigeria), and H.E. Prof. Lekoa Solomon Mollo (High Commission of the Republic of South Africa).

UN Security Council members: H.E. Zhao Yali (Embassy of the People’s Republic China), H.E Sophie Moal – Makame (Embassy of France), H.E. Sergey Shishkin (Embassy of the Russian Federation), H.E Alison Blackburne (High Commissioner, United Kingdom), and Ms. Patricia Mahoney (Chargé d’ Affaires – Embassy of the United States of America).

European Union Ambassadors: H.E. Hugo Verbist (Royal Belgian Embassy), H.E Dr. Peter Christ Of Blomeyer (Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany), H.E Domenico Fornara (Embassy of Italy), H.E Susan Eckey (Embassy of Norway), H.E Mogens Pedersen (Royal Danish Embassy), H.E Anders Urban Anderson (Embassy of Sweden), H.E Alphons J.A.J.M.G Hennekens (Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), H.E Sophie Moal – Makame (Embassy of France), and H.E Donal Cronin (Embassy of Ireland)

The Government of Uganda will be represented by H.E. Edward K. Ssekandi (Vice President), Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda (Prime Minister), Rt. Hon. Kirunda Kivejinja (3rd Deputy Prime Minister/ Minister of East African Affairs) and several Ministers and Ambassadors.
Appreciation is expressed by the Mediation for the great support from African Union Peace and Security Council, United Nations Security Council, European Union and bilateral, regional and multilateral partners in regard to this process.
Minister of Defence of the Republic of Uganda/
Facilitator of the Burundi Dialogue acting on behalf of President Museveni

 

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Let Ugandans exercise restraint during the campaign period

On Monday, while campaigning in Northern Uganda, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Dr Warren Kizza Besigye’s rally was disrupted by people who apparently have no respect for the law.

The disruption that turned chaotic comes hardly two weeks after another confrontation in Ntungamo that pitted supporters of Go Forward candidate John Patrick Amama Mbabazi against those of National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Yoweri Museveni, providing the worst political altercation since the presidential campaigns began last month.

Without doubt Uganda needs to have a peaceful election and it is the responsibility of every Ugandan of goodwill to ensure that that goal is achieved.

That said however, the arbiter in this contest, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), and the candidates that are seeking the highest public office in the country have the greatest responsibility to align and guide the supporters in different camps to exercise a modicum of restraint while in pursuit of their respective candidates’ victory.

Needless to mention therefore, the winner of the 2016 elections will become the President of all Ugandans irrespective of their political affiliations and or, religious creed.

Lastly, Ugandans need to understand that the democracy we seek to be seen to work can only be buttressed by tolerating and respecting divergent opinions.

Merry Christmas.

 

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Shortlist for 2015 Literature winner’s prize out

Fiston Mwanza Mujila
Fiston Mwanza Mujila
Fiston Mwanza Mujila

Three people have been shortlisted for the 2015 Etisalat Prize for Literature.

Fiston Mwanza Mujila, from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africans Penny Busetto and Rehana Rossouw were selected out of nine competitors to vie for the most prestigious literary prize for African fiction that is open solely to debut fiction writers from African countries.

Mujila is the author of Tram 83, while Busetto and Rossouw are the authors of The Story of Anna P, as told by Herself and What will People Say?, respectively.

The shortlisted writers will be rewarded with a sponsored multi-city book tour and will also have 1,000 copies of their books purchased by Etisalat for distribution to schools, libraries and book clubs across the Continent.

Penny Busetto

 

The trio was selected by a three-member judging panel including Professor Ato Quayson, Professor of English and inaugural Director of the Centre for Diaspora Studies at the University of Toronto (Chair of Judges); Molara Wood, writer, journalist, critic and editor; and Zukiswa Wanner, author of Men of the South and London, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The winner of the third Etisalat Prize for Literature will be announced in March and will receive £15,000, an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück pen. The Prize also includes an Etisalat sponsored fellowship at the University of East Anglia, mentored by Professor Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland.

Rehana Rossouw
Rehana Rossouw

“The variety of styles and subject matter of the books on this year’s Etisalat Prize for Literature shortlist reveal the vitality of contemporary African literature. They contribute to our understanding of what it is to love, to laugh, to improvise, sometimes to despair, to know and yet be fooled by the assurance of such knowledge, to work for our ablution in the fate of another’s suffering, and ultimately to embrace life in all its bewildering complexities.” Prof Quayson said.
NoViolet Bulawayo won the maiden edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature with her highly celebrated debut novel, We Need New Names, while Songeziwe Mahlangu emerged winner of the 2014 Etisalat Prize for Literature competition with his novel, Penumbra.
The distinguished Patrons of the Etisalat Prize are the acclaimed writer Ama Ata Aidoo (Ghana), Pulitzer Prize Winner Dele Olojede (Nigeria), editor, critic and 2015 Man Booker Prize Judge, Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, OBE (UK/Zimbabwe), writer and public intellectual Kole Omotoso (Nigeria), editor, writer, broadcaster, consultant and co-founder of Allison & Busby, Margaret Busby, OBE (UK/Ghana) and novelist, poet and playwright Zakes Mda (South Africa).

 

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