ECONOMY-KENYA: Informal Sector Perilous for Many

Faced with the prospect of losing her secretarial post to cutbacks in Kenya's public sector a decade ago, Margaret Nabwire opted for early retirement, and the severance package that came with it.

HEALTH-KENYA: Many Abortions, Too Little Contraception

Dubbed the "babies in bags" scandal, the discovery of 15 foetuses last year near a river in Nairobi horrified Kenya - and drew government assurances that illegal abortions would be brought to a halt.

POLITICS-SUDAN: Oil Sector Proves a Hard Nut to Crack

For geological engineer Farouq Kam, Sudan's 21-year civil war didn't really end in January when the country's Islamist government signed a peace agreement with rebels from the Christian and animist south. It just took on a more subtle hue.

/CORRECTED REPEAT*/RIGHTS-KENYA: Land Battle Moves to the Courts

Displaced in the course of one administration, left landless by the next, Wanjiku Njoroge Rumiritu's tale is not a pleasant one.

KENYA: If the Draft Constitution Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It – Activists

The heated debate about Kenya's proposed constitution, to be put to a referendum Nov. 21, has focused extensively on the powers the draft awards to the presidency, despite popular calls for the wings of the executive to be clipped.

CULTURE: Hotugandans.com + Red Pepper = Controversy

The spread of the internet has opened Uganda to a vast array of trends and influences that would have had little effect in previous years. However, a good many citizens who have peered into this brave new world are not sure they like what they see - especially the two pornography sites featuring Ugandans that took the country by surprise recently.

KENYA: “In a Situation Like This, Who Cares About Human Rights?”

Behind a dilapidated store in a dusty field at Athi River, an export processing zone (EPZ) on the outskirts of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, a group of textile factory workers has gathered for a mid-afternoon break. The heat is searing, and the hastily purchased cool drinks quench thirsts.

AFRICA: Fuel Reserves Oil the Wheels of Corruption

Corruption is costing Africa's oil industry billions of dollars annually says Peter Eigen, founder and chairman of Transparency International (TI) - a non-governmental group based in Berlin which monitors and fights graft.

ECONOMY: Africa Given a Small Slice of the Investment Pie

Africa must redouble its efforts if it wants to attract more investment, an official from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said Thursday at the launch of the agency's annual 'World Investment Report'.

CULTURE: The Home of English Football’s Most Ardent Fans? Uganda

It's a cold, wet Sunday evening outside the Little Highbury pub. Inside, patrons are glued to a huge television screen showing an eagerly awaited football match between two English Premier League teams: Arsenal and Chelsea.

CORRUPTION-KENYA: MPs Face Prosecution for Failure to Declare Wealth

In a bid to show its commitment to fighting graft in Kenya, the government has announced that 65 members of parliament and cabinet ministers will face prosecution for failing to declare their wealth as required by the law.

RIGHTS-UGANDA: Army Denies Committing Atrocities against Civilians

Uganda's army has been committing atrocities against civilians it is supposed to protect, says a leading human rights watchdog.

RIGHTS-UGANDA: Army Denies Committing Atrocities against Civilians

Uganda army has been committing atrocities against civilians it is supposed to protect, says a leading human rights watchdog.

ENVIRONMENT: Pollution Takes a Backseat in Congo

Yellow flames from oil rigs light up the night sky, helping Richard Vuadi guides his boat as he sets out to cast his nets along the Democratic Republic of Congo's coast. Oil rigs that dot the horizon have polluted the water, so much that fishermen say they pose health risks.

DEVELOPMENT-KENYA: Going, Going, Gone

Since gaining independence in 1963, Kenya has held four elections. But, perhaps the most decisive ballot of all has been cast by citizens who voted with their feet - leaving Kenya for countries that seemed more promising.

HEALTH-KENYA: Regulations Spell Caution to Some, Paralysis to Others

Given Kenya's well-documented fight against corruption, few would dispute that rigorous systems need to be put in place for disbursing donor funds in the East African country.

ECONOMY-MAURITIUS: A Duty Free Island in the Making

The island of Mauritius in the south-west Indian Ocean wants to become a duty free shopping paradise in a bid to attract tourists. But there are concerns that this development strategy might come at a heavy price.

RIGHTS-SUDAN: More Women Needed – At Peace Talks, and in Government

A meeting in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi has highlighted the importance of giving Sudanese women a greater voice in their country's political affairs, if Sudan is to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

KENYA: Give Rights Precedence Over Realpolitik – NGOs

Human rights groups in Kenya have expressed fears that a controversial piece of anti-terrorism legislation may be pushed through, in the wake of complaints by the United States and Britain that the country's efforts to clamp down on terrorism are unsatisfactory.

UGANDA: Uneven Progress on Gender Equality

Uganda has been widely praised for having a constitution that reflects gender concerns. The 10-year-old document commits the country to affirmative action in the workplace, freedom from sexual discrimination and economic rights for women.

DEVELOPMENT: Women’s Rights Crucial for UN Summit Agend(er)

Three international rights organisations have joined forces to ensure that women’s voices will be heard at the United Nations 2005 World Summit, scheduled to take place later this month (Sep. 14 to 16).