Kenya 

KSh3B Scam: How Raw Industrial Sugar Is Repackaged for Household Use 

A shipment of raw, impure industrial sugar valued at KSh1.5 billion has been diverted from the Port of Mombasa for re-packaging and sale for household consumption. The sugar, imported as industrial sugar by Mombasa Sugar Refineries, The Standard’s investigations reveal, ended up at Kibos Sugar factory, where it was repackaged for domestic use.

It is indicated that the sugar is unfit for human consumption, yet it may be available at your local store.

Kenyan industries use industrial sugar to produce soda or confectionery. It is straight from the mill, containing impurities that refining is designed to remove.

By law, such sugar is strictly classified for industrial processing only – meaning it must undergo further refinement before it can be considered fit for human consumption.

Yet, as this shipment demonstrates, the line between industrial raw material and consumer product is being deliberately blurred, with potentially dangerous consequences for public health.

(Source: The Standard)

Tanzania

PM Highlights Gains as House Clears TZS 12.5Tr Budget

The National Assembly has unanimously passed a TZS 12.5 trillion budget for the Prime Minister’s Office, its affiliated institutions and the Parliamentary Fund for the 2026/2027 fiscal year.

Winding up the debate on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba defended the fiscal plan, calling it a blueprint for “historic milestones” under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s ongoing reform agenda.

He said President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s reforms have delivered major milestones, including work on the National Development Vision 2050, the expansion of social services and increased investment in productive sectors.

(Source: Daily News)

Uganda

Gov’t commissions USh 37.5B Kayunga-Senge Road Project

The government has commissioned the Ush 37.5B Kayunga-Senge Road. Once complete, the project is expected to improve transport and connectivity, boost local businesses, and enhance socio-economic development across the covered areas.

The 6.5-kilometre road, though seemingly short, plays a crucial role in connecting the urban Kampala City to the Wakiso population.

It serves as the gateway to upcountry areas. The project is part of the physical works commissioned by the government on Monday. This road section connects the Kampala-Hoima Road to the Kampala-Bombo highway, crossing River Mayanja, which separates Busiro from Kyadondo County. It traverses part of Wakiso Town Council, with the largest part located in Wakiso Sub-county.

This road section has been considered for tarmacking as part of the ongoing Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP), funded by the World Bank.

(Source: Monitor)

Rwanda

Petrol Price Increases by Over Rwf600 Per Litre

Petrol prices at the pump have risen to Rwf2,938 per litre, up from Rwf2,303. At the same time, diesel remains unchanged at Rwf2,205, following a new tariff announced by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) on April 16.

Effective from April 17 at 6 am, the increase is the latest in a series of fuel price adjustments in recent weeks, driven by global market trends and supply dynamics, according to the regulator.

Most public transport vehicles run on diesel, and the regulator said diesel prices were maintained to support public transport, the movement of goods, and overall economic activity.

The latest adjustment follows the April 3 revision, when petrol rose from Rwf1,989 to Rwf2,303 per litre, while diesel rose from Rwf1,948 to Rwf2,205 per litre.

(Source: The New Times)

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Delegation Deepens IMF Engagement to Accelerate Reform Agenda

An Ethiopian delegation led by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide held high-level talks with the International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Affairs Department, reinforcing the country’s commitment to an ambitious, reform-driven economic agenda.

The delegation, comprising central bank leadership, senior policy advisors, and top government officials, held substantive discussions to expand technical cooperation in support of Ethiopia’s ongoing macroeconomic reforms.

Accordingly, Eyob Tekalign, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, and Teklewolde Atnafu, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister, alongside other senior government officials, were part of the delegation that held a constructive meeting with the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department.

(Source: ENA)

Sudan 

Sudan’s Inflation Slows to 40.22% As Purchasing Power Weakens

Sudan’s annual inflation rate fell to 40.22% in March, down from 56.39% in February, according to the country’s Central Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.

The 16.17% decrease in the year-on-year rate means that, while the general level of prices is still rising, it did so at a slower pace in March than in the same month last year.

Economists attributed the continued monthly decline in inflation not to falling prices but to a drop in purchasing power, driven by the ongoing rise in the cost of goods and services and the depreciation of the national currency.

(Source: Sudan Tribune)

Somalia

Gov’t Formalises Diplomatic Engagement with India to Accelerate Bilateral Economic Projects

The Federal Republic of Somalia is actively expanding its diplomatic engagement with major global economies. On April 16, 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Abdisalam Abdi Ali, formally received the diplomatic credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of India to Somalia, Dr Adarsh Swaika, during a high-level meeting at the Ministry headquarters in Mogadishu.

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Ambassador Swaika’s accreditation marks a renewed phase of bilateral integration between Mogadishu and New Delhi. During the closed-door consultative summit, the two delegations conducted a comprehensive review of the long-standing relationship between the two nations. The executive dialogue prioritised the transition of these historical alliances into a modern, highly active economic partnership.

(Source: SONNA)