Ibrahim Musana Slapped with Charges for Insulting Buganda Kingdom Royalty

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) has slapped four charges against Ibrahim Musana, a 27-year-old TikTok sensation from Kauga, Mukono district, accused of hurling abuses at the Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and the Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga of Buganda Kingdom.

In a swift crackdown orchestrated by the Directorate of Crime Intelligence, Musana found himself ensnared over the weekend as detectives pounced on him, following the viral dissemination of his venomous video clips across social media platforms. 

Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, revealed that Musana's missteps had landed him in the confines of the Criminal Investigations Directorate in Kibuli, where a litany of charges awaits him: misuse of social media, hate speech, offensive communication, and incitement to violence.

Musana's reckless antics reverberated across the digital media, particularly on TikTok and Twitter, drawing widespread anger from the population. Enanga noted that a wave of discontent  swept through Buganda, ignited by these repugnant diatribes, deemed disrespectful and embarrassing.   "Our laws stand firm against such transgressions," Enanga said. 

Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Enanga vowed relentless pursuit of individuals peddling toxic ideologies, whether directed at the Kabaka of Buganda or any Ugandan and visitors to the country.  He said they will not stand idly by as the societal fabric is torn down. All offenders will be prosecuted, be they homegrown or foreign, Enanga declared with resolve.

In a swift response to Musana, the Buganda Kingdom's Minister of Information, Israel Kazibwe, issued a stern warning, signaling unequivocally that Buganda will not entertain insolence or disdain towards the Kabaka and the institution he represents - Buganda Kingdom.

OSC Launches GreSIS Digital Platform to Democratize Access to Knowledge Across the Global South

The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC), Sheikh Manssour Bin Mussallam, inaugurated the Greater South Information System (GreSIS) digital platform today at a ceremony hosted at the Ethiopian Science Museum in Addis Ababa.

This momentous event marked a significant step forward in making knowledge more accessible across the Global South. 

Dr Bayissa Bedada, the State Minister of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia, along with officials from Member States, representatives of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ambassadors of Member States of the OSC, educational institutions, civil society organisations, development agencies, intergovernmental agencies, researchers, instructors, and students, graced the occasion.

GreSIS represents a pioneering digital platform, designed to serve as an open-access repository of academic and indigenous knowledge. Developed by the Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC), GreSIS aims to democratise access to knowledge in the Global South, fostering collaboration among educational institutions, researchers, instructors, students, government officials, and Indigenous peoples' organisations.

The launch event provided an opportunity to introduce the GreSIS platform to Member States, Associate Members, and other stakeholders. A demonstration session highlighted the platform's features, capabilities, and benefits, showcasing its extensive collection of publications from various sources, including academic, non-academic, and indigenous knowledge. 

With plans for exponential growth, GreSIS will soon host hundreds of thousands of publications, accessible to subscribed individuals, institutions, and entities.

Established on 29 January 2020 during the International Summit on Balanced and Inclusive Education in the Republic of Djibouti, the Organisation of Southern Cooperation (OSC) serves as an intergovernmental body representing and supporting the Global South.

As a proponent of the "Third Way of Development," the OSC fosters intellectual, technical, and financial cooperation and solidarity among its Member States and Associate Members.

Stablecoins: Africa's Preferred Choice for Secure and Cost-Effective Digital Transactions

As Africa advances towards widespread adoption of digital assets, there's a growing demand for exchanges to provide more cost-effective methods for buying, selling, and transferring digital assets.

Stablecoins, particularly, have emerged as a preferred choice for investors, remitters, and those engaging in cross-border transactions due to their pegged value to major fiat currencies like the dollar.

Yellow Card, the largest licensed stablecoin on/off ramp in Africa, is poised to introduce USDC, a digital stablecoin on the Stellar network. This move aims to revolutionize cross-border payments, remittances, and treasury management globally.

Yellow Card, renowned for its user-friendly platform and expansive presence across 20 African countries, is set to enhance user experience by integrating USDC on the Stellar network.

This integration combines the robust features of the Stellar network, such as low transaction fees and lightning-fast transactions, with the rapid growth of USDC, offering users a seamless, near-instant, and cost-effective solution for financial transactions. With this integration, Yellow Card users can now send USDC on the Stellar network directly from the Yellow Card app.

Chris Maurice, CEO of Yellow Card, expressed enthusiasm about the integration, highlighting its potential to simplify global payments and make digital dollars more accessible worldwide. The partnership leverages the Stellar blockchain's speed, scalability, and sustainability, catering to everyday financial products and services.

One of the key benefits of the Yellow Card-Stellar integration is the ability for consumers to instantly send and receive digital dollars globally, even without a traditional bank account. This addresses a major challenge in Africa where hidden charges often diminish the value of cross-border payments.

Yellow Card users stand to benefit significantly from this collaboration as transferring USDC to other USDC-supported exchanges on the Stellar network incurs lower fees compared to other blockchain networks.

This partnership further solidifies Yellow Card's position as a facilitator for fintechs and exchanges seeking to leverage the efficiency and speed of the Stellar network for various use cases, from remittances to real-time payments.

To incentivize users, Yellow Card plans to award $5 USDC to customers who send at least $3 USDC using the Stellar network on the app, introducing them to the network's fast transaction speeds.

This initiative not only promotes the adoption of USDC on Stellar but also enhances user engagement and experience on the Yellow Card platform.