Northern Uganda musician Beniman, real name Benard Ogwang, passed away at Mulago Hospital from prostate cancer. He was known for elevating Luo music to the national stage with songs like 'Show me the way', 'Never stop hustling', and 'Badmind'. His death was confirmed by his friend Easybash Maacha, who also noted the artist's wish for more support during his life. Beniman is survived by two children and had over 800 songs. Burial arrangements are being discussed, likely to be lowkey due to gathering restrictions.

South Africa is holding its sixth general elections since the end of apartheid 25 years ago. The elections will not only decide the country's next president but also elect a new National Assembly and provincial legislatures. President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing competition from Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters and Mmusi Maimane of the Democratic Alliance. Special voting began on Monday to accommodate those unable to vote on the actual election day. Journalist Daniel Mumbere is reporting from Pretoria, providing updates on the voting process.

Daniel Mumbere, a digital journalist for Africanews, compiles an A-Z list of terms that have become commonplace in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The article covers a range of topics from 'Asymptomatic' to 'Zoonotic', explaining the relevance of each term to the current situation. It touches on public health measures like social distancing, quarantine, and the use of personal protective equipment. The piece also addresses the impact of the pandemic on daily life, including job losses, lockdowns, and the shift to digital platforms for information and communication. The World Health Organisation's role in managing the pandemic response is highlighted, as well as the importance of vaccines and the challenges posed by misinformation and xenophobia.

The National Enterprise Corporation has committed to completing the Kiira Vehicle Plant in Uganda by June 2021, with construction progress currently at 58%. The plant, which began construction in February 2019, is designed to produce 22 vehicles per day, starting with buses and trucks. Challenges such as power outages and COVID-19 restrictions have been managed by sourcing local materials and extending work hours. The project, which has already created 500 jobs, is expected to generate 14,000 jobs upon completion. Kiira Motors Corporation CEO Paul Isaac Musasizi encourages public engagement with the draft automotive industry policy and highlights the broader benefits of the project for Ugandans.

Uganda confirmed its first COVID-19 death, a 34-year-old female resident of Namisindwa District. The country's confirmed cases reached 1,079, with 108 active cases, 971 recoveries, and 1 death. President Yoweri Museveni relaxed restrictions, allowing the reopening of some arcades and salons, and the operation of public service motorcycles under specific conditions. The international airport, schools, and places of worship remain closed. Museveni emphasized the role of scientists in decision-making and warned against threatening life. Uganda is also repatriating citizens from various countries and has expressed frustration with WHO's case tally protocols.

Rumors circulated online claiming that Uganda's central bank governor, Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, had died, but these were debunked by journalists, the Bank of Uganda, and Nakasero Hospital. Mutebile, who had been admitted to the hospital, was recovering well and due for discharge. The misinformation was part of a larger 'infodemic' accompanying the Coronavirus pandemic, which has led to increased fact-checking efforts by news organizations.

The article discusses the roles and activities of various African first ladies, highlighting their support for their husbands' political careers and their own advocacy and philanthropic work. It covers first ladies from Senegal, Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Congo, Rwanda, Gabon, Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cameroon, and Nigeria. The article details their professional backgrounds, mandates, political roles, advocacy efforts, and family life. It also touches on the Serve Senegal Foundation, ZANU-PF's women's banks, the CWC foundation, Fondation Congo-Assistance, Imbuto Foundation, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Foundation, Beyond Zero initiative, Chantal Biya Foundation, and Future Assured Foundation. Additionally, it mentions the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), which advocates for health services accessibility and empowerment of women and youth.

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta deactivated his Facebook and Twitter accounts after a tweet about his anti-corruption stance, which could have been politically sensitive, was posted. The chief of staff, Nzioka Waita, cited unauthorized access, but speculation suggests it was to appease Deputy President William Ruto, who has faced corruption accusations. Joseph Owino, CEO of Owino Solutions, believes the hacking claim is an excuse and discusses the challenges governments face with social media, including security and political neutrality. He praises Ethiopia's government for its digital communications strategy and notes that Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and South Africa are also engaging well with citizens on social media platforms.

The article discusses the contentious post-election situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the African Union and other international bodies have raised concerns about the legitimacy of the presidential election results that declared opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi the winner. Martin Fayulu, another opposition candidate, has challenged the results, claiming a landslide victory with 61% of the vote and accusing Tshisekedi of making a deal with outgoing President Joseph Kabila. The electoral body CENI's provisional results showed Tshisekedi with over 38% of the vote, while Fayulu came in second with about 35%. Various international actors, including the Catholic Church and countries like France, Belgium, the UK, and the US, have expressed doubts about the results. Regional African blocs like SADC, CIRGL, and the AU have called for a recount. Fayulu, who has a history of advocating for democracy in DRC and has worked with ExxonMobil, is supported by a coalition named Lamuka and has significant backing in Kinshasa.

The article discusses the ongoing election campaigns in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where candidates are vying to replace President Joseph Kabila. Kabila, who has been in power since 2001, endorsed Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary as his successor. The opposition has formed coalitions, with Martin Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi as joint candidates of different coalitions. The article highlights the influence of 'kingmakers' such as Kabila, Jean Pierre Bemba, Moise Katumbi, and Vital Kamerhe in the election. It also touches on the role of the Catholic Church and the Lucha movement, both influential but currently non-partisan entities. The credibility of the election is a concern, with debates over the use of electronic voting machines and the need for manual vote counting. The electoral commission's independence and the potential for state institutions to favor the incumbent's choice are also discussed.

French President Emmanuel Macron, during a visit to the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos after talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, encouraged Nigerian youth to engage in politics, drawing inspiration from the late music legend Fela Kuti. Macron highlighted Fela's role as a musician and a political figure who sought societal change. The French president also discussed his commitment to fighting Islamist militants in Nigeria's northeast and announced France's plans to launch a cultural season showcasing African artists in Europe. Macron reminisced about his previous time in Nigeria as an intern at the French embassy in 2002.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called for supporters to reduce the scale of rallies in favor of ongoing reforms and to focus on development programs while remaining vigilant against conflicts. Rallies have been held in various cities, including a disrupted one in Addis Ababa due to a grenade explosion. Abiy has initiated several reforms since April, including a peace agreement with Eritrea by accepting the Algiers Agreement. Despite resistance from the Tigray People's Liberation Front, a constituent party of the ruling EPDRF coalition, Abiy thanked groups for their efforts in conflict resolution.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir traveled to Ethiopia for a meeting with rebel leader Riek Machar to negotiate an end to the country's five-year civil war. The regional East African bloc IGAD scheduled the face-to-face dialogue to address outstanding issues. The peace talks, led by IGAD, aim to revive the 2015 peace deal, which has been stalled. Ethiopian Prime Minister and IGAD chair Abiy Ahmed, along with Kenyan politician Raila Odinga, have been involved in facilitating the discussions. The civil war in South Sudan has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and atrocities committed against civilians.

The Kenyan government has declared Friday a public holiday for Muslim citizens to prepare for Idd-ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. The announcement was made by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and communicated by Mwenda Njoka. The holiday allows Muslims to make preparations for the celebration, which varies in date based on the lunar calendar and local moon sightings.

Ugandan MP Ibrahim Abiriga was assassinated in Kampala, sparking violent and destructive mourning in Arua Municipality. President Yoweri Museveni condemned the killers, calling them 'pigs and parasites,' and outlined a security strategy involving the modernization of anti-crime capacities and the installation of cameras and tracking devices on vehicles. Parliamentarians eulogised Abiriga, demanding government action on the country's increasing kidnaps, murders, and rapes.