African press review 19 August 2015

Giving your legs a climb, walk or a jump can boost your brain power, resuscitate you or help you find criminals, some of Africa's papers reveal. And a new "Miss Virgin" has been crowned in Nigeria, as the US commercialises the first "female Viagra".

A contentious sugar deal between Kenya and Uganda continues to dominate the Kenyan press.

In the Daily Nation the war of words has intensified between rival politicians. After opposition leader Raila Odinga's description yesterday of Deputy President William Ruto as the "High Priest of Corruption", Ruto's allies have retaliated by calling Odinga the "lord of poverty."

Accusations aside, the current dispute has little to do with sugar farmers, whose plight sparked the slanging match, writes Daily Nation, and a lot to do with the fight for votes in western Kenya. Neither politician has actually put forward any concrete suggestions about how to save the country's ailing sugar sector but seem to be fishing for points.

The opposition has threatened mass protests and legal action if the Jubilee administration does not revoke its sugar deal with Uganda. The controversy is a good reminder that it's wise not to have a sweet tooth.

South Africa's Star insists exercise is better for you. A new study has found that childish pastimes, such as climbing up trees, can dramatically boost memory.

It is thought it can help the brain to consciously and quickly adapt to unpredictable movements. Working memory – the type we use every day to remember phone numbers or follow directions – improved by 50 per cent in people who were asked to perform such activities in tests.

And if you like climbing, how about jumping? A police officer in Uganda has revealed in the Daily Monitor that he used to jump over fences to catch his culprits. Detective Robinson Namara, who is famous for arresting the most number of suspects of the 2010 Kampala twin bombings, says he went the extra mile for his job. He's currently appearing before magistrates as part of the ongoing bomb case.

In Nigeria's Guardiana man has awakened from the dead - to the stupefaction of many. Clifford Osagie Osawaru stunned journalists in Benin yesterday when he showed up in their press centre alive. Carrying a big and colourful poster, he read out in a mournful tone, and halting English: “Obituary. Gone so soon."

He hasn't gone at all! Osagie claims land grabbers peddled the rumour of his death to steal his land.

Staying in Nigeria, a nursing student has been crowned Miss Virgin, according to tabloid Punch. Idi Araba Mosunmola Oladipo, beat 51 other candidates to scoop up the rather unsual prize.

Speaking after her win, Oladipo said, “It’s all about self-determination, and knowing what you want to achieve. And that it was an honour to be a virgin." A message aimed at curbing the rate of promiscuity among the youth... and also to empower women so that they are not simply men's sex slaves.

Female sexuality also dominates New Vision, although not for the same reasons. The Ugandan paper writes that US regulators have approved the first ever drug designed to boost women's sex drive, a pill nicknamed the "female Viagra".

It's not known whether Oladipo is thinking of trying it.