By Patrick Kagenda As discussions on the East African Common Market protocol closed in Kampala at the beginning of April, the Uganda Manufactures Association (UMA) leaders were meeting Uganda’s first deputy prime minister and minister for East African Community Affairs Eriya Kategaya. The UMA bosses had one major concern: the …

By Independent Team & Agencies After it ended on April 2 the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group President, Donald Kaberuka, who was part of a NEPAD delegation, said the G-20 summit was a major success because it adopted specific African proposals. I think we made a very surprising level of …

By Independent Team & Agencies AS expected, Tullow Oil and its partner Heritage Oil have won back rights to explore for oil in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a year-long dispute, the country’s hydrocarbons minister, Rene Isekemanga Nkeka, has said. Congo’s previous hydrocarbons minister, Lambert Mende, in February 2008, …

By Agnes Asiimwe Dr. Sebbaale Kato is the CEO of Case Medical Centre in Kampala and a senior lecturer in the department of surgery of Makerere University, a pioneer laparoscopic surgeon and gastroenterologist. Kato is also chairman of Uganda Cricket Association, a golfer, and a born-again Christian. What’s your day …

By The Independent Team This is a new self-help book for brand strategists, marketers, and corporate managers whose salient point is one: A brand is only valuable as long as it’s moving forward. Just as a shark must keep swimming to stay alive, brands must keep moving forward to maintain …

By Kalundi Serumaga The Ugandan government has finally woken up. It has accepted that the western economic crisis will indeed have a seriously negative impact on Uganda Such an admission is no small matter for people who have been enthusiastic advocates of completely opening up Africa’s economies to Western engagement, …

By Onghwens Kisangala Prof. Patrick Rubaihayo was MP for Mbarara Central and Minister for Agriculture and Forestry in the 1981 “ 85 Obote government. He currently trains junior lecturers and supervises post-graduate students at Makerere University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. He has been around both as an active player …

By Patrick Kagenda But analysts warn strategy could backfire if inflation spirals Did the Central Bank intervene late last month in the local foreign currency market? According to media reports, unnamed Central Bank officials confirmed it had intervened on March 25 to prop up an already strong dollar against the …

By Patrick Kagenda Will Kenyan, South African giants leave Ugandan kiosks in the mud? As Kenya’s leading supermarket chain, Nakumatt gets ready to open shop in Kampala, it seems set on competition with Kenyan rival Uchumi and South African stores Game and Shoprite. Retail market watchers, however, say the Nakumatt …

By Patrick Kagenda Existing supermarkets sell about 30% Ugandan goods while the 60% is imported from Kenya, Dubai and South Africa. Ugandan commodities include mineral water, sugar, Mukwano laundry soap, Mukwano cooking oil, Britannia juices and other juices from Ugandan cottage industries, Biscuits, Sweets, Nuts, Soft Drinks, Coffees, Honey, Milk, …