Somali security forces take over key installations from ATMIS troops MOGADISHU | Xinhua |  Somali security forces have officially taken over security responsibilities for the presidential palace, State House, and Parliament from the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) troops. ATMIS said the handover took place Sunday afternoon in Mogadishu, the …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |   All Parliament Speakers who served Uganda since 1979 have today received new official government vehicles, and will be assured of replacment every five years. “You will be required to bring your own driver, who we will recruit as Parliamentary staff. The car remains a property of …

Kyotera, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  With many anthrax patients abandoning treatment in hospital and disappearing, the Greater Masaka Regional Security Committee has issued orders for the arrest of a witch doctor who allegedly is luring them to her shrine. The accused, Sylvia Nansamba, Chairperson of traditional healers in Rakai district, …

MOSCOW | Xinhua | Russia has no interest in having war with NATO countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday. In an interview with a local TV channel, Putin refuted the claims that Russia may attack NATO as “absurd and a figure of speech.” Moscow and NATO countries “have …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development is proposing that the Uganda Revenue Authority raises almost 29.96 trillion Shillings in taxes next financial year, up from the current year’s 29.67 trillion. However, this will prove a tall order for the tax body considering …

  Mogadishu, Somalia | THE INDEPENDENT |  The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the Federal Government of Somalia have said the lifting of the 31-year UN arms embargo on Somalia would give fresh impetus to the fight against the Al Shabaab and other armed groups in Somalia. …

JIUQUAN | Xinhua | China successfully launched SQX-1 commercial carrier rocket into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Sunday. The rocket blasted off at 3 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the launch site, sending the Di’er-1 satellite into the planned orbit. It was the sixth flight …

Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Bridget Basiima completed a remarkable year by winning the MTN Grand Tee of Tees on Saturday in Entebbe. The Medical student at Mild May Insistute of Health Sciences returned a score of 64 nett, to win  the Ladies Overall Order of Merit golf title …

Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The Federal Republic of Somalia moved a step closer to full integration into the East African Community (EAC), following this week’s signing of the Treaty of Accession at State House, Entebbe, Uganda. Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and EAC Heads of States Summit Chairperson …

CAPE TOWN | Xinhua |  South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday asked 10,000 new police officers, who were  deployed nationwide since Dec. 15, to help ensure a safe holiday period in the country. He made the remarks when speaking at a passing-out parade of 1,400 newly trained officers in …