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Rwanda tension cited in supplementary budget, but why does govt want Shs1.5 trillion? Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | The government intends to push US$320 million (Approx.Shs1.2 trillion) worth of supplementary budgets through parliament in the next two months, The Independent can exclusively report. The money must be passed urgently before …

The details and implication on border tension Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Letters exchanged by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and his counterpart Yoweri Museveni that might point to how the tension between them possibly escalated have emerged. Most importantly, the contents of the letters shed light on what might …

MUTEBILE: What happens next? Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Anxiety is building about what the future holds for management of Uganda’s economy as the curtain slowly comes down on three prominent figures; Bank of Uganda Governor Tumusiime Mutebile, his deputy Louis Kasekende at Bank of Uganda, Secretary to the Treasury …

Can Kasekende, Mutebile, Ssekabira, Bagyenda escape?   Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Fire. Prosecute. Jail. These appear to be some of the recommendations many expected to be in the report that Abdul Katuntu, the Bugweri County legislator and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises …

Story behind dumping of 5 bosses Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Officially, the Feb. 14 deportation of MTN Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Wim Vanhelleputte was sparked by President Yoweri Museveni’s concerns over alleged gross crimes by MTN staff; including threatening national security. But investigations by The Independent have found …

Under the spotlight: the law and big money Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | After ending its public hearings into Bank of Uganda’s closure of seven commercial banks, attention is shifting to the recommendations the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE), is set to make. It …

His 2021 plan now involves dealing with Mabikke, Bwanika return Kampala, Uganda | FLAVIA NASSAKA |Michael Mabikke is a distinctive figure in the Democratic Party (DP). Chatty and squat and plumb with mid-age, he recently returned to his “mother party”, DP, after a long sojourn. And that, a DP insider …

CHINA: Minister of Finance Kasaija’s secret letter to Museveni Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT TEAM | When, on October 18, 2018, Uganda signed an agreement with China for a US$212.6 million loan (Approx. Shs78 billion) for rural electrification, the issue of Uganda’s increasing debt and the unfair terms of some …

IGG accused, Mutebile, Kasekende under fire Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Details of a draft report prepared by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) into the controversial February 2018 staff changes at Bank of Uganda (BoU) have leaked and sparks are already flying. The leakage occurred partly because some …

  PUBLIC DEBT: Why is it growing? Is it prohibitive, unsustainable? Kampala, Uganda | ANDREW M. MWENDA | On January 10, I watched with increasing depression a debate about Uganda’s national debt on the NBS Frontline show. Although the Minister of State for Finance, David Bahati, made many good arguments …