Cover Story

By Agather Atuhaire Why Besigye has its vote, Muntu its heart Weeks after Uganda’s main opposition party voted retired Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye to be its flag-bearer in the 2016 presidential elections, members remain divided over the likely implications of the decision. Within the FDC, The Independent has been told, …

By Haggai Matsiko Security experts raise alarm over rise of ‘militias’ It is 2:30am and a truck carrying bunches of matooke has just got involved in a serious accident with a small car at a main junction in the Rubaga suburb of Kampala city.  The Kabusu area is a favourite …

By Haggai Matsiko When on Aug.14 Research World International released an opinion poll showing that majority or 55 percent of the respondents would vote President Yoweri Museveni if elections were held, many were quick to dismiss it.  Patrick Wakida, RWI’s executive director says that this shows two things—that people do …

By Haggai Matsiko But they now want Shs6.6 trillion. What for? Buyende town is not really a town. It is a collection of a few scattered buildings, has no electricity, no hospital, no commercial bank, and no fuel station.  Still, it is the main town of Buyende district, one of …

By Independent Team Investors, gov’t moot $450m plan as experts warn on turbulent skies Uganda has recently been considering some quite dramatic developments in its aviation sector but, analysts warn, it could be flying into some foul weather without a risk-management plan. In July, Parliament approved a request by the …

By Edgar Tushabe Muhairwe Rallies reveal opposition leader’s plan for 2016 On July 24, Kizza Besigye, had a rally in Masaka town. Normally there is excitement when Besigye who is the de facto leader of the opposition to President Yoweri Museveni visits an area. He has drawn mammoth crowds, especially …

By Haggai Matsiko State House, police get Shs10bn phone tapping gadgets State House and the Uganda Police are in final stages of acquiring stealth technology from Italy that could allow its operators to remotely control targeted computers and smart mobile phones. The deal is being handled by the office of …

By Haggai Matsiko Fight erupts over million dollar training deal in Uganda A secret operation by security contractors based in Uganda has been underway training fighters, comprising Ugandans and South Sudanese, to fight in the South Sudan war, The Independent has learnt.  The training is reportedly part of a deal …

By Edgar Tushabe Muhairwe  Details about likely Besigye, Mbabazi, Museveni race in 2016 On November 12, 2013, a journalist from NTV asked the de facto leader of Uganda’s opposition, Kizza Besigye a direct question. “Are we going to see Dr. Kizza Besigye return as the flagbearer of FDC in the …

By Patrick Kagenda A look at the underlying problem On July 13, the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank met to craft an appropriate response to shocks in the economy presented by the whipping the shilling has suffered in recent months. At that point, the local currency had shade …