By Mubatsi Asinja Habati Kasese, Bundibugyo tense ahead of by-election On the morning of June 30, the king of the Rwenzururu, Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere Iremangoma, received an unusual phone call from President Yoweri Museveni. The Omusinga was that morning preparing for the 50th anniversary celebrations of his people’s declaration …
Read More »Politicians fueling conflicts in Rwenzori
By Mubatsi Asinja Habati In the past few weeks, there have been simmering tensions among the Bakonzo, Basongora and Bamba/Babwisi in Kasese and Bundibugyo districts over the jurisdiction of Rwenzururu kingdom. The Independent’s Mubatsi Asinja Habati spoke to Loice Biira Bwambale, the acting Prime Minister of Rwenzururu kingdom. The Bakonzo …
Read More »Uganda’s ageing cabinet
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi & Mubatsi Asinja Habati With the average age of the top ministers at 70 years, what is the future for the country? When then 38-year old Moses Ali was in 1977 named finance minister by then-president Idi Amin and charged with revamping a free-falling economy, current …
Read More »Like father and prodigal son
By The Independent Team Museveni and Byanyima never had any major political differences, and now it seems they have resolved the personal ones One June 2011 day, about mid-day, a Toyota Land Cruiser drove through the gates of State House, Entebbe. There was nothing especially remarkable about the car, but …
Read More »Burying the hatchet
By Andrew M. Mwenda Museveni and Kagame’s reconciliation about year ago was a diplomatic coup for the history books. After 13 years of rivalry and mutual distrust, with accusations of mutual sabotage and assassination plots, they rebuilt their friendship relying on the most rudimentary of diplomatic props, yet the simplest …
Read More »How Museveni forgave archrival Rwakasiisi
By Andrew M. Mwenda On June 30, President YoweriMuseveni was guest of honour at a function in Rutooma village in Kabwohe town in Sheema District – a new district that was carved out of the wider Bushenyi. The event was to celebrate the 110th birthday of Asanansio Rutimbirayo, father of …
Read More »Meeting Mama Miria
By Andrew M. Mwenda On June 17, President Yoweri Museveni visited the family of his arch-rival, the late former President Milton Obote, and held talks with the widow, and former presidential candiate Miria Obote. This visit has since been a source of speculation. What has not been said is how …
Read More »Guns in oil region
By Haggai Matsiko Fears of popular resistance fueling army, intelligence deployments In less than a month, the UPDF top brass and top spies have held two unusual security meetings in the oil region. During one of the meetings, on May 5 Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) …
Read More »Tight budget 2012/13
The Independent Team The challenge behind the numbers Belt-tightening without suffocating the patient; that is the balancing act Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka is attempting in the 2012/13 financial year budget. It will not be easy. For the first time in two decades, the minister of Finance is unable to report …
Read More »EALA: How Zziwa beat Byamukama
By Agather Atuhaire NRM favourite for speaker loses to a “rebel” as parties assess damage, victories and future The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party was supposed to be the ultimate victor in the election of Uganda’s delegates to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). Of the nine seats, it took …
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