In The Magazine

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati Edward Scicluna, a member of European parliament and former electoral commissioner in Malta was the Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) of Uganda’s Feb.18 elections. He spoke to The Independent’s Mubatsi Asinja Habati about the EU EOM’s preliminary statement in which …

By Andrew M. Mwenda “Where Besigye projected himself as a national statesman, Museveni positioned himself as a local politician. Where Besigye articulated a grand, national vision, Museveni focused on mundane local issues. Besigye came across as idealistic with a high sense of morality; Museveni was realistic, pragmatic and practical if …

By Joseph Were “Unfortunately for Besigye, his team missed even the well known view that polls, even bogus ones, create the so-called “herd” mentality of voters swing to the side of the one reported to be winning.” “A voter told The independent: “Besigye forgot that he has to get the …

By melina plates By 2016 Ugandan will be 40 million, 25% of the youth. Museveni’s win in 2011 shows why the opposition should pay attention to such demographic changes among voters. “The youth of Uganda today are more educated and more socially interconnected than any generation before them. Over 40% …

By eriasa mukiibi sserunjogi The failure of Kizza Besigye’s third shot at the presidency has been described by an unlikely source as having been partly occasioned by what was hitherto viewed as his most potent weapon, the Interparty Cooperation. In a surprising twist, a donor source who was instrumental in …

By rukiya makuma & joan akello IMF, donors withhold support for Uganda Rachel Kimono could not hide her excitement on the eve of the Feb. 18 general election.  She was waiting for money promised by mobilisers for the ruling NRM party in her Nakaloke village in Mbale district to potential …

By Paulo Wangoola After subduing the rest of Uganda’s historical power centres, Museveni now is frontally taking on Buganda There is no doubt the coming to power by Yoweri Museveni and NRM in 1986, and remaining popular for 15 years, was directly linked to the unequivocal political support of Buganda …

By Bob A Kasango I agree the MPs should leave parliament and refund the monies, but I hold serious reservations on nullifying their nominations The Constitutional Court decision in George Owor -vs. – Attorney General and Hon William Okecho delivered on the 1st of February 2011 has gained a fair …

By Andrew M. Mwenda What Uganda needs to change is not just a political party; it needs a social movement whose organisation starts from the village. This has been the most peaceful campaign in Uganda ever but equally the most expensive in our history. President Yoweri Museveni requisitioned for Shs600 …

By Andrew M. Mwenda and melina platas Election issues, trends, numbers In the heat of the midday sun, a tall young man holds two bundles of shoes in the middle of the street in Mbarara town in western Uganda. Around him is a crowd of other youths; all in their …