In The Magazine

By Zohran Kwame Mamdani Thirty-seven years ago on August 4, 1972, Ugandan Asians woke up to very grim news: President Idi Amin – allegedly inspired by a dream of ridding the country of exploiters, hoarders and economic saboteurs announced that all Asians must leave the country within the next 90 …

By Rosebell Kagumire Govt drafts law to save the President from prosecution Uganda has officially become the second African country after South Africa to block a visit by Sudanese President Gen. Omar al-Bashir. Bashir faces a similar situation in 28 other African countries and more than  90 others worldwide which …

By Andrew M. Mwenda When you are poor, every Tom, Dick and Harry steps over your nose. This was the impression I got when I read the lecture (as opposed to a speech) by US President Barack Obama in Ghana. The uncritical enthusiasm with which some elites in Africa received …

By Onghwens Kisangala Government recently created 14 new districts, bringing the total number to 94. But is it sustainable  financially and politically  to continue with this policy of districtisation? The Independents Onghwens Kisangala spoke to State Minister for Local Government Pereza Ahabwe and below, excerpts:- Why is government continuously splitting …

INEA It sits astride the Kumi-Soroti highway. Prominent behind the low roofed shops is an oval-shaped structure towering above the bushy compound. This infamous protrusion is a monument at Okunguro Railway Station. It is a reminder of the rebellion where 55 victims of the bloody insurgency were finally laid to …

By Onghwens Kisangala It may be 8:00am or 6:00pm, at either hour traffic flow in Kampala city will be at the peak. The movement of vehicles, motor-bikes, commonly known as bods bodas can be a nightmare as many passengers jump off to move faster on foot. Is it dropping a …

By Molly Lister Can it make bus system work? As the central government looks set to take over management of Kampala city, one area it needs to look at closely is the city roads and transport sector.  It needs a deeper look at the problems and the various plans and …

By Bob Roberts Katende It is 10.45 am on July 15 and the place is Room 408 of Parliament Building. The house is buzzing with activity as journalists swarm around with their notebooks and cameras loosely craning their necks. Five men from the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) emerge from the …

By Joe Powell The term of Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, Makerere Universitys Vice-Chancellor, has come to an end. The Independents Joe Powell spoke to the leading reformist candidate to take over the top job, the Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology (CIT), Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba. Excerpts below. How …

By John Njoroge & Molly Lister Health State minister Kakooza’s fact-finding mission reveals why drugs seem to be missing in hospitals Sitting in a health centre in western Uganda in a T-shirt, jeans and open-toed shoes, State Minister of Health James Kakooza witnessed a nurse send a patient to a …