By Andrew M. Mwenda Finally, the dust has settled over the death and burial of Michael Jackson. Throughout his career, Jackson fought two battles; one with himself, the other with general societal norms. The battle within himself was an attempt to discover the childhood denied to him by his father’s …
Read More »Are ex-ADF rebels now UPDF’s hatchet men?
By Patrick Matsiko wa Mucoori Whatever clucks and walks like a duck is always a duck even by another name. No matter whether the UPDF calls itself a disciplined pro-people’s army or defender of human rights, it will always be more known by its actions than its words. In April …
Read More »To keep or end 1.5 free points for varsity girls?
By Asio Rafealla & Mubatsi A. Habati Makerere grapples with contradiction of more girls joining university but more boys graduate at end of course In 1990, government introduced affirmative action of 1.5 extra points for all female students joining public universities. Since then the number of female students in public …
Read More »Eritrea’s entry changes face of Somalia conflict
By Obed K. Katureebe Why does America expect 4,000 AU troops to do what 38,000 UN troops failed to do? Sometime in late February 1995, 2,400 Pakistani and Bangladeshi peacekeepers made the now famous amphibian retreat from the Somali capital, Mogadishu. They were the last of 38,000-strong UN peacekeeping force …
Read More »Education reforms Uganda needs
By Andrew M. Mwenda In the 1997/98 budget, government allocated Shs 200 billion to education; in the 2009/10 budget, Shs 1.1 trillion. Although the budget for education has grown fivefold in twelve years, there is little (save for a spike in student enrolment and new buildings) to show for it. …
Read More »Document is not a rebel force – Mao
By Gaaki Kigambo Gulu District Chairman Norbert Mao has been accused by the army of concealing information about a new rebel group called Uganda People’s Front. Security officials have indicated Mao could be summoned to answer charges of concealment of treason. The Independents Gaaki Kigambo talked to Mao and below …
Read More »Teso region wallows in hunger
By John Njoroge Between February and April 2009, nine people have reportedly died of hunger in the areas of Soroti, Amuria and Katakwi districts. Thousands more are said to be in danger of starvation after a prolonged drought spell and a sudden shift in the rain patterns in the region. …
Read More »Govt to spend Shs 100bn on LC-I and II salaries
By Obed K. Katureebe Amount is half the budget of Local Govt Ministry In early May 2009, President Yoweri Museveni summoned all the district chairpersons and their chief administrative officers (CAO) to a retreat at the Kyankwanzi Institute of Leadership. While the attendance was broadly national, the setting was clearly …
Read More »Every clan should be a district
By Patrick Matsiko Wa Mucoori The year is 2011 and the number of districts in Uganda has hit 150 and is still growing. The opposition and civil society are foaming at the mouth about the government’s increasing public expenditure on administration when social services have totally shrunk and decayed. There …
Read More »Iran reporting a travesty of journalism
By Andrew M. Mwenda For three weeks now, Western media have covered the elections and resultant demonstration in Iran with unparalleled zeal. But the reporting has been a one sided affair without even the slightest attempt to show balance. The partisan way they have covered the opposition to the complete …
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