The political party merchant Kampala, Uganda | MUBATSI ASINJA HABATI | When I spoke to some members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) of Robert Ssentamu Kyagulangyi aka Bobi Wine about Moses Nkonge Kibalama; the man at the centre of the political storm hitting their party, one of them gave …
Read More »Bobi Wine!
Bobi Wine: Will he or not be allowed to challenge Museveni? COVER STORY | The Independent Team | Even as nomination of candidates for various positions in the 2021 general election enters full gear, opposition activity is strangely quiet. By this stage in the last election of 2016, the headlines were full …
Read More »What next after Uganda suspends refugee agencies?
Shutting down more than 200 refugee aid agencies is an indication to the world that the country cannot manage continuous inflows of refugees ANALYSIS | CRISTIANO D’ORSI | The Ugandan government recently suspended the operations of 208 refugee aid organisations. The organisations were suspended over non-compliance with Ugandan regulations. Only …
Read More »Drought tolerant maize
Why more Ugandan farmers aren’t adopting it | HYEJIN LEE | Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in Uganda. In particular, smallholder farmers rely on it for food and as a cash crop. They also grow it as an important export crop. Over the years, total maize …
Read More »Total promises to fast track Uganda oil project
Local entrepreneurs remain cautious Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Following the signing of the host government agreement with Uganda on the weekend of Sept.11, senior officials from the French oil major, Total, say they are now ready to move faster project activities that will ensure Uganda produces first oil …
Read More »Africa’s Covid-19 corruption
‘Theft doesn’t even stop during a pandemic’ | THE INDEPENDENT | Doctors have gone on strike over a lack of protective equipment, and protesters have taken to the streets in anger at the abuse of medical funds, many wearing T-shirts emblazoned with #arrestCovidthieves. Public uproar in Kenya in recent weeks …
Read More »Corruption is rife in the COVID-19 era
Here’s how to fight back | TIM HANSTAD | The global pandemic has public health experts and medical providers around the world working overtime. And so, it seems, are profiteers. Even before the pandemic, an estimated $455 billion of the $7.35 trillion spent annually on healthcare worldwide was lost to …
Read More »Holding safe elections under COVID-19
Nic Cheeseman, a professor of Democracy at the University of Birmingham, explains how to hold elections safely and uphold democracy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheeseman was formerly the Director of the African Studies Centre at the University of Oxford. In addition to a number of book chapters and articles, he …
Read More »Punish election thieves
Experts predict violent 2021 election if offenders go free Kampala, Uganda | MUBATSI ASINJA HABATI | The 2021 general elections will see widespread violence, organised gangs, and bribery. That is according to the Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU), a civil society coalition of over 800 like-minded organisations …
Read More »Proposed Horn of Africa bloc
Why an Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia bloc could destabilise the larger region | INGO HENNEBERG AND SÖREN STAPEL | Relations in the Horn of Africa are complex and complicated. They are characterised by deeply ingrained rivalries between Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia in a conflict-ridden region. For decades, it has been …
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