NEWS ANALYSIS

By Haggai Matsiko Big money deals loom over election The general elections of Feb. 18 must not only be free and fair, they must be seen to be free and fair. That is the higher bar imposed on the  Electoral Commission  by numerous challenges leading into the elections; including procurement …

Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Uganda’s veteran ruler Yoweri Museveni, who is standing for re-election on Thursday, has said he is in favour of his country pulling out of the “partisan” International Criminal Court based in The Hague. Museveni, who came to power in 1986, made the remarks during a …

By Haggai Matsiko What Museveni camp feared The Jan. 31 arrest of Gen. David Sejusa, the former coordinator of intelligence services, is connected to President Yoweri Museveni’s fear of the Feb. 18 ballot. At least that is the line being pushed to the press by his lawyers. His lawyer Laudislus …

By Andrew M. Mwenda President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign in many parts of Eastern Uganda has run into serious trouble. From Jinja to Iganga, through Bugiri, Busia and Tororo all the way to Mbale, the president’s campaign is saddled with internal bickering, no clear message, lethargy, and an acute lack of …

By Samuel Mondays Atuobi This is a slightly edited report by Samuel Mondays Atuobi on the causes of conflict before, during, and after elections, and what can be done to avoid it. It first appeared in a publication by the Institute for Security Studies. Elections in most African countries are …

By Ronald Musoke Kayihura, Lumumba reveal NRM’s 2016 plan Just days to the Feb.18 general election, tension and fear of election-related violence is rising across the country. Pressure has gone up over recent statements by the top leaders of the army, police, and the ruling NRM party warning opponents of …

By Haggai Matsiko Delayed cash, poorly attended rallies, defections dominate Mbabazi’s campaign According to the ACFIM figures, the money the Mbabazi camp spent decreased by 23% between November and December while that of candidate President Yoweri Museveni’s NRM went up by 72% and FDC’s by 25%. By December 31, NRM …

By Independent Team The Jan. 11 decision by the Uganda parliament to bar non-graduate journalists from covering its proceedings runs counter to a modern trend by top employers to ditch the requirement when hiring. In a memo to editors, the Deputy Clear of Parliament, Okello Obabaru, advised them to assign …

By Ronald Musoke A remarkable legacy or missed opportunity? As Ugandans converged at St. Leo’s College Kyegobe in the western town of Fort Portal to mark 30 years of uninterrupted leadership of President Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) under the theme; “30 Years of NRM’s Committed Stewardship: A Remarkable …

By Haggai Matsiko People’s donations to Besigye promote political accountability, experts Mbabazi’s election spend falling Kiiza Besigye, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has collected over Shs100 million worth of donations from supporters during this campaign, estimates indicate. On average he has been collecting Shs1.5 million per rally according to …