Can government respond to private sector needs amidst pressures related to COVID-19? Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | KK Foods, exporters of fresh foods and vegetables, enjoyed market opportunities in Europe, US and Canada until Covid-19 restrictions struck in March last year. Export volumes dropped from 63 tonnes to 40 …
Read More »Uganda’s proposed Shs45.6bn budget concerns
Budget analysts suggests that government focuses on domestic revenue mobilisation and external borrowing to boost economy in FY2021/2022 Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Coronavirus pandemic, economy, donor support, government spending are the main factors that will determine the design, implementation and success of the new budget for FY2021/22, according …
Read More »Increase spending to revive economy, private sector players urge government
Private sector, economic experts wants government to increase the speed with tough recovery measures Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | As the economy starts to heal from the 2021 election fever, and people getting back to work, with hopes that coronavirus vaccine will get here, private sector players and experts …
Read More »Lubowa Hospital controversy
How bad can investing in a specialised hospital be? Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | “Bring them in. Give them free land. Offer them Tax exemptions. Guarantee their financing. Don’t bother them with minimum wage. Then allow them to take their profits back home.” That is how one unhappy commentator …
Read More »COVER STORY: Bad economy
Here is why Ugandans are poorer today than yesterday There is more bad news for the Uganda economy this April. According to the latest figures from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the Central Bank, the economy will not achieve the targeted 4.5% growth this financial year. It will …
Read More »BUSINESS: Kyambadde shrugs off ‘Buy Uganda’ critics
BoU’s Mutebile leads call for export driven policy instead Amelia Kyambadde, the Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, has had a tough time selling her flagship policy plank, the `Buy Uganda Build Uganda’ (BUBU). But the latest criticism against the policy came from the most unexpected voice; that of the …
Read More »BUSINESS: Economy to rebound?
Business captains punch holes in Bank of Uganda projections Uganda’s economy is expected to pick up steam this year, boosted by public infrastructure spending and easing of the monetary policy to stimulate economic growth. At least that is the view of Bank of Uganda Governor Emmanuel Mutebile. Mutebile spewed his …
Read More »Price surge in basic commodities ahead of Christmas
Festive season and prolonged drought push prices high This year’s Christmas may not be merry as many could hope as prices for specific basic commodities increases ahead of the big day, The Independents analysis shows. The price of sugar has increased from Shs 3, 200 to Shs 5,000 per kilogramme …
Read More »ANALYSIS: ‘You destroyed economy’
Experts tell Museveni, Mutebile, Muhakanizi President Yoweri Museveni’s unchecked spending and the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Uganda efforts to clean have created a lope-sided economy that is hurting everyone. That is the view of several economists interviewed by The Independent. Dr. Lawrence Bategeka, formerly a researcher at the …
Read More »