By Haggai Matsiko Major shake-up in management looms at Shs3.4 trillion workers fund Richard Byarugaba, the managing director of the National Social Security Fund, remains firm he will retain his job after Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka directed it should be advertised. But coming at a time when Byarugaba faces mismanagement …
Read More »Army promotions
By Haggai Matsiko Can MPs’ petition to EAC court stop Museveni, Muhoozi? The decision by some MPs to sue President Yoweri Museveni in the East African Court of Justice over the army promotions announced on May 24 and 25 has raised question over what it seeks to achieve. Nicholas Opiyo, …
Read More »How Museveni uses the army
Lessons from Aronda, Muntu, Muhoozi promotions ANALYSIS | HAGGAI MATSIKO & IVAN RUGAMBWA | Recent promotions in the army have re-ignited the continuous debate of how President Yoweri Museveni uses the forces to stay in power. Hundreds of low rank officers, from 2nd Lieutenant to Major, were in May promoted …
Read More »Aronda saga
By Haggai Matsiko What next after Museveni militarises cabinet? Even as the Appointments Committee sat on July 15 to deliberate, for the third time, on whether or not to approve the former army boss, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, as new minister of Internal Affairs, the decks were staked in his favour …
Read More »Besigye’s last chance
By Haggai Matsiko FDC leaders face tough choices on Muntu On May 8, a top ring of supporters of Gen. Mugisha Muntu, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President held a very special meeting at an undisclosed place in Kampala. The meeting was exclusive to strictly top Muntu supporters because …
Read More »How Museveni nearly quit NRM
By Haggai Matsiko Election case haunts President’s party On Friday October 22, 2010, President Yoweri Museveni held a heated meeting at State House, Entebbe, with a little-known former aide of his, Capt. Daudi Ruhinda Maguru. Present at the meeting was Adolf Mwesige, who was then-minister in the Prime Minister’s office …
Read More »Kiwanuka’s budget strategy
By Haggai Matsiko & Ronald Musoke Good news: Why the minority private sector is praising it Bad News: Why the majority poor are cursing A day after Finance Minister Miria Kiwanuka presented 2013/14 FY budget, a meeting of the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU) on June 14 praised her …
Read More »Don’t underestimate Muhoozi, Museveni tells top commanders
By Haggai Matsiko It was in the last part of his speech to the UPDF High Command, but President Yoweri Museveni’s comments about his son, Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, have become the talking point among the officers that The Independent has spoken to since. On May 22, just a day before …
Read More »Unwanted investors
By Haggai Matsiko Making resource rich regions become food poor Deep in Bukuya Sub County in Mubende district, a gold-mining company, AUC Mining Ltd owned by the British and some influential Ugandans, evicted about 400 peasants. At the gate to the mining company, one finds not ordinary security guards but …
Read More »NSSF’s real estate ghosts
By Haggai Matsiko Costs continue to soar as NSSF, PPDA, IGG haggle over procurement rules In NSSF’s current advert running in the media, the bespectacled managing director Richard Byarugaba says: “So every time you think of NSSF, think of it as a promise to remain true to you,” to which …
Read More »