By John Njoroge When children play with healthcare waste, tainted blood, needles The air is pungent with urine, fecal matter and cow dung. The narrow walkways are littered with garbage and stagnant water with barefoot children running around innocently. Others rummage through the garbage piles for items to sell. One …
Read More »America hopes 2011 elections will be better than before
By John Njoroge The Independents John Njoroge attended a press briefing by the new U.S. Ambassador Jerry P. Lanier. Excerpts. What is your opinion about Uganda’s preparedness for the 2011 general elections? We are anxious that the preparations move forward. We know that there are some questions about a number …
Read More »Queries hang over State House-backed power firm
By John Njoroge UETCL says company is not competent But State House, Migereko want deal done In November 2008, a public hearing was held at Sunset Hotel in Jinja. Its purpose was to get feedback from stakeholders over an application for a licence to generate and sell electricity. The application …
Read More »Royal guards terror
By John Njoroge Bunyoro kingdom ruling by old rules? In 1999, Fred Atugonza of Hoima town, left his home in the wee hours to pray at a church near the palace of the Bunyoro king Rukirabasaija Agutamba Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I. The good Christian he was and an ardent follower …
Read More »Eritrean prison break
By John Njoroge Journalist tells how Afewerkis regime abuses press freedom Yonas Embaye smiles softly as he tells his story in the calmest of voices. He sounds like someone talking about sweet fond memories. Only his emotionless brown eyes and his unkempt mane of shaggy hair offer the first hint …
Read More »New breed of conmen in town
By John Njoroge Your next caller could be a fraudster Sometime in August, operatives attached to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) arrested one of Uganda’s biggest fraudsters ever. The 21-year-old Michael Mugarura had for over three years been impersonating President Yoweri Museveni by imitating his voice. He would use …
Read More »I will follow my Shs 900m to the grave- Akankwasa
By Ariel rubin and John Njoroge In the last three weeks, the suspended Executive Director of National Forestry Authority (NFA) Damian Akankwasa has been in the spotlight over Shs 900m that he says was stolen from his house in Naguru by his estranged wife Juliet Akankwasa. He told The Independent’s …
Read More »US army training camp brings hope to Kitgum
By John Njoroge Kony war-ravaged region hopes to reap from military training camp that brings the American army and officers from the armies of the five East African Community countries In the last two month, the local radio stations in Kitgum district have been airing announcements to the effect that …
Read More »Kyeyune humbled over bad road
By John Njoroge LC V boss’ ordeal shows how unfulfilled promises endanger public officials At first, he is hit with a bottle top but within seconds, stones, sticks, dirty water and dust are hitting him from all directions. A crowd numbering in the hundreds has steadily gathered around him and …
Read More »Riyaz Kurji
By John Njoroge Rewinding clock to the second that took his life There was excitement in the village of Magezi-Tonyeze in Mityana district that Saturday afternoon. The second leg of the KCB Pearl of Africa Rally 2009 was coming that way and there was no missing the fast and furious …
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