By rukiya makuma On Friday Feb. 11, history was made in terms of elections for a political office in Uganda. One of the most successful innovations was the first ever live debate broadcast on television, radio and live-streamed on the internet. The hotly contested Kampala Mayor race was the guinea …
Read More »What is Uganda: A crisis of national identity?
By Ella Rychlewski At the age of 27, I have been to every continent except Antarctica, visited over 30 countries and lived in five. Extensive travel as a tourist has given me a broad overview of the cultural diversity Planet Earth offers. I have learned what makes a country memorable, …
Read More »Gangster’s paradise: The Feudal Republic of Uganda
By Timothy Kalyegira National events at Kololo Airstrip in Kampala like Independence Day, Labour Day and others used to last about two hours. Since 2008, they have started taking on the feel of mammoth, all-day festivals. The main reason is that as President Yoweri Museveni has gotten more insecure in …
Read More »Human rights situation in Uganda
By dicta assimwe Military improving while police back at top of the list of abusers The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), a constitutional body financed by the Uganda government, released their annual report with mostly bad news for the police but some goods news for the military. The UHCR reports …
Read More »Uganda trails in world’s best country survey
By Henry Zakumumpa If you were born today, which country would provide you the very best opportunity to live a healthy, safe, reasonably prosperous, and upwardly mobile life? This was the intriguing question posed in an unprecedented study by Newsweek, a leading American international magazine. The study was conducted between …
Read More »Maize grain: A neglected coupon that could boost Uganda’s power in the EAC?
By Eriasa S. Mukiibi One issue that has preoccupied Ugandans since the launch of the East African common market is what they could sell to their regional counterparts in order to compete successfully. Dr. Bernabas Kiiza, an agricultural economist at Makerere University, believes the answer to this puzzling question is …
Read More »Lack of tea research has kept Uganda tea quality inferior
By Patrick Kagenda Roger Siima, General Manager of Mpanga Growers Tea Factory, talked to The Independent`s Patrick Kagenda about the tea industry in Uganda and how it fits in the growing regional competition.’ When do you start your day? My day starts a bit early at about 6:00am. This is …
Read More »Uganda faces telecom price war as Kenya, Tz, Rwanda cut call rates
By Eriasa S. Mukiibi Kenya has made drastic cuts in mobile telephone call tariffs, posing a huge challenge to her Great Lakes regional counterparts on how to cope with the competitiveness in the sector following the launch of the East African Common Market. Kenyans have been calling at an equivalent …
Read More »Uganda Youth Convention falls short
By Rukiya Makuma Allegations that NRM politics taint convention deprives youth of the help they need They are everywhere on the streets young boys hanging out doors of speeding matatus, shouting, gesturing, hoping you’ll come in so they can make a couple hundred shillings. This is the only job that …
Read More »Uganda unprepared for Common Market
By Patrick Kagenda If First deputy Prime minister and Minister for East African Community (EAC) Affairs Eriya Kategaya sought to reassure the business community about the Common Market, his June 24 message showed a serious lack of preparedness. The East African Common Market Protocol which came into force on July …
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