The News Today

In this week’s issue of The Independent: COMMENT Yahya Jams: Gambian President Yahya Jammeh’s decision to cling to power after initially conceding defeat in the Dec.01 election might be a result of his fear about how the victorious opposition might treat him. That has lessons for those opposing President Yoweri …

Museveni’s new team at Energy ministry grills Chinese contractors The midday sun is beating down hard at Karuma; site of what will be Uganda’s biggest electricity dam; the 600MW Hydropower Dam under construction. Gargantuan tower cranes stand several feet high, hoisting thick blocks of pre-fabricated concrete and iron bars atop …

These Chinese contractors don’t care at all, says Labour minister vow to whip them into line The human cost of accidents, poor health and safety conditions under Chinese contractors in Uganda has come under scrutiny and what is emerging is raising serious concerns. At the heart of the latest concerns …

Four concerned citizens have petitioned the High Court in Kampala seeking orders to have Works and Transport Minister Eng. Monica Azuba Ntege prosecuted over planned nationwide mandatory motor -vehicle inspection. The citizens led by  Aaron Izimba also want orders permanently blocking the vehicle inspection, and  the  immediate cancellation of a contract signed on …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | More than 30 people died when a fuel tanker crashed into other vehicles and burst into flames outside the town of Naivasha in Kenya late on Saturday night, officials said. “Over 30 people confirmed dead, many injured and over 11 vehicles burnt at a road …

Paris, France | AFP | Wild giraffe numbers have plummeted by 40 percent in the last three decades, and the species is now “vulnerable” to extinction, a top conservation body warned Thursday. The population of the world’s tallest land mammal dropped to below 100,000 in 2015, mainly due to shrinking …

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have launched a countrywide campaign by marching in Kampala streets against a proposed tax allowance exemption for Members of Parliament (MPs). The organisations say they are marching in support of President Yoweri Museveni’s original stand against an MPs tax allowance exemption. The street march which started from …

Ugandan comedian Joseph Opio has been nominated for a major American award. Opio, who is on Trevor Noah’s The Daily Show support team, is nominated for the 2017 Writers Guild of America award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy. “Dear Joe, Congratulations. On behalf of the union, it’s my pleasure to tell you that you …

Members of Parliament (MPs) have shown eagerness to adopt the Songhai Model in Uganda’s programmes aimed at fighting unemployment, enhancing labour productivity and food security. “It is very important Members of Parliament experience the Songhai Model. I am saying that because I am a fan of the Songhai model,” Uganda Parliament …

London, United Kingdom | AFP |  Britain faces an “unprecedented” terror threat that will not subside until the Syrian civil war ends, the head of foreign intelligence service MI6 said Thursday. In a rare speech for an intelligence chief, Alex Younger said British authorities had foiled 12 terrorist plots since …