ARTICLES 2008-2015

Uganda has finally announced the country’s first open competitive licensing round for petroleum exploration in six blocks covering almost 3000 sq km along the country’s western frontier. Speaking to journalists at the energy ministry’s headquarters in Kampala on Feb. 24, Eng. Irene Muloni, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Why we should stop complaining about what our country has failed to do and ask what we can do It is very hard to get things done, even at the smallest level. But it is very easy to sit and complain about things. Reading social media, …

By Agather Atuhaire Accused of cheating ordinary landowners, the government must find way to move on with projects Compensating affected persons is a major component of any government project. Up to Shs30 billion is budgeted to be spent on about 400 Project Affected Persons (PAPs) when the second phase of …

By Flavia Nassaka Patients, doctors say machine broke down; hospital insists everything is OK As journalists, we often encounter situations that should be straight forward but become quite complicated for no clear reason. One such incident happened recently at the Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala. We got information that …

By Joan Akello Samuel Odonga Otto, the opposition Forum for Democratic Change’s Aruu County Member of Parliament spoke to The Independent’s Joan Akello about politics and his retirement plans. What are you thinking of lately? I am making a deliberate effort to work on my brain. I am still not …

By Joan Akello Alex Muhangi, a comedian a.k.a Chris Brown, talked to Joan Akello about his plans and entertainment What don’t we know about you? I’m born again. I stumbled into comedy auditions at Theatre Labonita when I was a Mass Communication student at Makerere University and found Pablo who …

By Haggai Matsiko Apprehensive government offers to renegotiate as once-prized wildcatter struggles to stay afloat Since news surfaced that it was being hit hard by the downturn in the global oil markets, the mood at Tullow Oil Uganda’s offices at Plot 15 Yusuf Lule Road in Kampala has been sombre …

By Agather Atuhaire Ask any National Resistance Movement (NRM) legislator what the biggest outcome of the recently concluded party retreat was and they will point you to the 15 resolutions the party reached. But for President Yoweri Museveni, nothing was bigger than the opportunity to capture the hearts of some …

By Flavia Nassaka The ministry of health has today, Feb.19 announced the outbreak of typhoid in areas around Nakasero market and Kikuubo in down town Kampala with two people being confirmed to have succumbed to it yet other eleven deaths are still being investigated for the same. 142 individuals have …

By Andrew M. Mwenda The obstacles to building an effective opposition and advancing democracy without “regime change” Last week, the NRM and opposition leaders agreed on 43, out of 48 proposed electoral reforms. This is contrary to the doomsday scenarios its hecklers have been presenting that there is no chance …