By Joan Akello Having a chairperson who sits on numerous boards might not be illegal, but is it smart? Company name: National Insurance Corporation. Board chairman: Dr. Martin Jerome Okech Aliker. Company name: Uganda Clays Ltd. Board Chairman: Dr. Martin Aliker. Company name: Junior Achievements Ltd. Board Chairman: Dr.Aliker. Company …
Read More »Money in politics
By Flavia Nassaka From winning the election to keeping the seat; politicians have to dig deeper in their pockets. Everyone doesn’t like it and everyone is doing it. Emmanuel Lumala Dombo knows how to win an election. He has done it four times in Bunyole East constituency in Butaleja district. …
Read More »Oil prices: EAC shouldn’t despair
By Dr. Ahmed Heikal A lot has been written and said about the potential impact the collapse in global oil prices might have on East Africa’s nascent hydro carbon industry. After five years of exciting new discoveries, the region had become one of the most promising new exploration frontiers, creating …
Read More »Driving financial inclusion
By Mwesigwa Herbert Greater collaboration between telecom companies and financial institutions needed There is a statistic that is so compelling it cannot be missed when it comes to the growth and usage of mobile phones especially in Uganda. In 2003, they were less than two million people with a mobile …
Read More »Hollywood creations a danger
By Okodan Akwap The mightily deceptive allure of Hollywood is that many black actors would be dying to play villains Among local commentaries on America’s problematic race relations, Andrew Mwenda’s article, ‘Beyond America’s façade of democracy’ (The Independent, December 8), stands out. He notes that, “The ‘democratic’ process … consistently …
Read More »`I can even buy a shoe which does not fit me’
By Joan Akello Singer Rehemah Namakula aka Rema talked to Joan Akello about her baby and music career Congratulations, how does it feel to be a mother? It’s everything.Motherhood has changed me. Things we don’t know about you? I’m the last born in five children, I’ve grown up but some …
Read More »Catch-22 in government compensation
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 …
Read More »Mulago CT scanner puzzle
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 …
Read More »Opposition worse than failed magicians – Otto
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 …
Read More »Ugandans are funny, anything bad becomes a joke
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 …
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