By Stephen Kafeero and Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi In an attempt to revive vibrant debate at Makerere University, the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR) hosted former South African President Thabo Mbeki on Jan. 19. The Independent’s Stephen Kafeero and Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi captured the highlights of the question-and-answer session on …
Read More »Why development aid is not enough
By Erik Solheim The most important of all financial flows are the illicit funds that pour out of so many developing countries OSLO – Poverty is not only about not having enough money. It is also about exploitation and oppression, and about armed conflicts and wars that make it impossible …
Read More »Otunnu versus the rest
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi UPC boss’s strictness on money issues, leaves him isolated as Pulkol, Rurangaranga, Odit launch a battle for control Few Ugandans have CVs as illustrious as UPC President Olara Otunnu’s. He was granted the special O1 immigration status by the United States, which is reserved for “few …
Read More »Control it; don’t eradicate it
By Stephen Kafeero Fighting malaria the wrong way kills 20 people every minute in Uganda On December 19, 2011, a speeding lorry at Namanve, near Kampala city, hit a taxi and killed 6 of the 16 people on the taxi. Several others were injured. The story was headline news. There …
Read More »Chinese invasion
By Independent Team & Agencies Why Beijing’s defence ministers visited Kampala with US$2.3m cheque Little by little China is forming military links in Africa and in the Indian Ocean in order, experts say, to protect Beijing’s economic interests in the region. With trade exchanges between China and Africa totaling US$ …
Read More »Disagreements in Durban
By Mubatsi Asinja Habati Poor countries come away empty handed from 17th UN conference on global warming Climate smart agriculture, green economy, green city, renewable energy, green climate fund, moral obligations, voices of farmers, and the need for binding agreement on extension of Kyoto Protocol, last December competed for attention …
Read More »Ministry of Health scholarship money stolen?
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi There could be a racket in the Ministry of Health swindling money meant for medical students A number of students who had been sent to study abroad have had their scholarships cancelled and they have been advised to return to Ugandan universities, The Independent has learnt. …
Read More »Media challenged on anti-corruption fight
By Victor Bwire Most of the reports now being discussed in Parliament relating to corruption have been lying in newsrooms As the demand for accountability in the use of public resources in Uganda intensifies, with parliamentarians on top of the efforts, one wonders how Ugandans will be mobilised to join …
Read More »No lessons learnt
By Mubatsi Asinja Habati Government insists it will not raise salaries as teachers threaten continuation of 2011 strikes Last year saw several strikes by different actors over the high cost of living. Primary and secondary school teachers staged two strikes and Makerere University lecturers also went on strike. They all …
Read More »Corruption in 2012
By Haggai Matsiko MPs targeting Museveni could cause major shocks Apart from the Walk-to-Work protests that sparked countrywide unrest—making it Africa’s third biggest story of 2011 according to The Economist magazine—many observers agree that parliament’s fight against graft was Uganda’s biggest story. The 9th parliament’s exposure of alleged corruption by …
Read More »