Washington, United States | AFP | Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran who met dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria during that country’s devastating civil war, said Friday that she is launching a US presidential bid. “I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within …
Read More »Minister cautions against extorting money from cholera patients
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health workers at Naguru Hospital have been warned against extorting money from Cholera patients. On Tuesday, two Cholera patients fled the hospital after they were allegedly told to pay 20,000 shillings before they are treated. The State Minister for Primary Health Care Dr Joyce Moriku …
Read More »France vows tough response as new ‘yellow vest’ demos loom
Paris, France | AFP | France braced for a fresh round of “yellow vest” protests across the country on Saturday, with the authorities vowing zero tolerance for violence after weekly scenes of rioting and vandalism in Paris and other cities over the past two months. Officials have warned they expect …
Read More »Ssempa wants EC to stop use of gospel tunes in campaigns
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Makerere Community Church Pastor Martin Ssempa is petitioning the Electoral Commission to stop politicians from what he says is “adulterating religious melodies for political gain”. Ssempa has lately come out as a critic of Tulyambala Engule, a new song which has become a signature tune …
Read More »COSASE orders withdrawal of Bagyenda’s BOU car
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of Parliament have today directed Bank of Uganda (BOU) to withdraw the vehicle and security they have been providing to their former Director Bank Supervision, Justine Bagyenda. For some months now Bagyenda who retired in July 2018 has been appearing before the Parliamentary Committee …
Read More »US ex-priest sentenced to up to 14 years in prison for child sex abuse
New York, United States | AFP | A former Catholic priest who had admitted to sexually abusing children in the US state of Pennsylvania was sentenced Friday to up to 14 years in prison — the second clergyman to be jailed in the wake of a damning statewide grand jury …
Read More »Obituary: Kakooza’s woodwind clarinet goes silent
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Young and aging Ugandans can hardly envisage a police band without Josephine Kakooza. She was the face of the band and the band was her life. Many called her Maama Police, a name she won on the basis of a service that spanned five decades …
Read More »US vet cancels project to raise money for border wall
Washington, United States | AFP | An Iraq war veteran canceled his plan to crowdsource $1 billion to help President Donald Trump build a wall on the Mexico border Friday after raising only $20 million and drawing questions about his online activities. Triple-amputee veteran Brian Kolfage launched a GoFundMe account …
Read More »Parliament opts for dialogue to resolve COSASE impasse
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parliament leaders are engaged in a series of meetings to resolve the leadership impasse for the committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE). The COSASE standoff started after a suggestion that the current committee, headed by Bugweri County MP Abdul Katuntu should complete …
Read More »US govt shutdown to enter record 22nd day in border row
Washington, United States | AFP | The US government shutdown that has left 800,000 federal employees without salaries as a result of President Donald Trump’s row with Democrats over building a Mexico border wall was set to enter a record 22nd day Saturday. The Democrats’ refusal to approve $5.7 billion …
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