Bangui, Central African Republic | AFP | The death toll from clashes in Central African Republic has surged to around 100, local officials said Wednesday of violence that erupted hours after the government signed a truce with rebel groups. The bloodshed, which left dozens more injured, dashed hopes of an …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP |Financially hamstrung Zimbabwe joined UN agencies and charities Wednesday in appealing for $10.9 million of aid for thousands of refugees in the country including families fleeing violence in neighbouring Mozambique. Zimbabwe, grappling an economic crisis including a cash crunch which has had a toll on social …

Jailed Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere has presented six sureties as is required for his bail application to be heard. Jinja High Court judge Eva Luswata Thursday ruled that she had jurisdiction to proceed to hear the bail request, throwing out an application by the Director Of Public Prosecutions to move …

Fort Portal Municipal Council in western Uganda had the highest percentage number of pupils passing the 2016 Primary Leaving Results (PLE) released today. Fort Portal Municipal Council had a 99.9% pass rate, followed by Entebbe 99.3%,  Ntungamo 99.2% and Rukungiri 91%. Others in the top 10 districts include Jinja Municipal …

THE LAST WORD Economic growth Vs development: Don’t judge Uganda by where it is but by the speed at which it is growing. COVER STORY Scandal over Museveni’s Shs 6bn ‘handshake’: Stars of anti-corruption fight caught in secret deals with President. SPORTS What does Uganda Cranes need more in Gabon: …

By Ronald Musoke The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has been dragged to court by a local civil society organization in an attempt to force it to release details of an environment impact assessment it sanctioned four years ago allowing a Chinese firm to do quarrying activities in a village …

By Flavia Nassaka Unhappiness driving 30% Uganda into mental illness To illustrate how successful his 30 year administration has been, President Museveni likes to use a slew of social economic indicators. He throws up GDP growth figures like a talented conjurer describing his best trick and is at his best …

By Haggai Matsiko Behind the scenes manouvres at the Supreme Court The courtroom, which sits about 200 people, was packed. It was a few minutes to 1:00 O’clock. Severino Twinobusingye, one of Mbabazi’s lawyers – a lanky man who wears an angry look like a badge of honour – was …

Independent Reporter This week’s The Independent COVER STORY is about the court drama in Mbabazi election petition. It takes a close look at why the Electoral Commission Chairman Badru Kiggundu’s mood changed from tense to excitement, what role Museveni’s son-in-law, Edwin Karugire played, and why Pontius Namugera, the Director of …

The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | War crimes judges Wednesday confirmed 70 charges against notorious Lord’s Resistance Army commander Dominic Ongwen for crimes committed in Uganda, including keeping sex slaves and recruiting child soldiers. Judges at the International Criminal Court “confirmed 70 charges brought by the prosecutor against Dominic Ongwen,” …