In The Magazine

By Andrew M. Mwenda Many people believe the existence of multiple institutions for accountability in public procurement provide ‘checks and balances’ on the process. This belief is born of the efficacy of such checks and balances in Western democracies rather than an objective study of how they work in a …

By Kalundi Serumaga There are times when a moment of silence can seem louder than actual noise. The current silence of those who were previously the vigorous advocates of imposing the Western neo-liberal economic doctrines of ‘donate, privatise and sell’ on Uganda, is one such moment. What little commentary they …

P. Matsiko wa Mucoori & Ongwens Kisangala Look, we have been told a million times: President Milton Obote rigged the 1980 elections. True, it happened. There is credible information of various forms of election irregularities orchestrated by Obote’s Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) in diverse places across the country. The rigging …

By Rosebell Kagumire Justice Joseph Mulenga has been a judge at the Supreme Court of Uganda for the last 12 years. Last week he retired from the bench. The Independents Rosebell Kagumire spoke to him on his last day in office about a range of issues. Excerpts:- My Lord, you …

By David Chandi Jamwa I have read carefully the reasons why I was supposedly sent on suspension as Managing Director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). I admit that I am not perfect. Indeed, no one ever is. Yet my alleged faults are of a tactical, not a strategic …

By G. Pascal Zachary In a dusty remote village in eastern Uganda, I stare across a mud-hut at a retired government worker who echoes the millions of people across of Africa, young and old, women and men, who want Barack Obama, the next American president, to be their leader too. …

By David Tinyefuza Last week, we published views of seven generals (both retired and serving) on Operation Lightning Thunder. They criticised the ongoing operation against Kony’s LRA rebels as poorly planned and likely to achieve nothing significant. Coordinator of Intelligence Gen. David Tinyefuza who commanded Operation North in ‘90s writes …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Next week, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) will celebrate 23 years in government. The NRM revolution was born in a moment of great hope. It is difficult for me to capture the emotional tone of that moment. But there was great hope in most of this …

By John Njoroge The Independents John Njoroge spoke to the outgoing US Ambassador to Uganda Mr. Stephen Browning on what the election of President Obama means to Africa and the world. The election of Obama has brought hope and excitement worldwide. Will the Obama presidency fulfill these expectations especially as …

By Charles Onyango-Obbo A Ugandan analysts whose views I respect, told me recently that the ‘Opposition to the [President Yoweri] Museveni is getting exhausted, and it would seem many people now believe he cannot be removed’. He anticipated that while Museveni’s rule is discredited daily by corruption and incompetence, and …