Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | After three days of a bus strike that paralysed transport operations across the country, the bus operators and the Local Government reached an understanding to hold talks. Bus operators were perturbed over KCCA’s decision to levy a Shs2.4m million park user fees which they considered …
Read More »Otafiire, Muhwezi clash over car tracking deal
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ministers Kahinda Otafiire (Internal Affairs) and Jim Muhwezi (Security) disagreed over the deal to hand a Russian company the mandate to do digital number plates. While appearing before a parliament committee over the matter, Otafiire said he and his ministry have no prior knowledge over …
Read More »Winnie Byanyima speaks out on racism
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | UNAIDS Executive Director condemned the racist discrimination by police in Geneva, Switzerland where she stays. Byanyima was out on a walk when police descended on her to restrict her movements. In a tweet that went viral, she complained about abuse over three years. “Security constantly …
Read More »Gen. Kale Kayihura’s retirement
How former IGP’s mistakes are now back to haunt him COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | Back in 2015, there was a shoot-out at the home of former Inspector General of Government (IGG) Justice Faith Mwondha in Iganga district. Thugs had attacked Justice Mwondha’s home and on hearing the news, then …
Read More »Meet the secular mujahedeen
The transformation of democracy from a political form to a religious movement THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Last week, I had an encounter with a democracy jihadist called Jeffrey Smith during a debate on Twitter (X) Spaces. The next day, he took to Twitter (X) accusing me of supporting despotism …
Read More »The real cost of de-dollarisation
The Chinese renminbi, which accounts for less than 3% of global reserves, is not a threat to dollar hegemony COMMENT | BENN STEIL | At the end of World War II, the United States accounted for more than half the world’s economic output and gold reserves. The United Kingdom was effectively …
Read More »Pareto and the roots of politics
Why he didn’t politics could be understood from the self-serving narratives of the protagonists COMMENT | ALERTO MINGARDI | Many political disputes in recent years have been framed as battles between economic rationality and eruptions of irrationality that we label populism. But cognitive psychologists and economists would point out that political …
Read More »COMMENT: South Sudan is gearing up for its first election
Luka Kuol is Adjunct Professor, University of Juba and affiliated with the Abyei Community Action for Development and the Rift Vally Institute points out three things it must get right COMMENT | LUKA KUOL | South Sudan descended into violent conflict less than three years after independence. It signed its first …
Read More »Navigating power dynamics
Contextualising the role of local community foundations in evolving international development paradigms COMMENT | HASHIM WASSWA MULANGWA | Localisation has recently become a topical issue in international development debates, and in a recent speaking engagement on international philanthropy and its intersection with local community foundations, I had the opportunity to …
Read More »The vinyl revival
This man is helping African millennials rediscover the groove ART | OWEN KONZOLO | “One of the beautiful aspects of vinyl is its ability to preserve cultural heritage. In Africa, vinyl has become more than just a medium for music; it has transformed into a cultural artefact,” proclaims James ‘Jimmy’ Rugami, …
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