In The Magazine

Why Jack Ma went to Kenya, Rwanda with 38 Chinese billionaires in tow RWANDA |PEREZ TIGIDAM| Jack Ma, Asia’s richest man and founder of Alibaba Group recently completed a two-day trip to East Africa, visiting Kenya and Rwanda with 38 fellow Chinese billionaires, all no doubt poised with expensive fountain …

Mujib Kasule is a former footballer turned manager.  He was vice president of Uganda’s football governing body, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) from 2012 to 2014. KAMPALA, UGANDA |AGNES E NANTABA| Even as a privileged child who was born into a wealthy family in Wandegeya, a Kampala city …

Surplus expected to eat into the producer’s profitability KAMPALA, UGANDA|ISAAC KHISA| The cement industry in Uganda could be headed for tough times as firms increase production capacity next year beyond the available demand. Lafarge Group’s Hima Cement is setting up a new plant in Tororo, eastern Uganda, with capacity of …

How a cup before a nap helps you power through the day |CHIN MOI CHOW| Caffeine and napping have something in common. Both make you feel alert and can enhance your performance, whether that’s driving, working or studying. But some people are convinced that drinking a coffee before a nap …

Haruna Nyanzi is the managing director of the Kampala-based Sombha Solutions, an information and communication technology provider. He spoke to The Independent’s Ian Katusiime about how the young company is setting itself apart in a rather competitive industry. What is your management style? I believe in clear goal sharing, where …

The National Social Security Fund’s move to shut down its old e-collection system and adopt a more advanced tech savvy portal last year coupled with increase in compliance has boosted its capability to collect more employee contributions, according to its Managing Director, Richard Byarugaba. KAMPALA, UGANDA |ISAAC KHISA|  Byarugaba, who …

President Paul Kagame, who is seeking re-election and holding campaigns across the country, has said the mantra of his party; RPF-Inkotanyi, is “not to leave any Rwanda behind”. RWANDA |SUSAN BABIJJA| Kagame who is the chairman of RPF-Inkotanyi is pushing this message at all his rallies. He is urging Rwandans …

US$4bn project fails to get investor again KAMPALA, UGANDA |HAGGAI MATSIKO| President Yoweri Museveni’s oil refinery project has once again suffered a major blow with a major Chinese contractor quitting. As has happened in many major infrastructure deals, frustration over in-fighting, intrigue and lobbying had already taken root with cabinet officials, …

When poor peasants cry as the rich elite squabble KAMPALA, UGANDA |FLAVIA NASSAKA| Hussein Bbale is 46 years old, married with five children. But he lives in his mother’s house in Nyakabale village in Fort Portal town. This is unusual. So how did it happen? Nyakabale village is about 5kms …

Hubris of The Economist: How this British newspaper ignores Rwanda’s context in its neocolonial desire to define that country THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | According to The Economist, a United Kingdom-based highly opinionated newsmagazine, President Paul Kagame runs a tight autocratic political system in Rwanda. The Economist …