By Joan Akello The Embassy of France in Uganda has awarded Betty Atuku Bigombe, the Minister of State for Water with the highest French national distinction, the Legion of Honour, in recognition of her contributions towards peace building and human rights defence, among others. “I consider this gesture as extremely …
Read More »President Goodluck’s sacking of Sanusi
By Ike Okonta The Central Bank governor exposed corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation It was only a matter of time before Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan moved against Lamido Sanusi, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who spent much of the last year waging an anti-corruption campaign …
Read More »Civil liberties being suffocated in Uganda
By Hassan Shire Museveni has disregarded his constitutional duty to promote the welfare of all citizens President Yoweri Museveni on Feb.24 assented to a law that will institutionalise discrimination, and increase the potential for violence against one of the most vulnerable groups in Uganda. The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2014 has been …
Read More »Standing firm on anti-gay law
By Ian Katusiime and Joan Akello Main mover, Ndorwa West MP David Bahati spoke to The Independent’s Ian Katusiime and Joan Akello about how threats by donors to cut aid should give Uganda opportunity to re-evaluate its opportunities Why do you say the new Anti-homosexuality law is a victory for …
Read More »Frankly speaking with Amos Wekesa
By Joan Akello Founding managing Director of Great Lakes Safaris Who are you in two sentences? I am an outspoken person, a practicing Christian that means I fail sometimes. I’m so passionate about Uganda, my family, Great Lakes. What can’t you live without? My God, my family and I don’t …
Read More »Museveni and Abraham Lincoln
By Andrew M. Mwenda How the two leaders faced a dilemma of transcending their prejudices to make history and how each reacted On Sunday while browsing television channels at home, I chanced upon the movie, Lincoln. It is an amazing film about how US President Abraham Lincoln pushed through Congress …
Read More »Will Homosexuals bring down Museveni?
By Joseph Were Uganda is to pay high price for hate In April 2013, the global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, published a report entitled: “Making love a crime: Criminalisation of same sex conduct in Sub-Saharan Africa” in which Ugandan gay rights activist Frank Mugisha gave very emotional testimony. One …
Read More »If peaceful change fails, we must use violent change –Mao
By Haggai Matsiko DP President, Norbert Mao spoke to The Independent’s Haggai Matsiko. Everyone is talking about 2016, what is Mao’s strategy? I lead the Democratic Party (DP) which is 60-years old this year. We want a Uganda that is united, democratic, and peaceful and that is economically prosperous. We …
Read More »Looking at 2016 is focusing on the wrong issue – Kamya
By Ronald Musoke Beti Olive Kamya, the leader of the Uganda Federal Alliance spoke to The Independent’s Ronald Musoke. Are you also in the camp that believes the opposition should shun the 2016 general elections because the polls have already been rigged in favour of the ruling NRM party? What …
Read More »2016 elections meaningless without reforms – Otunnu
By Joan Akello UPC President, Olara Otunnu spoke to The Independent’s Joan Akello about his party’s road map. What is UPC’s strategy for 2016? We have been moving around the country to mobilise, raise awareness, and get the youth and women league organised. Historically, the three main UPC pillars were …
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