By Agather Atuhaire Just six years ago, Henry Peter Mayega was a member of the opposition Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party. Then he switched sides to the ruling NRM party. Today he is Uganda’s ambassador designate to the Peoples republic of China. At any time these days, Mayega is all …
Read More »Controversy shrouds Gen. Aronda death
By Ian Katusiime On Sept 11, an Emirates flight EK323 on which Gen. Aronda Nyakairima was a passenger departed Incheon International Airport at 11: 55 pm (5.30am Ugandan time) in Seoul, South Korea, headed to Dubai International Airport. This nine and a half hour flight was to be the last …
Read More »Beyond Mbabazi, Besigye, TDA drama
By Independent Team What it really says about Ugandan politics Until Aug.17, the de facto leader of the Opposition, Retired Col. Kizza Besigye and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi were on opposite sides in Uganda’s two-horse race politics. Unknown by many people, a major swift occurred that morning when Mbabazi …
Read More »Fight over road contracts
By Ian Katusiime Local contractors say they are tired of `eating’ crumbs Uganda is on a road construction binge. The first priority on the National Development Plan is to improve the condition of roads through tarmacking and maintenance. In the 2015/16 Financial Year, up to 400kms of roads are to …
Read More »Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, 56, dies
By Agather Atuhaire Quiet general was chief of defense forces for 10 years On June 7, 2003, President Yoweri Museveni who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces took a decision that would have far-reaching implications for the Uganda army and the country. He removed Maj. Gen. James Kazini …
Read More »TDA’s dilemma
By Agather Atuhaire Why experts want both Besigye and Mbabazi to contest Journalist Daniel Kalinaki starts his book titled, Kizza Besigye and Uganda’s Unfinished Revolution with an April 2011 meeting between former FDC President Kizza Besigye and Western donors and diplomats. At the meeting, the author says Besigye was scolded …
Read More »UPDF under attack
By Independent Reporter AMISOM responds late to al Shabaab re-organisation and tactics On July 23, Stratfor – the American-based intelligence firm- issued an optimistic analysis of the African Union force in Somalia, AMISOM, effort against the militant group, al Shabaab. The analysis was titled, `In somalia, African forces make gains …
Read More »Divided FDC
By Agather Atuhaire Why Besigye has its vote, Muntu its heart Weeks after Uganda’s main opposition party voted retired Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye to be its flag-bearer in the 2016 presidential elections, members remain divided over the likely implications of the decision. Within the FDC, The Independent has been told, …
Read More »2016 Election or war?
By Haggai Matsiko Security experts raise alarm over rise of ‘militias’ It is 2:30am and a truck carrying bunches of matooke has just got involved in a serious accident with a small car at a main junction in the Rubaga suburb of Kampala city. The Kabusu area is a favourite …
Read More »Foreign TV wins
By Flavia Nassaka An evening of juggling regulators, advertisers, and audiences What a day it has been! I sigh as I put the key into the lock at my house. The warm air from inside hits me first, competing with smells from the fruit basket and the newly cleaned carpet. …
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