NEWS ANALYSIS

By mubatsi habati & dicta asiimwe Bidandi’s lanterns, Naomi’s black dress, and Besigye’s new barber  This time, the presidential candidates’ nomination days – Oct.25 and Oct.26 ‘ exceeded expectations. The frenzy, excitement, and colour of the mammoth crowds on streets that had been perfectly cleared of traffic compensated for the …

By eriasa mukiibi Museveni’s plan for Buganda in 2011  While on tour in the US in mid-September, the king of Buganda, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, received an unusual emissary from NRM Secretary General and Security Minister Amama Mbabazi. The emissary, according to sources that were involved in the meeting, …

By matthew stein Report ranks Rwanda’s press freedom among worst in the world The Rwandan government has expressed outrage over a recent Reporters Without Borders (RSF) report that ranked it amongst the ten worst countries in the world for press freedoms. Placed in the 169 spot, out of a total …

By the agencies Detained on charges of buying weapons for subversive activity On Oct. 15 Rwandan police confirmed that they were conducting further investigations to arrest all suspects in an alleged plot to form a ‘terrorist group’ after detaining an opposition leader. ‘Investigations are continuing to ensure that all the …

By haggai matsiko Can new proposals transform the public service? Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba of Reev Consult International has a peculiar image of the Uganda public service that the government hired him to study and propose policies to transform. He likens it to a human body with a very big head, …

By dicta assimwe Military improving while police back at top of the list of abusers The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), a constitutional body financed by the Uganda government, released their annual report with mostly bad news for the police but some goods news for the military. The UHCR reports …

By Patrick Matsiko wa Mucoori  Book unveils the lies, intrigue, state murders Get down!’ the policeman yelled at me, his voice both urgent and hushed. And in a desperate whisper, he added: ‘Take off the T-shirt and cap!’ I dropped to the ground….’ the screaming flashback ushers you into Dr …

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati  Maka al-Mukarama, the strategic main road linking the habour, the airport, and the Presidential Villa in the war-ravaged Somali capital Mogadishu is one of the most dangerous roads on earth. On Friday, August 27 it was a scene of mayhem as an attack by Somali militants, …

By Agencies International community applauds as third top Rwanda rebel is arrested Police in France on Monday arrested Rwandan rebel leader Callixte Mbarushimana, wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the French government said. Mbarushimana ‘was arrested [on Monday} on French territory’ by …

By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Civil society to put political parties on the spot over citizen-centered election pledges Political parties will come under pressure as the extent to which their election pledges reflect the aspirations of the people comes under closer scrutiny weeks before nomination of candidates to contest next years …