NEWS ANALYSIS

By Rukiya Makuma A private member’s bill seeks to hit the corrupt in their softest spot, their loot The young, vibrant Member of Parliament for Makindye East, John Simbwa, has plucked the courage and taken on a fight that many proclaim cannot be won – against the corrupt. Simbwa’s private …

By The Independent Team Museveni and Byanyima never had any major political differences, and now it seems they have resolved the personal ones One June 2011 day, about mid-day, a Toyota Land Cruiser drove through the gates of State House, Entebbe. There was nothing especially remarkable about the car, but …

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati Concern persists over Uganda’s readiness to counter terrorism threats The calm at the popular Ethiopian Village Restaurant in Kabalagala today is in stark contrast to the horror of July 11, 2010. Management has tightened security and all visitors are subjected to thorough security checks. Outside the …

By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Experts say the special mix of dictatorship and democratic rituals has made citizens lose hope in elections As Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga announced the return of protests on July 4, he acknowledged the odds his campaign is up against, but dismissed them. “The notion that …

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati New districts were intended to improve services. But they with shrunken revenues, they have achieved the exact opposite James Kule, a Grade III primary school teacher in Kasese district, excitedly lists the benefits a new district will bring to his people. Jobs will be created; health …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Museveni and Kagame’s reconciliation about year ago was a diplomatic coup for the history books. After 13 years of rivalry and mutual distrust, with accusations of mutual sabotage and assassination plots, they rebuilt their friendship relying on the most rudimentary of diplomatic props, yet the simplest …

By Stephen Kafeero Frustration as corruption, incompetence delay issuance of national IDs Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka’s proposal that individuals pay for national identity cards has been equated to selling the Ugandan identity. In her Budget Speech on June 14, the Minister said “economically active Ugandans” would be allowed “to pay …

By Rukiya Makuma Bududa survivors cannot bury their dead and now there’s nowhere to go As they wait to bury their loved ones and perform final rituals for the dead, survivors on the Bududa landslide are staying with relatives or in temporary camps. Many are waiting to be relocated to …

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati URA hackers awaken Ugandans to reality of Internet crime On June 20, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) arrested four men suspected of hacking into its systems for a year, causing revenue losses amounting to Shs 2 billion. Richard Kibalama, an Information and Communication Technology specialist, Guster …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Kinshasa accused of breaching agreement and process of integration of rebel CNDP By the beginning of April 2012, tensions were mounting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between the government in Kinshasa and many of its erstwhile commanders in its eastern regions. To defuse the …