By Mubatsi Asinja Habati President Yoweri Museveni’s Advisor on Microfinance, Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, is in a pickle over dubious allowances she allegedly collected from the government’s main lending arm to the poor, the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC). A report issued by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Raphael Bakku …
Read More »Killer laughs last
By Haggai Matsiko Lawyers sneak ex-LRA commander Kwoyelo past conviction because of problematic legal framework and poor structure of war crimes division When the UPDF arrested Thomas Kwoyelo, one of the commanders of the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels from the Garamba forests of DR Congo in March 2009, …
Read More »Besigye, supporters disagree on guns
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Being allowed to hold rallies recently after a long unofficial ban meant the jury was always out on opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Would he pull crowds? Would his message resonate with the public? Or would he self-destruct? At the rallies, it became immediately clear that supporters …
Read More »26 years later
By Mubatsi Asinja Habati As the National Resistance Army/Movement (NRM) celebrates 26 years in power, residents of Katebwa, a village that falls in Bunyangabu county, Kabarole district, which was at the heart of the bush war are yet to enjoy the benefits of their support for the fighters about 30 …
Read More »After the Traders strike
By Julius Businge So what if Mutebile reduces bank rate but lending rates stay up? The recent strike of traders against banks over high lending rates put Esther Nakitende in a tight spot. The clothes seller on William Street in downtown Kampala city followed instructions from the Kampala City Traders …
Read More »Quitting NRM
By Haggai Matsiko Besigye (1999), Bidandi (2003), who is next after Kyankwazi? Until recently, it was unheard of for an NRM party member to boycott summons by President Yoweri Museveni to the National Leadership Institute at Kyankwanzi which is respected as a sort of shrine where party folk go for …
Read More »Otunnu versus the rest
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi UPC boss’s strictness on money issues, leaves him isolated as Pulkol, Rurangaranga, Odit launch a battle for control Few Ugandans have CVs as illustrious as UPC President Olara Otunnu’s. He was granted the special O1 immigration status by the United States, which is reserved for “few …
Read More »UMEME’s tariffs woes
By Agather Atuhaire Why the economy is the main loser The government announcement of a new electricity tariff regime on Jan.12 could still backfire but, on paper, it looks like a perfect stroke. Part of the problem is that the tariff regime does not address the real problems in Uganda’s …
Read More »Control it; don’t eradicate it
By Stephen Kafeero Fighting malaria the wrong way kills 20 people every minute in Uganda On December 19, 2011, a speeding lorry at Namanve, near Kampala city, hit a taxi and killed 6 of the 16 people on the taxi. Several others were injured. The story was headline news. There …
Read More »Electricity cost going up 40%
By Andrew M. Mwenda But who benefits most from subsidies to UMEME? A cabinet sitting on Wednesday Jan. 11 discussed increasing electricity tariffs by 40 percent. Cabinet should remove these subsidies altogether because they are not economically sustainable and benefit the rich at the expense of poor citizens. Over the …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price