Moses Matovu’s music journey mirrors the history of Uganda’s pop music culture and identity. He has been in Uganda’s music industry for 49 years. He started and continues to manage Afrigo Band in Kampala. Afrigo has a unique sound of Ugandan drumbeats and percussions layered over a synthesised rumba guitar …
Read More »INTERVIEW: Low infrastructure hampering internet usage
What key areas does your work portfolio focus on? When the Telecom duopoly was de-regularised in 2006, we were the first company to get a licence. We started the business as wholesalers of voice and data under the capacity re-sell licence. We spent the first three years doing only that. …
Read More »Sorry; no Christmas in Kampala
New regulations hamper businesses in nation’s capital In the past, downtown Kampala has always been the busiest place in the nation. Usually crowded streets like Nabugabo Road, Kikuubo, Ben Kiwanuka Street and Luwum Street become impassable as pedestrians jostle to find a way through the Christmas-themed goods on display. This …
Read More »Brenda Maraka explains her fashion thing
She has dressed Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o and Uganda’s chess Woman Candidate Master Phiona Mutesi for the premiere of ‘Queen of Katwe’. She has also designed several Miss Uganda and Miss Tourism contestants among others. Yet Brenda Niwagaba Maraka, who is undoubtedly among Uganda’s top fashion designers, describes herself as …
Read More »Uganda doesn’t need a minimum wage
What encompasses your management philosophy? Management is the art and science of planning with the people you have, monitoring them during the process of execution and evaluating results. As a hands-on manager, I take a new recruit through the areas we expect him or her to execute until when he …
Read More »Angella Katatumba on marrying young
They call her “the lady with the big heart” because she sings for charity. Angella Katatumba, founder of the Angella Katatumba Development Foundation, composed, sang, and recorded the theme song for the Gulu Walk back when northern Uganda was just emerging from the 20-year Joseph Kony rebellion. She then did …
Read More »HIV/AIDS treatment
New interventions to offer women, children better protection Zam Kabali is a secondary school teacher in Kampala and so was her husband. In 2000, he fell sick and for the next four months, his health was only deteriorating. As he developed a rash all over his body and became sicker, …
Read More »INTERVIEW: Bringing a woman’s touch to business
Dr. Gudula Naiga Basaza is the chairperson of Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Limited (UWEAL). She spoke to The Independent’s Agnes E. Nantaba about women entrepreneurship in Uganda. What are the key elements in your style as a manager? Our management style seeks to satisfy the interests of the different categories of …
Read More »What would happen if second-hand clothes were banned?
“These are first class,” says the woman as she shoves undergarments, mostly used bras, at me, “they are well-sorted and imported from UK, Europe, Korea and Australia.” I am in Owino Market, the sprawling market which is renowned throughout East Africa for its bustling trade in second-hand clothing items. I could …
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