By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi With Uganda’s economic growth slowed down to zero, Maria Kiwanuka needs some magic to save the day A mixture of high expectations and anxiety will greet Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka when she steps up on June 14 to read next year’s budget. There is likely to …
Read More »UPC, DP lick wounds
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Presidents of the two parties may pay the ultimate price for the EALA fiasco The full extent of the damage exacted by the controversial election of Uganda representatives to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) will take some time to unfold. But the elections reopened old …
Read More »Ssebaana Kizito
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi It’s almost as if he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth The year 198 seems to have been a wrong time to start a business in Uganda. Starting in 1966 or earlier, the economy took a plunge. Many Ugandans, especially professionals, had fled …
Read More »Lukwago and NRM finally talk
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi As the Lord Mayor attempts to build bridges with the NRM majority in KCCA, his own opposition base is getting nervous Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago seemed to have a clear strategy concerning disagreements over running the city. He would position himself as a pro-people leader …
Read More »A generation without work
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Why President Museveni’s promises on youth jobs must mature soon Since childhood, James Sekitooleko’s mother implored him to study hard, get a good job and be successful. After 17 years in school, Sekitooleko graduated with a bachelor of Tourism degree and thought he was prepared for …
Read More »Good, ugly at Jubilee party
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Is the low-key launch of the Uganda @ 50 celebrations a sign of disenchantment with independence? Something seemed amiss at the launch of celebrations to mark Uganda’s 50-year independence anniversary. Whether it was due to lack of preparation or enthusiasm, the festivities at Serena Hotel on …
Read More »Behind the scenes at IPU conference
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Why did Mbabazi, Nandala skip Kadaga’s big moment? On April 4, The Independent’s parliament reporter Agather Atuhaire was stopped as she rushed to cover the proceedings of a committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly at the Kampala Serena Hotel. A plain-cloth security official interrogated her …
Read More »After police officer is killed
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi The force should seek dialogue not revenge say analysts John Michael Ariong spent his 26 years of service as an unknown policeman but his death on March 21 has thrown the whole nation into a tailspin. Ariong’s death, supposedly at the hands of civilians, was so …
Read More »DP standoff
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Ssemogerere offers advice but party’s troubles are bigger than just removing Mao Standing at the headquarters of the Democratic Party at City House, Second Floor, it is difficult to imagine why controlling Uganda’s oldest political party is a do-or-die job for some people. A few meters …
Read More »Kicking out Lukwago
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi What if Musisi’s NRM councillors can do it? When Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago showed up in Council Hall for a scheduled meeting on March 7, the ceremonial mace was missing. An agitated Lukwago mounted a hunt. No meeting of Kampala Capital City Authority’s (KCCA) can …
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