Karuma, Isimba power raises new questions Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | On the face of it, Uganda’s sole national electricity distributor, Umeme Ltd, has a stronghold on the sector. It has seven more years on its concession, has recently posted stellar financial and operational performance, and – with workers’ …
Read More »Museveni defends ‘fake’ gold dealer
President snubs IGG, DPP, and Financial Crimes Unit Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Sub-Saharan Africa’s second biggest gold refinery, the Uganda-based African Gold Refinery (AGR) deals in big money – with its volumes of exports, according to informed sources, valued at over Shs. 2 trillion over the last …
Read More »Kasekende, Bagyenda, Mutebile fight isn’t helpful
Saving Bank of Uganda: Why Kasekende, Bagyenda, Mutebile fight isn’t helpful Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Bank of Uganda (BoU) is under fire as its top managers; Governor Tumusiime Mutebile, the Deputy Governor Louis Kasekende, and the Director Supervision Justine Bagyenda, fight each other amidst accusations of incompetence and abuse …
Read More »Museveni enters fight over $ 20bn oil deals
French domination sparks fight with Chinese Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Oil companies—Total E&P, Tullow Oil and CNOOC—are locked in a bitter fight for control of Uganda’s oil sector. The coveted prizes are deals worth about $20 billion. The three entered a partnership in 2012 when Tullow Oil, which …
Read More »Kutesa’s dodgy deals
How American bribery case sucked in Museveni Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa is likely to come under fire from Parliament following exposure of a deal in which he received a dodgy “donation” of US$500,000 (Approx. Shs1.8 billion) from a Chinese NGO cum think tank. The …
Read More »Muntu versus Amuriat
The battle that shouldn’t have been fought Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | “I bring to this race 25 solid years of political activism; I bring new energy that is currently lacking in the party. And I belong to the ideology of defiance.” With such words, former Kumi Municipality lawmaker, Patrick …
Read More »Behind Magufuli, Museveni deals
How US$7bn deals are reshaping relations in the region Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | If President Yoweri Museveni has a best buddy amongst his East African counterparts, it might as well be Tanzania’s John Pombe Magufuli. When they are not sharing a hearty laugh at an African Union meeting in …
Read More »Kutesa in Paradise
Foreign Minister fingered in dodgy deal in Seychelles Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Days after it emerged that Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa set up a company in a tax haven, the move continues to be scrutinised. Apparently, in 2012 Kutesa hired Appleby, a company renowned for creating offshore account …
Read More »Museveni’s gold dealer in trouble
Belgian in alleged US$1bn scam Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | President Yoweri Museveni commissioned it on Feb.20 amidst pomp and celebration, but just nine months later African Gold Refinery (AGR) has run into big trouble. Its Belgian owner, Alain Goetz, has been uncovered as a dealer in so-called “conflict or blood …
Read More »Kayihura in trouble
Kayihura in trouble: The story behind arrest of top cops, the Rwanda twist Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Days after it happened, the scene at the army General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala, on Oct.27 remains unforgettable. Seven police officers; among them a few very senior ones, were paraded for trial …
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