By Independent Reporter MTN has demonstrated that innovative solutions can drive economic development even in the most under serviced areas. The company has pioneered many innovations in cellular and technological industries. Africa is the world’s fastest-growing mobile phone market with more than 40% of Africa’s population having access to a …
Read More »Improved Uganda Fitch Ratings favour oil sector
By Kayvan Farzaneh Growing interest in the oil sector has helped boost general confidence in Uganda’s wider economic prospects. The improved outlook rating could help Uganda access funds from international financial markets more cheaply. Last week, the international credit-ratings firm Fitch Ratings, for the first time, upgraded its opinion on …
Read More »WFP seeks to lift Uganda out of famine
By Roberts Katende In light of the endemic famine in Uganda and the need for sustainable solutions to the problem, the Deputy Director of World Food Programme in charge of Hunger, Sisulu Sheila visited Uganda last week. The Independent’s Roberts Katende talked to her about the new strategies. Below are …
Read More »Broadband for Uganda: The inside story
By Joe Powell July 23, 2009, 159 years after the world’s first submarine cable was laid, will go down in history as the day East Africa became fully connected to the world’s digital super-highways. Seacom’s cable, 17,000km long and costing $650 million, is now officially ‘live’ with a capacity of …
Read More »Tanzania port’s offer to Uganda spreads cold chills at Mombasa
By Patrick Kagenda The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is quickly learning that ‘customer is king’ is not an overrated clich. Uganda is Kenya’s top most trading partner in the region with 12.3% of all Kenyan manufactured goods heading to its westerly neighbor in 2008. According to the 2008 statistics from …
Read More »EA report exposes Uganda’s most corrupt institutions
By Joe Powell Corruption continues to be endemic in Uganda with bribes either solicited or expected in a startling 35% of service interactions. The first ever East African Bribery index found that Uganda has the dubious honour of having the highest impact bribery in the region. This is measured by …
Read More »World Bank names Uganda among worst places for business
By Joseph Were Uganda is the easiest place on earth to hire and fire workers, has the most flexible wage policies, is favourable to foreign direct investment and ownership of businesses, and has limited restrictions on capital flows. But it also has high favouritism amongst government officials, limited public trust …
Read More »Uganda leadership needs transformation – Bishop Niringiye
By Onghwens Kisangala Two weeks ago, Uganda was ranked third most corrupt country in the world. The Independents Onghwens Kisangala talked to Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese, Zac Niringiye on why corruption is soaring. The public perception is that everyone is corrupt, is this true? There is no question that …
Read More »Museveni districts breeding tribal wars?
By Obed K. Katureebe & John Njoroge Uganda on the brink of ethnic explosion Two weeks ago on June 16, a group of at least 200 Bunyoro politicians, political heads and elders met President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe. High on agenda was the ethnic dispute between Banyoro and …
Read More »Who qualifies to be hero in Uganda?
By John Njoroge & Ogwens Kisangala In 2001 parliament passed the National Honours and Awards Act. This led to the formation of a nine-member Presidential Awards Committee responsible for vetting and approving Ugandans proposed to be crowned heroes. Since 1987, Uganda has had 22 Heroes Day celebrations. It is not …
Read More »