The News Today

  Chobe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Central Executive Committee (CEC), of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, has zeroed on lining-up as the mode for holding internal elections in the party. The decision will now be introduced to members and other NRM organs for the amendment of …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | MTN-Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Wim Vanhelleputte has been deported. Wim Vanhelleputte was deported on Thursday night aboard Brussels Airlines on the orders of the Internal Affairs Minister, Gen Jeje Odong. The Belgian is the fourth employee of Uganda’s telecom giant to be deported in the …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | MTN CEO Wim Vanhelleputte was Thursday night deported, weeks after three of the  company’s expatriate staff were expelled. His deportation documents were signed by Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo, hours after he had been held and grilled by security. He was later taken to …

How pressure on oil refinery, pipeline pushed Uganda to agree to end secret deals Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | For ten years, civil society has been trying and failing to push the government to join the Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global mechanism that requires governments and companies …

Focus moves to raising quality of learning Kampala, Uganda | The Independent | In 2018, schools under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) sat more students for Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) than non-UPE schools; 476,130 (or 70.9%) out of 671,923 candidates. It was another sign that it was as right to …

Economists welcome debt repayment but decry budget cuts for social sectors Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | The government is seeking to increase spending by 5% to Shs34.3 trillion in the next financial year that starts in July amidst proposed budget cuts for critical sectors including security, education, health, social development, …

His 2021 plan now involves dealing with Mabikke, Bwanika return Kampala, Uganda | FLAVIA NASSAKA |Michael Mabikke is a distinctive figure in the Democratic Party (DP). Chatty and squat and plumb with mid-age, he recently returned to his “mother party”, DP, after a long sojourn. And that, a DP insider …

Better evidence or desperation by ISO, CMI? Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | Since August 27 last year when he was released on bail, embattled former inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura has appeared to be on the road to rehabilitation and possible freedom. Many observes assumed his privileges …

Bill to align death penalty laws reawakens debate on punishment for capital offenses Kampala, Uganda | FLAVIA NASSAKA | On Jan.22 a man who confessed in the High Court in Kampala to have killed his wife in an acid attack was sentenced to 40 years in prison. The sentencing of …

Does Makerere university need a CEO instead of a vice chancellor? Kampala, Uganda | FLAVIA NASSAKA  | Since he was named vice chancellor of Makerere University Kampala, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has cast himself as a no-nonsense, no compromise manager. His style has earned him several nicknames. The latest is `Ostrich’ …