NEWS

Kitgum, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Every morning, 78-year-old Justino Okello sits alone on a wooden stool outside his grass-thatched hut in Oryang Ojuma B, in Labongo Amida Sub-County, Kitgum district, watching passersby head for their various activities. Okello’s wife died 5 years ago, his four children, all girls, have …

Kasibante Asks Supreme Court to Open Up EC Electronic Voting Systems Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Supreme Court has begun hearing an application to order the Electoral Commission and President Yoweri Museveni to release key election documents and allow access to electronic voting systems used in the January …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Electoral Commission (EC) has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss with costs a presidential election petition filed by former candidate Robert Kasibante. The Commission, chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama, insists that the January 15, 2026, presidential election was conducted in substantial compliance with …

  Wakiso, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The tallying of votes from Wakiso’s recently concluded municipal elections has descended into chaos, marked by slow progress, emotional outbursts, heated arguments, physical scuffles, and raw anger. When the tally centre opened on Tuesday evening, several candidates, most of them from the National …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Concerns emerged during voting in Nakawa Division after children were seen engaging in campaign-related activities near several polling stations, particularly in Ntinda and Kigowa–Kalinabiri areas. From the early morning hours, groups of minors—some appearing to be of primary school age—were observed near polling centres …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has granted a one-million-shilling cash bail to Dr Sarah Bireete, the Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, who has been on remand for three weeks over alleged violations of the Data Protection and Privacy Act of …

The UN expects East Africa to lead Africa’s growth in 2026, powered by Ethiopia’s reform push and Kenya’s diversified economy. Big infrastructure bets are lifting the outlook, but high debt costs and tight global finance remain key constraints.   SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | East Africa is expected to …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There were disagreements at several polling stations in Kampala and other parts of the country after Biometric Voter Verification Machines (BVVK) rejected some cast ballots during vote counting. The BVVK machines, which are being used for the first time in the 2026 election cycle, …

Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The High Court in Masaka has denied bail to Reverend Father Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest based in Masaka, who is facing money laundering charges. In her ruling, Masaka High Court Judge Victoria Nakintu Katamba declined Fr. Ssekabira’s bail application and instead ordered that …

Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) candidate Jalameso Fred has ended the parliamentary reign of National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s Denis Hamson Obua in Ajuri County. Obua, who is the current Government Chief Whip, first joined the Parliament of Uganda in 2006, representing the Northern Uganda Youth constituency, …