By Prashant Thakker With forward-looking regulation and technology, MFIs can provide more access to financial services Microfinance is, at its heart, an effort to provide financial services to people who are not served – or are under-served – by the formal banking system. With appropriate, accessible, and fairly priced …

By Morris DC Komakech Shows how the NRM’s centrist politics undermines the foundation of national sanity The tension rising now in Kampala over the Justice Catherine Bamugemeriere’s report was expected. The KCCA/Tumwebaze Tribunal manufactured prima facie “facts” of misconduct, abuse of office and incompetence upon which the Kampala City Council …

January Jan. 5: KCCA unveils $39billion Kampala Physical Development Plan (PDP) to cover the city’s development from 2012 to 2040 Jan. 7: 127 MPs sign petition to the speaker to recall parliament from recess to debate matters relating to the death of Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda Jan7: Adam Kalungi …

By Joan Akello Experts explain why the government should first focus on good governance On June 26, the Anti-corruption Court in Kampala found the former principle accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Godfrey Kazinda, guilty on 29 counts including fraud and forgery and sentenced him to five …

By Joan Akello Former opposition Forum for Democratic Change chairman, Sam Kalega Njuba, died Dec.13 of intestinal complications at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala. He was 72 years old. The lawyer, politician, and academic had been battling illness. Former FDC President, Dr Kizza Besigye said Uganda has lost a wonderful man …

By Werner Bergholz Technology advances have reduced the price of  simple, universal, scalable photovoltaics by as much as 75% An estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide, including 550 million in Africa and 400 million in India, have no access to electricity. Most live in rural areas where the population is sparse …

By Peter Nyanzi Ronnie Mayanja is an organizer of the Uganda Diaspora Network which brings together Ugandans living and working abroad. He spoke to Peter Nyanzi about their activities and the planned Gala event in Kampala this December. What is the background/history of the Ugandan Diaspora Network? The Ugandan Diaspora …

By William Lacy Swing For several years I have been saying that migration can be summed up by a series of D words: Demographics, Disasters, Demand, Disparities and Dreams. This year I am adding a new D: Desperation. The world watched in horror in October when some 360 African migrants …

By Haggai Matsiko Minister Muloni warns against forces behind MPs demand for cancellation of electricity generation, distribution concessions It is hard to single out a Managing Director in Uganda, who has had as rough a time as Charles Chapman’s four years at Umeme, the country’s major power distributor. In just …

By Agencies Bribes, poorly trained medical staff and the lack of medical care for pregnant HIV-positive mothers are among the reasons for high rates of infant and maternal mortality in Uganda. NGOs want to see more government action. According to the latest official figures from a 2006 health survey, 16 …