By Ivan Rugambwa & Julius Businge   Second largest commercial bank shakes up loan market with 13 percent cut in interest rate If, as is often said, timing is money; then Standard Chartered Bank could be minting quite a bit of it if its recent sharp interest cut pays off. …

By Ronald Musoke Why does Uganda government fear to count its people? The National Planning Authority offices on Plot 15B, Clement Hill Road, in Kampala is a bee-hive of activity. The elderly executive director of the authority, Dr Wilberforce Kisamba-Mugerwa, darts in and out of a meeting on the ground …

By Gerald Mbanda The UN involvement dates back to the 1960-1964 crisis but to date over 40 rebel groups operate in DRC The recent joint visit to the Great Lakes Region by the UN secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim to support a peace deal …

By Joan Akello Kenya’s Vice President William Ruto recently said his government is trying to expedite negotiations to sign EPAs before the October 2014 deadline. The Independent’s Joan Akello spoke to EU officials at the EU Delegation in Kampala about the development. What does this mean for EAC, EU and …

By Albert Rudatsimburwa Will Mary Robinson’s intervention as UN envoy make a difference in troubled DR Congo? The recent visit to Rwanda of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, alongside heavyweights such as the President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, and former Irish President turned UN Special Envoy to …

By Esther Dyson The trick to finding the right people, enlisting allies, and with their help, managing a campaign to achieve a goal Long ago, I used to run a conference called PC Forum. People would say to me, “If only I could sit next to Bill Gates….” Just last …

By Henry Zakumumpa After winning extension on enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights, LDCs are targeting pharmaceuticals 2016 deadline After intensely heated and acrimonious negotiations, The World Trade Organization (WTO) on  June 11 agreed an eight-year deadline extension on enforcement of  trade marks, patents and copyrights  which are largely held by …

By Okello Lucima Access, equality, and equity must underline post-secondary education funding The government intention to kick-start students’ loan schemes has drawn both applause and skepticisms. This promise has for a long time been on the NRM policy shelf and basket of empty pledges, the government had to do something …

By Haggai Matsiko & Ronald Musoke Good news: Why the minority private sector is praising it Bad News: Why the majority poor are cursing A day after Finance Minister Miria Kiwanuka presented 2013/14 FY budget, a meeting of the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU) on June 14 praised her …

By Independent Team & Agencies Was President Museveni right to join the heated exchanges with Egypt? If a single drop of the Nile is lost, our blood will be the alternative,” Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi warned on June 10, “We are not warmongers, but we will never allow anyone to …