By John Njoroge The seminar on national validation of the Uganda African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) programme of action kicked off at 8:45am on June 18 in what appeared a normal start. Apart from frequent interruptions by late comers who kept walking in and around the hall looking for a …

By Independent team Kenya Budget read by Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, deputy prime minister and minister for Finance of Kenya. Theme: overcoming today’s challenges for a better Kenya tomorrow Economy expected to grow by 3% in 2009/2010. Total revenue target for fiscal year 2009/10 is Kshs.569.6 billion (or 22.4% of GDP) …

By Patrick Kagenda What is your day like? I am a religious man, I wake up at 5 am in the morning, have a short prayer; go to the gym, and by 6:30 am, tea is ready on my breakfast table. I personally arrange for my kids to take them …

By Magnus Mazimpaka On May 10, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his team had a luncheon with President Paul Kagame at state house in Kigali. Later, at a joint press briefing on Blair’s third visit to Rwanda, President Kagame told journalists that he was happy to have ”ur …

By Gaaki Kigambo Of what relevance is the death of Africa’s longest serving president Gabon’s Omar Bongo to Uganda? It is sure to stoke a running debate about the state of President Yoweri Museveni even as he invests every effort to cling to power, which he has already held for …

By Onghwens Kisangala The opposition in Uganda has been blamed for not making the right preparations for the Presidential and Parliamentary general elections in 2011, resulting in public disillusionment about both the opposition and government. FDC Vice President for eastern Uganda, Salaam Musumba, explained to The Independents Onghwens Kisangala why …

By Magnus Mazimpaka Rwanda increased its spending by 24%, the raise mainly acting as a stimulus package to protect the economy against the current global financial crisis. Expenditure increased to Frw838 billion this financial year 2009/10 from Frw674 billion last year. There was a slight increase of Frw26 billion from …

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 …

By Patrick Kagenda As Zain (U) last week launched its Zap Mobile Commerce, a mobile phone based money transfer servicein Uganda in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, in neighbouring Kenya Safaricom was launchinga similar service, Hello Money in partnership with Barclays Bank (K) Ltd. In Uganda, Standard Chartered Bank becomes …

By Joseph Were Libyan companies pressure Shell, Total This month, the Kenya Petroleum Refinery Ltd in Mombasa is set to close for routine maintenance. As a result, Uganda could suffer disruptions in supply. The Mombasa refinery shutdown also comes at a time of significant developments in the fuel sector. Top …