Is social media becoming a threat to democracy on the continent? ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | In early 2021, Facebook (Meta) deactivated more than 20 accounts linked to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Shortly afterward, Twitter also followed suit, closing 11% of the nearly 3,500 …
Read More »Silencing voices of opposition
Chilling effect of Kakwenza’s arrest Kampala, Uganda | MUBATSI ASINJA HABATI | The arrest of novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has laid bare what many political observers say are tactics from the playbook of leaders who have clung to power too long, lack legitimacy, and have resorted to using security operatives to …
Read More »PostBank enters tier one territory for banks
PostBank Uganda has officially announced its ascension to tier one status after receiving a license from the Bank of Uganda. Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The bank, as mandated by the law, shall no longer be categorized as a credit institution but as a deposit taking financial institution that …
Read More »YEAR ENDER: Remembering 2021
YEAR ENDER: Remembering 2021 January 2nd President Museveni directs Ministry of Finance to halt activates of DGF, a huge donor facility, with a Shs500 billion fund over its operations in the country without Cabinet approval. 14th Uganda holds presidential and parliamentary elections. President Museveni contests against several candidates with main …
Read More »UEGCL to light 60 villages in Kayunga district.
Nearly 60 villages in Kayunga district are set to be connected to the national electricity grid to boost the socio-economic status of the population, according to Eng. Harrison Mutikanaga, the managing director at the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited. Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mutikanga, who was accompanied by …
Read More »Holiday reading
Five picks from a great year for African writing BOOKS REVIEW | THE INDEPENDENT | Leading Kenyan author, journalist and academic, Prof. Peter Kimani has listed an exciting analytical compilation of essays edited by renowned Uganda journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo among his top five picks for this Christmas holiday reading. Prof. …
Read More »Why we fall for disinformation
Based on the four key psychological mechanisms that make people vulnerable to persuasion COMMENT | MEGAN MCBRIDE | As humans evolved, we developed certain psychological mechanisms to deal with the information surrounding us. But in the 21st century media environment, where we are exposed to an exponentially growing quantity of …
Read More »2021 resilient economy
Ramathan Ggoobi Key interventions by government supported positive recovery Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Economic analysis for the year 2021 shows a somewhat positive recovery as opposed to a year before as government eased COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. According to the ministry of finance annual report which incorporates …
Read More »Africa surge in COVID-19 cases fastest this year
But deaths remain low ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | An 83% surge in new COVID-19 cases in early December in Africa, driven by the Delta and the Omicron variants, is causing fewer deaths than previous surges—but more waves could be building as updated forecasts warn that the continent may not …
Read More »Caring for the mentally ill
Focused on peer support yields positive results | MICHELLE M. SCHWAB | In many regions of Africa, traditional healers have treated all illnesses, physical and mental, for centuries. As the prevalence of mental illness continues to rise in Uganda, western influence impacts how those with a mental illness can access …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price