Pilani, India | AFP | One of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s signature policies has been protecting cows, but for Raghuvir Singh Meena — a Hindu farmer struggling to protect his crop of chickpeas from roaming cattle — it has gone too far. Farmers overwhelmingly supported Modi’s nationalist party when …
Read More »URA rolls out Digital Tax Stamps to combat smuggling
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has rolled out its digital tax stamps initiative geared at combating illicit trade and seal revenue leakages. Clare Musiime Bakanga, the URA head of change digital tracking solutions said many traders and businesses are being challenged by unfair competition …
Read More »URA seeks sh66bn additional funding
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) is seeking an additional funding of sh66.3 billion shillings to improve its operations. The request for more funds in the coming financial year 2019/2020 was on Thursday tabled before Parliament’s Finance Committee by the URA Commissioner General, Doris Akol. The …
Read More »Cuban doctors kidnapped by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Suspected Somali Al-Shabaab jihadis kidnapped two Cuban doctors Friday and killed their police protection officer in northeastern Kenya, police sources said. They said the two doctors and their guard were on the way to work in the town of Mandera when they were attacked. “It …
Read More »Court seeks written submissions in MTN CEO deportation case
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | High Court in Kampala has called for written submissions in a case challenging the deportation of Wim Vanhelleputte, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Uganda. The Belgian was deported on February 14, on the orders of the Internal Affairs Minister, Gen Jeje Odong making …
Read More »Assange: a decade of stunning leaks of US secrets
Washington, United States | AFP | The US government has regarded WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as a dangerous national security threat ever since he and his organization opened a decade-long effort to expose US secrets — from military files to embarrassing Democratic Party emails during the 2016 election. But Assange’s …
Read More »Africa Cup of Nations: A troubled build-up
Paris, France | AFP | The draw for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations takes place in Cairo on Friday in a country that was only handed the task of organising the tournament in January. Egypt faces a race against time to be ready for the June 21 kick-off. …
Read More »Pope kisses Machar, Kiir feet
Pope hopes for S.Sudan peace as leaders end Vatican retreat Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis called Thursday for warring South Sudanese factions to respect the latest armistice after a two-day Vatican retreat aimed at shoring up the fragile peace. “I express my heartfelt hope that hostilities …
Read More »Sudan joy turns to anger for ‘hoodwinked’ protesters
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Jubilation in Khartoum that Sudan’s era of iron-fisted rule by Omar al-Bashir was ending Thursday quickly soured when protesters realised the old regime had no plans to go. “Change will not happen with Bashir’s entire regime hoodwinking Sudanese civilians through a military coup,” tweeted Alaa …
Read More »Sudan protesters defy curfew
Thousands rally outside Sudan army HQ as curfew begins: witnesses Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Thousands of Sudanese protesters rallied outside army headquarters late Thursday, witnesses said, despite a night-time curfew imposed by the military after it ousted president Omar al-Bashir following months of demonstrations. Protesters were chanting their slogan …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price