NEW DELHI | Xinhua | India’s federal government Wednesday withdrew its order directing all smartphone manufacturers (original equipment manufacturers or OEMs) and importers to pre-install the state-owned cybersecurity app Sanchar Saathi on devices intended for sale in India. The withdrawal came amid outcry from the opposition politicians, privacy advocates and …
Read More »Improving forest cover in refugee hosting districts
Koboko, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s forest cover has been on the decline in the past two decades. According to Global Forest Watch, between 2000 and 2020 Uganda lost over 23% of its tree cover in both natural and planted forests. One of the biggest drivers is the high demand for …
Read More »Uganda reaffirms support for ICC amidst global challenges
The Hague, Netherlands | THE INDEPENDENT | Minister of Justice Norbert Mao has said that despite the attacks against the International Criminal Court (ICC), its judges and officials across the world, Uganda remains a strong supporter of the court In a significant diplomatic engagement on December 2nd 2025 at the World Forum …
Read More »Digital finance expansion exposes deepening barriers for PWDs
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s accelerating shift toward digital finance is widening the very gaps policymakers have pledged to close, with experts warning that persons with disabilities (PWDs) remain fundamentally excluded from emerging financial systems. This concern took centre stage at the 5th Annual Disability Symposium held at …
Read More »Reach A Hand Uganda marks World AIDS Day with campaign targeting young people
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Reach A Hand Uganda commemorated World AIDS Day 2025 through an awareness campaign dubbed “i Know Kati” loosely translated as “I Know Now”. The campaign focussed on sensitizing young people, particularly ghetto youth, on the importance of testing to increase voluntary testing amidst debunking myths around …
Read More »Putin, U.S. envoy meeting ends with no compromise plan for Ukraine
MOSCOW | Xinhua | A five-hour meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff that ended after midnight on Wednesday failed to produce a compromise plan for settling the Ukraine crisis. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov on Wednesday described the conversation as “extremely useful, constructive …
Read More »The politics of perception
How Museveni’s rallies now reflect a curated campaign era — and what the opposition reveals COVER STORY | JULIUS BUSINGE | On the morning of December 1, 2025, a convoy of police trucks wound through the streets of Mbarara, ferrying what appeared to be a sea of supporters toward La …
Read More »Namulonge’s Musoke bags Equity NARO 2025 Golf Open in style
Namulonge, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Among the many lessons that Dominic Musoke picked up while growing up was that, ‘Don’t underestimate small humble beginnings, because sometimes they can turn out to be the greatest success stories.’ That statement, as he recalls, came to life on Saturday as Musoke …
Read More »Africa’s fight with global credit ratings: Bias or hard reality?
Experts say Africa may challenge global ratings, but until it fixes its own numbers, institutions and governance, the mirror will only reflect what it already is Entebbe, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | When policymakers, economists and civil society leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community …
Read More »1 DAY TO GO: #PRAUAwards2025
#PRAUAwards2025 🔥 0⃣1⃣ DAY to go! Gold, glamour, and PR excellence await! See you TOMORROW 5:30 PM at Protea Hotel, Kololo. #AdvancingPRExcellence Share on: WhatsApp
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price