Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Riot police in Zimbabwe fired tear gas, beat up protesters and blocked off the site of an opposition rally in Harare on Friday, the latest in a string of demonstrations to hit the country. The rally — which was authorised by a court — …
Read More »Apple issues update after security flaws laid bare
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Apple has issued a security update to fix vulnerabilities found after fierce spyware created by an Israeli firm was used to target an Emirati dissident, US media reported. The company released its latest iOS version, 9.3.5, on Thursday, which the New York Times …
Read More »USAID gives $3million for refugees flocking to Uganda
The US Mission to Uganda has announced a donation of $3 million to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in support of refugees in Uganda. The large and sudden influx of South Sudanese refugees—totaling more than 82,000 since July 1, 2016—has strained WFP’s existing resources. Uganda currently hosts more than 620,000 …
Read More »About 243,000 South Sudanese refugees in Sudan
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | About 243,000 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Sudan, including tens of thousands in war-torn Darfur, since a civil war erupted in their country in December 2013, the UN said Thursday. South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011 but two years later it fell …
Read More »Kenya sports minister disbands Olympic committee
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s sports minister, under fire after a series of scandals and embarrassments at the Rio games, on Thursday announced the disbanding of the country’s Olympic committee. “I do hereby disband the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) with immediate effect,” Hassan Wario said at a …
Read More »Questions mount as Italy quake toll hits 250
Amatrice, Italy | AFP | The death toll from a powerful earthquake in central Italy rose to 250 on Thursday as rescuers continued a grim search for corpses and powerful aftershocks rocked the devastated area. The bulk of the confirmed deaths — 193 at the latest count — were in …
Read More »Bill to increase judges’ retirement age to be introduced on Tuesday
The week in Uganda’s parliament ended dramatically on Thursday, with a bill seeking an increase in the retirement age of judges being given the green light and the security minister (Rtd) Lt.General Henry Tumukunde promising to support a former aide of Dr. Kiiza Besigye Sam Mugumya who is detained in DRC. …
Read More »In The Independent: Bujagali dam sale goes bad
COVER STORY: Bujagali sale goes bad An American company that owns a majority stake in the 250MW Bujagali dam wants to sell its shares in Bujagali Energy Ltd, but President Museveni and technocrats at the Energy Ministry are yet to reach a consensus on the right investor to buy the …
Read More »Uganda’s High court reduces death sentences for 9
The High court in Kampala has today reduced the punishment of nine death row convicts following the 2003 Constitutional petition of Susan Kigula & 417 others that challenged the death penalty. Justice Wilson Masalu Musene revised the death penalty passed against the said convicts aged between 40 -60 years whose …
Read More »Batalo: Traditional meets urban dance
It is that time of the year again. The Batalo Dance Festival – workshops, performances, talks and competitions in dance styles from hip hop to Bakisimba, with fusions of traditional and modern dance. The Batalo Dance Festival returns to the Uganda’s National Theatre August 27 and 28. This festival concludes another year of …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price