Police, Church clash over stranded pilgrims Namugongo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There were dramatic scenes at Namugongo Catholic shrines on Saturday afternoon, a day after the Martyrs day celebrations as police clashed with the administrators on how to handle stranded pilgrims. When our reporter arrived at the shrines in the …

Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | The private sector has blamed the banking industry in the East African Community for doing little to promote trade and investment, which has kept the region’s development slow. The investors say banks have not helped them access the financing needed to boost trade to catch …

Bukomansimbi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government’s decision to directly charge coffee factories has upset coffee processors in Bukomansimbi district, who say it is likely going to force them out of business. In the 2018/19 budget framework, the government introduced a one percent direct tax on coffee buyers and …

Kotido, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is heavy deployment of joint Police and Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF troops on major highways connecting Kotido district to other districts in Karamoja. The deployment is meant to stem ambushes by suspected Jie warriors targeting motorists and other road users. Micheal Longole, the …

  Group A Uganda 5-0 Djibouti Rwanda 1-2 Burundi Buikwe, Ugnada | THE INDEPENDENT | Burundi put up a stunning performance Friday to defeat Rwanda in a closely contested Group A encounter at the ongoing CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship. Both teams came out blazing and treated the fans to a …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Bishop of Fort Portal Diocese, Robert Muhiirwa Akiiki is bothered by the ever-rising unchristian practices at a time when Christianity has been spread nearly to every corner of the country. Bishop Muhiirwa, who also doubles as the vice-chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Traders at the Namugongo Catholic Shrine say they are counting losses after the Martyrs Day celebrations. According to the traders, they hoped that when the celebrations end, they would have made profits, but this wasn’t the case. The low business mood is reflected by …

Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed political, trade and economic cooperation, as well as the impact of Western sanctions with the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) and Senegalese President Macky Sall in the southern Russian city of Sochi on Friday. Putin and Sall addressed a …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The police medical emergency team working together with the Uganda Red Cross at Namugongo Catholic Martyrs’ shrine, has referred dozens of pilgrims to Mulago national referral hospital with severe malaria, diarrhea, and hypertension. Dr. Edward Piyota, who is attached to the police medical emergency …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There was a stampede at the Catholic shrine in Namugongo at the end of the Martyr’s day celebrations on Friday afternoon as thousands of pilgrims fought to have at least a drop of water from the man-made lake. Hell broke loose when mass ended …