Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is anxiety among locals and health officials in Arua city following an outbreak of chicken pox in Ayiforo cell, Dadamu ward, Ayivu division. Chickenpox is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus and causes an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters and is highly contagious …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Health Minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has listed 10 challenges that she said bedevils the healthcare system in Uganda calling for increased funding to streamline the sector. In a presentation meant to enlist Parliament’s support in solving the healthcare problems facing the country, Aceng said …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A former procurement officer at the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority-PPDA, Diana Nabbengo Luutu has been set free by the Court of Appeal after quashing her conviction of murdering her husband, Asiimwe Hannington Musasizi. She had been sentenced to 23 years of imprisonment …

Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces-UPDF has begun training the Local Defence Unit personnel who have been serving in Karamoja as a step toward integration into the national army. There has been a public outcry about the conduct of the LDUs in Karamoja, with some of …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Buganda kingdom and the central government ministry of local government are to set up a joint technical committee to settle land and rent conflicts between the kingdom and the different local governments. The initiative comes to solve a stalemate over kingdom properties that were to …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has finally closed the long-awaited Final Investment Decision (FID) for the development of Uganda’s oil and gas projects in the Albertine. Energy and Mineral Development Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa stated that the Chinese confirmed that they have authorized an FID …

Apac, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Criminal Investigations Directorate-CID is investigating seven Apac district officials on allegations of embezzling 400 million shillings. Charles Twine, the CID spokesperson has identified the suspects as Ekwang Tonny Paul, Apac Chief Financing Officer, Edoko Tom, the human resource officer, Sam Otim, the District Education …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parliament has passed a motion asking the government to urgently address the different challenges faced by the girl child. They cited trafficking, teenage pregnancies and early marriages as some of the issues that need immediate attention. Following a motion by Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi, …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Gender, Labour and Social Development Committee of Parliament has approved the 20 percent midterm access for National Social Security Fund (NSSF) savers aged 45, and have saved for 10 years. The NSSF bill which among other things sought to allow for midterm access of …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ruth Nankbirwa, the Energy and Minerals Minister says Ugandans should tighten their belts because the government cannot intervene to lower fuel prices. The pump prices for petrol rose as high as 4,250 shillings by Wednesday, from about 4,190 shillings per litre. Generally, the prices have …