American to build refinery? Deal could be blow to sanction-strapped Russians Technocrats at the Energy Ministry and the Ministry of Finance who are working on the country’s pet project, the US$4 billion oil refinery, have learnt to stay cool under pressure. Behind their cool fronts, however, they are working in …

Museveni badly needs $20bn for big projects, can his technocrats get it? President Yoweri Museveni has set goals for his government to construct a number of mega projects requiring about US$20 billion to finance in four years up to 2020. Can he achieve them? The projects include key oil infrastructure, including …

Unclear aspects to the sale of a stake of Bujagli Electricity Limited (BEL) by American company Sithe Global to Norway’s SN Power have made President Yoweri Museveni suspicious. He has asked investigators to look into certain controversies surrounding it, an investigation by The Independent reveals. At the moment, sticking issues …

Lead pusher Bitature bags Shs47bn Government could be quietly handing out billions of shillings to private businesses, The Independent has learned from sources familiar with some of the transactions. What is not clear, however, is the extent to which those who claim that this is a `silent’ roll-out of the …

Museveni appoints team to tame defiant Muloni, Kabagambe On Aug.9 the Ministry of Energy headquarters at Amber House in Kampala was a bee-hive of activity. Representatives from power generator, UEGCL, the Finance Ministry, the Attorney General, Electricity sector regulator, and ERA converged there for an important meeting. The meeting was …

Top lawyers reveal details of land grab plot Top land lawyers are warning that land grabbers could be behind claims that the government intends to amend the Land Act and start acquiring land before compensating its owners and politicians are saying it could lead to war or worse. “These two …

Gen. Saleh now running Museveni’s government On July 21, a group of Kampala traders met at Serene Suites, a boutique hotel of two boxlike four-story blocks on top of Mutundwe Hill on the edges of the city that has become a sort of headquarters for the financially-distressed business people. The …

Inside the Shs1 trillion rescue plan for loan stressed companies On July 9, President Yoweri Museveni summoned top officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) for a meeting at State House, Entebbe. Amongst those who attended what has been described as a high …

Museveni’s small fish: Which one will President grab next? Could the self-declared president of the opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Jimmy Akena, soon be appointed to a high government position – possibly among the deputy prime ministers? Sources close to State House tell The Independent that when choosing members of …

Besigye, new shadow ministers causing trouble Will Kizza Besigye walk out of prison on July 6? That is the day the former presidential candidate and de facto leader of the opposition will reappear in the High Court in Kampala for his application of bail to be decided. His lawyer, Laudislaus …