COMMENT | RICHARD AYESIGWA & VICKY ABURA | In the sun-scorched plains of Karamoja, the most urgent crisis is not hunger but water scarcity, driven increasingly by climate change, especially prolonged and more frequent droughts that are drying rivers, dams, and traditional water points at an alarming rate. While images of …
Read More »Tough times, surprising priorities
A glimpse into Uganda’s Shs166.8 billion MP vehicle allocation COMMENT | LILIAN ZWEDDE SENTEZA | In a controversial move, Uganda’s Parliament greenlit Shs166.8 billion (approximately $45 million) in the 2026/27 national budget to purchase new vehicles for its 529 lawmakers. This amounts to roughly Shs315 million per MP. Officially framed as …
Read More »Is Jazz with Jajja a conversation worth having? Lessons from 1989
COMMENT | ANDREW PI BESI | On Sunday, March 1st, the second edition of Jazz with Jajja, organised by Natasha Karugire, took place at President Yoweri Museveni’s sprawling ranch in Kisozi, Gomba District. I am among many Ugandans encouraged by the emergence of this conversation series, the embarrassment of Kasuku’s begging …
Read More »KCCA should establish tolls to manage traffic congestion and parking
For a toll system to succeed in Kampala, public transportation must be improved by increasing bus frequency and reliability, improving road conditions, and expanding routes to underserved areas. COMMENT | NANTEZA SARAH KYOBE | City tolls are fees charged for entering specific parts of the city to decrease traffic, reduce pollution, and …
Read More »Will Japan’s new rock star PM Takaichi deliver?
Now that she has consolidated her power in Japan’s legislature, what she will do with it? COMMENT | ADAM SIMPSON | Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has delivered her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections she called shortly after taking office. Now that she has consolidated her …
Read More »Peaks, empires, and the price of forgetting
COMMENT | ANDREW PI BESI | In western Uganda lies Kasese — home to the country’s highest peak, Margherita Peak, the crowning summit of Mount Stanley within the majestic Rwenzori Mountains. That our highest point bears the name of an Italian queen is perhaps history’s subtle reminder that even geography …
Read More »MUSEVENI MEETING: Let us cut Nsibambi some flak
COMMENT | OBED K KATUREEBE | Throughout history, brave men and women have sought peace with their opponents. They showed courage, empathy, and a willingness to put the nation first. Sometimes, they choose to work with their enemies and turn them into partners. Ever since Yusuf Nsibambi and other politicians …
Read More »Why the African Union meeting for ministers responsible for trade matters for Africa
COMMENT | JANE NALUNGA | On 25–26 February 2026, African ministers responsible for trade will gather in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique, under the African Union (AU) framework. This meeting comes just weeks before the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), scheduled for March 2026 in …
Read More »Why our students should build businesses before they build CVs
COMMENT | MICHAEL JJINGO | Let’s face it, our education system has taught students how to find x, recite Shakespeare, and cram the digestive system of an insect. But one thing it still struggles to teach is how to create value, solve real problems, and, more importantly, earn money without …
Read More »Here is the missing piece in Uganda’s condom campaign that needs to be addressed
COMMENT | SHEILA KASABIITI | For decades, condom use campaigns and advocacy in Uganda have rightly focused on raising awareness of the benefits of condoms, debunking misinformation, and promoting access, affordability, and correct usage. But there is a missing piece in this communication chain: “What happens after use?” With the reduction of …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price