COMMENT | ALI SSEKATAWA | They say “the sun that rises slowly lasts till evening,” and 2026 is shaping up to be such a year for Uganda — one unfolding with steady confidence and carrying the weight of significant national promise. January is quietly taking its bow, February waits in the …
Read More »How the transformative power of internet access is bridging Uganda’s digital divide
COMMENT | TIMOTHY MUGENYI | I am reminded of an interaction I had in the rural setting of Nakivale refugee camp. We stopped by a Rolex stand and spoke with some young gentlemen who were deeply engrossed in a video whilst sharing a smartphone. When we asked if they …
Read More »When Social Media Goes Dark: Communication Lessons for PR Managers
OPINION | NANCY AKULLO | Social media has become the space where we connect freely, unrestrained by borders or distance. Friendships have been formed, relationships have flourished, and even marriages have been nurtured on these digital streets. Beyond personal connections, social media has transformed how businesses and corporate organisations communicate. Any PR manager …
Read More »Beyond the Numbers: Tackling teacher absenteeism in 2026 through smart support, not blame
COMMENT | IVAN SSERUNJOGI | In the just-concluded year, several reports indicated that Namutumba District faced a high teacher absenteeism rate, and the sector was allegedly rife with the recruitment of “incompetent teachers”. Such reports alarm the public, suggesting a collapse in teacher accountability as the academic year 2026 is set …
Read More »Why what you ‘feed’ your engine matters
COMMENT | REBECCA NASSIWA | A car is rarely just a machine. For most of us, it is a daily partner, helping us to navigate early morning commutes, school runs, traffic jams, and the occasional long drive that offers a break from routine. We rely on it quietly and …
Read More »Why it is hard to avoid the internet in the world today
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | When the Government of Uganda shut down internet access for four days during the recent election week, it reignited a national debate about how deeply digital connectivity has become embedded in modern life. Authorities, through the Uganda Communications Commission, justified the decision as necessary to curb …
Read More »The hidden costs of Uganda’s internet blackout
Uganda’s economy is now deeply digitized. Mobile money platforms alone process hundreds of billions of shillings daily, serving as the primary financial arteries for the informal sector, which employs over 70% of the population. COMMENT | ALEX ATWEMEREIREHO | In the early hours of 13 January 2026, just 48 hours before …
Read More »The outcome of 2026 elections
How Museveni is going to shock many by recapturing Buganda and Busoga from Bobi Wine while keeping the West and North THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Less than a week from now we shall hold an election that will depress many Ugandans, especially those in the opposition. …
Read More »History, memory, and Africa’s unfinished struggle
“Wrong must not win by technicalities” — Aeschylus COMMENT | ANDREW PI BESI | I am often asked why I return, almost instinctively, to history when reflecting on the failures and possibilities of Africa’s contemporary political order. Why, some wonder, do I insist on excavating the past when addressing the present? …
Read More »Uganda’s judiciary, bail and the battle for rule of law
COMMENT | ALEX ATWEMEREIREHO | In the high chambers of the Kampala High Court on Monday, 29 December 2025, Justice Emmanuel Baguma delivered a ruling that will reverberate far beyond the stone walls of Courtroom No. 335. In a drama that has occupied the conscience of Ugandans and unsettled international …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price