Column

The lender’s  shareholders approved a dividend payout of Kshs. 16 billion (approximately Shs 444.9 billion) for the year ending December 2024 Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | Equity Group Holdings Plc is set to open a Representative Office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking its first venture outside Africa and …

OPINION | Samir Yassine | The Shs 72.1 trillion budget for FY2025/26 sends a powerful signal that Uganda is open for business, and this time, the private sector is not just participating but leading the transformation. The allocation of Shs3.5 trillion to private sector development and trade facilitation marks a pivotal …

OPINION | Ivan Mandela | Aisha Namuddu operates a whole grain store in Kasangati, where she buys and sells maize and coffee from various traders near and far. For the past two years, her business has been growing steadily since the coffee prices became favourable for farmers and traders. But recently, …

BEIJING, CHINA | Xinhua | The U.S. Senate narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Wednesday in a 51-50 vote. Though touted as delivering broad prosperity, the sweeping tax and spending package disproportionately benefits the wealthiest Americans. At the heart of the bill is an unprecedented series …

How the search for votes in Acholi has corrupted our president, leading him to disregard his core principles THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | President Yoweri Museveni has issued orders to evict all pastoralists (Bahima and Batutsi of Kinyankore and Kinyarwanda culture) from the Acholi region. These people, who are commonly …

Homosexuality is Normal: Revisiting Anti-Gay Debates in Uganda COMMENT | NNANDA KIZITO SSERUWAGI | Over the years, Uganda has witnessed intense and contentious debates about homosexuality. There is no level of society that these debates have not affected. From schools to homes, workplaces, and universities, homosexuality has been a part of …

Why the Jewish state will never leave at peace unless it frees itself from its racial and religious bigotry THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | For the last week, Israel and Iran have been exchanging heavy blows. I had expected Israel to beat Iran badly, decisively, and quickly. From a strategic …

  A Mark of Resilience: The Ik community’s pursuit of improved service delivery in education and health COMMENT | Richard Ayesigwa | In the serene yet rugged highlands of Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region, a quiet but powerful wave of change is unfolding. The Ik people of Timu Sub County, long overlooked and …

OPINION | Samir Yassine | Imagine opening a bank account in minutes, without stepping into a banking hall, queuing up, or filling out piles of forms. Just you, your phone, and a few taps. That’s the power of digital account opening—and if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out …

Why the US president’s visa restrictions and aid cuts are good for the development of our continent THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda |  Many people are angry with President Donald Trump for canceling the visas of many students studying in the USA. This is bad for individual families and students. I …