For policymakers, the contribution lies in widening access. Entry-level smartphones remain out of reach for many households, partly because taxes significantly increase the retail price. COMMENT | SYLVIA MULINGE | At the beginning of each year, leaders from across MTN’s markets gather to align on our shared ambition: driving digital …
Read More »Kudos to Hamson Obua: You displayed humility even in defeat
COMMENT | OBED K KATUREEBE | The government chief whip, Hamson Obua, surprised many with the grace and humility he showed after losing his parliamentary seat. In the January 2026 elections, Obua was defeated by Fred Jalameso of Ajuri County. The outcome surprised many Ugandans. Obua was viewed as a …
Read More »Uganda’s medicinal plants are healing people, but who is protecting them?
COMMENT | MICHAEL WAMBI | Medicinal plants rarely receive the same attention as iconic wildlife species. Yet they form part of the same ecosystems, and they are disappearing under pressure from overharvesting, habitat loss, and limited regulation. It is emerging that conversations about conservation should be extended beyond elephants and mountain gorillas …
Read More »How the Iran conflict will hit Uganda’s economy
COMMENT | CAROLYNE MUYAMA | On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel carried out military strikes against Iran, accusing Tehran of developing a nuclear weapons programme. In a dramatic turn of events, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the attack. Within hours, tensions across the …
Read More »‘Is his money, our money?’
COMMENT | Cindy Hannah Kukunda | One question has dominated social media and daily conversations in Uganda for the longest time: ‘Is his money our money?’. What began as a debate about daily spending and traditional gender roles has shifted to financial security. For generations, the financial script was simple: …
Read More »Magogo right on reforms to Ugandan club football
Institutional vs Community Clubs, Magogo Right this time! COMMENT | ALI SSEKATAWA | Football in Uganda naturally attracts passionate and organic support. Despite this deep connection with fans, the game has been struggling for nearly two decades as match attendance continues to dwindle, especially in the Uganda Premier League and the Big …
Read More »On America’s war with Iran
How the current conflict in the Middle East is reordering the world and may risk a dangerous escalation THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | The joint USA-Israel attack on Iran has set the Middle East on fire and risks a global conflict of unimaginable proportions. It is …
Read More »This was an odd election
Kampala, Uganda | MELINA RAQUEL PLATAS | This was an odd election. On the one hand, the opposition seemed both weaker and more straight-jacketed than any election in decades. On the other hand, the brute force of the state suggested sincere concern about an electoral upset. No one seemed able …
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 »
The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price