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 »How Women are driving legal and compliance excellence in East Africa’s businesses
OPINION | RACHEL KIVUNA | Legal, risk, and compliance functions have morphed from being regulatory checkpoints to becoming the backbone of resilient and ethical organizations. These roles are shaping how companies anticipate challenges, navigate complex regulations, and make decisions that protect both people and value. This Women’s Month, celebrating the role …
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 »The Chessboard of Contest – Africa in the age of multipolarity
COMMENT | ANDREW PI BESI | War, we know, is rarely the product of a single cause. More often, it is born of a convergence of political, economic, social, and ideological pressures. At its core, every war is an expression of what scholars call geopolitical contestation. It is a …
Read More »FULL SPEECH: Rwanda President Kagame remarks at Diplomatic Dinner
Kigali, Rwanda | Remarks by President Paul Kagame at this year’s Diplomatic Dinner, Kigali, 6 March 2026. The event was at the Kigali Convention Centre where he hosted members of the Diplomatic Corps for dinner, following presentation of letters of credence of 20 newly accredited Ambassadors and High Commissioners …
Read More »The Race for Speaker of Parliament in Uganda: A defining moment for democratic accountability
COMMENT | DR PETER WANDWASI | As Uganda approaches the conclusion of another electoral cycle, the race for the Speaker of Parliament is evolving into more than just a contest for a legislative position; it is a crucial competition that could significantly influence the future of governance and democracy …
Read More »China’s resolute tech self-reliance quest
COMMENT | Xinhua | In charting its development blueprint for the next five years, China is positioning tech self-reliance as a strategic underpinning. This represents a necessary and astute choice for a manufacturing powerhouse seeking to secure sustained growth that powers a dynamic and inclusive global economy. Moving fast to …
Read More »It’s ‘rainy season’ for extortionists promising political jobs
COMMENT | OBED K KATUREEBE | A few days ago, the Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda, issued a public statement warning Ugandans about extortionists who are exploiting innocent people by promising them appointments as Resident District Commissioners (RDCs). In one such case, Juliet Nganda from Bweyogerere was arrested after …
Read More »Four years of the Ukraine war
How attempts by America and her NATO allies to weaken Russia in this proxy war may wreck the alliance THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | As a new war rages on in the Middle East, we must not forget that it is four years since Russia invaded …
Read More »
The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price