What it means for Amuriat/Nandala, Lukwago/Ssemujju COVER STORY | JOSEPH WERE | “We are in charge,” proclaimed Patrick Oboi Amuriat; the embattled leader of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, minutes after his nomination on Sept. 21 to recapture his position as president in a new arrangement sparked by …
Read More »The naked truth about American used-clothes
Why Uganda can’t live without clothes of `dead people’ COVER STORY | THE INDEPENDENT | On Sept.10 President Yoweri Museveni revealed that some American cloth manufacturing companies have cancelled orders of textiles from Uganda because of the Anti-Homosexual Act (AHA) he signed into law in late May. “The homosexuals in the …
Read More »Why’s security fearing to touch Bobi Wine?
Opposition leader’s tours raise questions about 2026 COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | Since unexpected crowds at his mobilisation campaign brought Mbarara City in western Uganda to a standstill and security agencies did not bother to arrest or stop him, Bobi Wine has become the headline topic across the country. With …
Read More »Military coup fear spreads
How safe is Uganda from so-called `coup contagion’? COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | In a paper published in The Journal of Conflict Resolution entitled `The “Coup Contagion” Hypothesis’, two professors; Richard P.Y. Li and William R. Thompson, popularised the expression as far back as 1975. They wrote that their “statistical …
Read More »Gen. Kale Kayihura’s retirement
How former IGP’s mistakes are now back to haunt him COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | Back in 2015, there was a shoot-out at the home of former Inspector General of Government (IGG) Justice Faith Mwondha in Iganga district. Thugs had attacked Justice Mwondha’s home and on hearing the news, then …
Read More »What makes Ugandans hopeful?
New survey finds 53% positive about future of economy, democracy COVER STORY | BY INDEPENDENT REPORTER | The latest report by the survey research body, Afrobarometer, has brought to the fore both expected and completely unexpected perceptions of Ugandans on a range of topical issues. The survey asked questions about the …
Read More »Is Speaker Among losing her groove?
How NRM intrigue has isolated powerful head of legislature COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | A letter by President Yoweri Museveni on the controversial June 14 by-election held in her Bukedea District constituency continues to stir jitters in the camp of Anita Among, the Speaker of Parliament. She is also …
Read More »2026 election to be most expensive ever
Why each vote could cost Shs 50,000 COVER STORY | RONALD MUSOKE | There is growing concern over the ever-rising cost of holding general elections in the country. For example, an election expert told The Independent recently that whereas the average cost of conducting elections globally is about US$ 5 per …
Read More »Shopping for Russian guns, dodging American lectures
Museveni’s trip to Russia involved tough choices COVER STORY | JOSEPH WERE | The second Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg’s Expo Forum from July 27-28 was expected to be the next big event in the scramble between Russia and America for the attention, resources, and international alignment of Africa. Past summits …
Read More »Inside the fight at FDC
Why money will keep rocking Besigye’s party COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | One of Uganda’s main opposition parties, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), is in disarray as an ongoing fight for its leadership has degenerated into allegations of bribery and illicit money. Accusations of dubious procurements, ferrying of …
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