Cover Story

By Haggai Matsiko Sudan frustrates UPDF, America hunt for Kony As reports persist that Sudan is harboring Lord’s Resistance Army warlord Joseph Kony, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem, has told The Independent that the UPDF is maintaining a strong force at the border with DRC to …

By Joan Akello `We will punish you’ Energy officials accused of eating bribes In the March issue of the international business magazine, Forbes, the billionaire Sudhir Ruparelia is asked in an interview what he thinks is the biggest weakness of the Uganda economy. Sudhir answers:  “The left doesn’t know what …

By Haggai Matsiko Museveni doubles military expenditure, cuts education budget The budget increase in Uganda’s military expenditure even amidst global and regional defence cuts might be the latest indication of President Museveni’s strategy to fasten his grip on power and his influence on the region. As recent events have showed, …

By Job A. Kahigwa Time to base the domestic electricity consumers charge on Time of Use formula Once again, the Uganda Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) board of directors is considering a power tariff increment.  A power price rise is being considered just after huge increments of 69% and 36% for …

By Haggai Matsiko How populist NRM firebrands threaten Secretary General’s hold on party When on March 26, the four legislators also known as rebel MPs, accused of defying the ruling-NRM party leadership refused to appear before its disciplinary committee, they put its Secretary General, Amama Mbabazi on the spot to …

By Ian Katusiime Vatican is watching how Archbishop Lwanga deals with the Fr. Musaala saga “It is a good point for reflection but it will not change the fundamentals of the church.” That is how one practicing Catholic assessed the impact of recent revelations by renowned celebrity Catholic priest, Father …

By Andrew M. Mwenda The likely implications of Ntaganda’s flight On Monday March 18, former leader of the Congolese rebel movement CNDP, Gen. Bosco Ntaganda, appeared unexpectedly at the United States embassy in Kigali to hand himself over to the Americans. He was smarting from a military defeat at the …

By Haggai Matsiko How the UPDF has become a continental billion dollar powerhouse Michael Pelletier, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Democracy for the Africa Bureau has told The Independent that President Yoweri Museveni’s role in finding African solutions for African problems is becoming globally recognised. As a result, Pelletier …

By Alan Ssempebwa How the electoral commission messed up the vote count Ever wondered what happened to your ballot after you dropped it into a ballot box at an election? To paraphrase Joseph Stalin, it’s not the people who vote that count; it’s the people who count the votes. Stalin …

By Charles Onyango-Obbo The normal, the unusual, and very strange things about Kenya election Kenya went to the polls on March 4. It was the first election under the new and quite liberal constitution that was adopted in August 2010. For Ugandans seeking to understand how the election played out, …