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By agatha atuhaire Politicians and government officials are making huge profits Whereas all Ugandans had their eyes on the budget hoping it would include a reduction in taxes on fuel, the new Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka announced only repealed the excise duty on Kerosene. It was a bold decision. Deloitte …

By peter nyanzi With an allocation of more than Shs 850 billion for construction of the Karuma hydro power dam and other projects, the energy sector emerged one of the main winners of the 2011/2011 budget, but a reduction in power tariffs and electrification of rural areas, looks increasingly unlikely …

By theresa nannozi 2011/12 budget disappoints Ugandans who wanted tax cuts, salary increase The 2011/12 budget came as a disappointment for the majority of Ugandans who had expected and hoped for tax cuts on fuel, especially petrol and diesel. While the removal of taxes on kerosene (Shs 200 per litre) …

By eriasa mukiibi sserunjogi Forget service delivery, it’s all about politics President Yoweri Museveni’s strategy in naming his new cabinet appears to have been based on an old management principle; the law of the vital few. Under this principle, only 20 percent of those involved really matter for 80 percent …

By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Opposition leaders propose ways out as government refuses to act Despite increasing pressure to cut taxes on fuel and ban export of food, the government has stuck to its standard `no intervention’ policy on prices. The recent 3% spike in pump price of fuel from Shs3500 …

By eriasa mukiibi sserunjogi Protests show beleaguered presidency ahead On May 12, the day of President Yoweri Museveni’s inauguration, the influential New York Times weighed in with a headline, “Protests Overshadow Inauguration in Uganda”. “Ugandans frustrated with their government turned out in overwhelming numbers and boisterous celebration Thursday to welcome …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How NRM internal power struggles have given FDC leader hero status Last week, President Yoweri Museveni’s inauguration was eclipsed by the dramatic return of opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, from Nairobi, Kenya where he had been treated after being tortured by Ugandan security agents. Besigye’s triumphant …

By frederick golooba-mutebi Opening the gates of hell The shock that gripped the country following the violent arrest of FDC leader, Kiiza Besigye was in itself quite surprising. It was not the first time an opposition politician or even Besigye himself was being roughed up. His arrest this time may …

By the independent team On May 3, the New Vision Group Chief Executive Officer, Robert Kabushenga, Yoweri  spoke to the BBC’s Akwasi Sarpong, who introduced him as a media advisor to the ruling NRM party. (Kabushenga starts) What has happened on our part is that Mr. Besigye did promise during …

By eriasa mukiibi sserunjogi Why is the government fighting hard to show that opposition leader Kizza Besigye attacked security first before he was brutally assaulted on April 28? That is the question many are asking since condemnation started pouring in over the macabre arrest of the Forum for Democratic Change …