As Uganda accelerates its cashless ambitions, there is debate about whether it can truly leave cash behind Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | Uganda’s financial ecosystem has made a tremendous shift towards mobile money transactions — led by platforms like MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda — which now move trillions …
Read More »Missiles in the Gulf, inflation in East Africa
Rising oil prices, disrupted air travel, and a shift in Sudan’s conflict COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | The US–Israeli war against Iran may be unfolding thousands of kilometres away, but its consequences are already being felt far beyond the Middle East. For East Africa’s fast-growing economies—Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania—the …
Read More »Inside Uganda’s landmark health agreement with Washington
The controversy and promise of Uganda’s new health pact with the United States Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | On Dec. 10, 2025, Uganda entered into one of the most consequential health partnerships in its recent history. At the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Kampala, senior officials from Uganda and the …
Read More »Give to Gain: Reimagining opportunity for Uganda’s women
As the world marks International Women’s Day, women still hold just over 30% of global leadership roles, highlighting the need for faster progress toward equality NEWS ANALYSIS | SYLIVA MULINGE | This month, we join the rest of the world in marking International Women’s Day, a moment to celebrate the …
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 »Uganda’s youth unemployment problem
As caps flew in celebration at Makerere University, a quieter question lingered in the air: where will these graduates work? COMMENT | SHARIFA NAMATOVU | An estimated 700,000 people enter Uganda’s labour market every year, and as Makerere University held its 76th graduation ceremony recently, about 9,000 more young Ugandans …
Read More »Four regional blocs, one regulatory vision
Africa’s competition chiefs forge united regulatory front NEWS ANALYSIS | JULIUS BUSINGE | Four of Africa’s most influential regional competition authorities have signed a cooperation pact that could reshape how cross-border mergers, consumer protection and market conduct are regulated across 38 countries. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed in Livingstone, Zambia …
Read More »Delivering 10x Growth: What Is our contribution?
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 »Airtel Uganda raises dividend on data-driven profit jump
The proposed payout, subject to investor approval, follows a 29 per cent increase in net income to Shs 446.9 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025 Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Telecom firm Airtel Uganda will pay shareholders a final dividend of Shs 3.55 per share, amounting to …
Read More »Breakthrough sickle cell gene therapy a distant hope in Africa
Advocates stress that while gene therapy is causing a buzz in wealthy countries, African governments must prioritise prevention, screening and accessible treatment NEWS ANALYSIS | JOHN MUSENZE | As Uganda rolls out mandatory nationwide screening of newborns for sickle cell disease this month, a gene therapy celebrated in the United …
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