Mwezi Mugerwa to receive $50,000 ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT & AGENCIES | The Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation, has named Mwezi “Badru” Mugerwa the Winner of the 2025 Indianapolis Prize Emerging Conservationist Award. This honour—only the second given to date—is presented to a conservationist under 40 who …
Read More »The 2025/26 budget should deal with our challenges – manufacturers
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | The Minister of Trade, Francis Mwebesa, has reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening Uganda’s manufacturing sector, calling for greater collaboration between policymakers, investors, and industry players to unlock the sector’s full potential. Mwebesa who was speaking at a 2025/26 budget preparation dialogue organized by Uganda …
Read More »Trump shakes up US embassy
USAID closed, jobs cancelled, operations scuttled as President implements Project 2025 ANALYSIS | IAN KATUSIIME | Within just 50 days of taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump is radically shaking up American foreign policy. Trump’s assault on the U.S. State Department has affected U.S. embassies further afield like those in Uganda. …
Read More »A taste of Nile water politics
Nile basin ministers’ tour of mega Ethiopian dam leaves sour taste for Egypt Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia | RONALD MUSOKE | At 8:10 am on an already warming Sunday Feb.23 morning, three light aircraft taxied off the tarmac of Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They were carrying a group of about 24 people, …
Read More »Fear of renewed war in South Sudan
Juba tense after arrest of opposition politicians, army generals COVER STORY | THE INDEPENDENT & AGENCIES | The political situation in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, is tense following the arrest of politicians and to army generals aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar. The unrest comes amid growing concerns over instability …
Read More »Uganda to become 18th country to roll-out malaria vaccine for children
Malaria remains the leading cause of illness and death among children under five in Uganda Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Uganda is set to become the 18th country to roll-out malaria vaccination, starting April 2, as the country accelerates efforts to curb the deadly disease. The four-dose vaccine will be …
Read More »Mastercard Foundation boosts youth entrepreneurship
But entrepreneurship is just one piece of the puzzle. Education remains a cornerstone of Uganda’s future Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | From February 19 to 21, the Mastercard Foundation hosted the Young Africa Works 2025 Dialogue in Kampala, a gathering that felt less like a conference and more like a …
Read More »TotalEnergies’ tightrope transition: A talk with Patrick Pouyanné
INTERVIEW | Among oil and gas majors, TotalEnergies stands alone in its plans to shift a fifth of its business to renewable-led integrated power by 2030. It’s a tightrope walk for the company’s long-time CEO Patrick Pouyanné—essentially a strategy that’s not “enough oil and gas” for traditional investors nor “enough renewables” …
Read More »Isimba Hydropower Dam at risk
Structural defects and contractor delays now threaten Uganda’s energy future Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | The Isimba Hydropower Dam, a flagship project in Uganda’s energy sector, was envisioned as a cornerstone of the country’s long-term development goals. Commissioned in 2019, the 183MW facility was meant to provide affordable and reliable …
Read More »MTN Uganda reports a 30% surge in net profit to Shs641bn
The telecom firm recorded a 19.5% increase in service revenue to Shs 3.1 trillion, fueled by a 30.5% rise in data revenue and 22.8% growth in fintech earnings Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | MTN Uganda has delivered a 30.1% surge in net profit to Shs 641.5billion for FY 2024, a …
Read More »
The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price