In The Magazine

By Phillip Karugaba Micro loans provide the first step to emergence of vibrant SMEs The impact of microcredit in reducing poverty has been debated for over 40 years with the article, ‘Microfinance: Good for the poor?’ that appeared in the Independent (Aug 28 – Sept 03 2015) being another voice. …

By Isaac K. Ssemakadde Human rights of political activists need more protection during this election season As we approach the 2016 general elections, a disturbing, constant pattern has emerged in Uganda according to recent reports of the press and human rights defenders. The NRM government led by President Yoweri Museveni is …

By Agnes E. Nantaba Dr. Fred Kakongoro Muhumuza is an expert economist on policy on research currently working with Financial Sector Deepening (FSD). He spoke to Agnes E. Nantaba Any three things we don’t know about you? I was born in Hoima during Obote I and take pride in growing …

By Ian Katusiime On Sept 11, an Emirates flight EK323 on which Gen. Aronda Nyakairima was a passenger departed Incheon International Airport at 11: 55 pm (5.30am Ugandan time) in Seoul, South Korea, headed to Dubai International Airport. This nine and a half hour flight was to be the last …

By Flavia Nassaka Even if you work 24/7 with computers Do you work in a medium or large organization with a lot of office based staff? Do most of them use computers for long periods? If so, what proportion of workers wears specs or spectacles, eyeglass or merely glasses if …

By Ronald Musoke Wakisa Ministries gives unwanted teenage mothers a home Behind the high walls of a spacious house at Bakuli, a suburb about 5km west of Kampala city centre is Wakisa Ministries— Uganda’s only teenage pregnancy crisis centre. The 27 girls we found here when we visited should normally …

By Independent Team What it really says about Ugandan politics Until Aug.17, the de facto leader of the Opposition, Retired Col. Kizza Besigye and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi were on opposite sides in Uganda’s two-horse race politics. Unknown by many people, a major swift occurred that morning when Mbabazi …

By. Andrew M. Mwenda Why the opposition is courting danger in seeking to field one candidate and the risks of a three horse race Last week, the opposition was involved in skirmishes regarding the selection of a joint presidential candidate under The Democratic Alliance (TDA). The alliance seemed biased on …

At the end of 2015, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will expire. These will be replaced by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) soon to be adopted at the United Nations Summit by 193 member states of United Nations. But what are those new Global Goals for Sustainable Development?These are the …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How Nyakairima took UPDF out of headlines and has left a professional respected military Sometime in 2003, President Yoweri Museveni chaired a meeting of the army high command to discuss highly sensitive matters. The proceedings leaked to me. I was happy to publish a story about …