“These are first class,” says the woman as she shoves undergarments, mostly used bras, at me, “they are well-sorted and imported from UK, Europe, Korea and Australia.” I am in Owino Market, the sprawling market which is renowned throughout East Africa for its bustling trade in second-hand clothing items. I could …
Read More »Alternatives to banning second-hand clothing
Second-hand ban strategy: A peep into alternatives to banning importation of second-hand clothing Trade in second-hand clothing is big in Uganda. In markets and shops in most towns and villages, trade in second-hand clothes improves people’s access to clothing, supports livelihoods, and contributes to national and local government tax revenue. Now, …
Read More »Gov’t secretly giving bailouts?
Lead pusher Bitature bags Shs47bn Government could be quietly handing out billions of shillings to private businesses, The Independent has learned from sources familiar with some of the transactions. What is not clear, however, is the extent to which those who claim that this is a `silent’ roll-out of the …
Read More »Electoral fraud in Africa getting trickier
Dakar, Senegal | AFP | As Gabon is rocked by violence following the contested re-election of President Ali Bongo, experts says electoral fraud in Africa is becoming harder, thanks to civil society vigilance and spread of mobile technology. Opposition leader Jean Ping on Friday declared himself the rightful president of …
Read More »Pogba’s financial ripple spreads across Europe
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Premier League clubs hunting the likes of Paul Pogba spent ten times as much as French Ligue 1 counterparts during the transfer window, but envious rivals are nervously laughing all the way to the bank. The 20 English Premier League clubs laid out 1.165 …
Read More »Where next for South Sudan and rebel chief Machar?
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | War-torn South Sudan’s slide into chaos resumed last month with fresh fighting in the capital Juba that forced rebel leader turned vice president and peace deal signatory Riek Machar to flee. With the spike in clashes came a surge of abuse of civilians by armed …
Read More »Kerry’s visit, America’s agenda
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (2nd-L) poses with his fellow Foreign Ministers L-R: Kenyan Foreign Secretary Amina Mohamed, Somalia Foreign Minister Abdisalam Omer, South Sudan Foreign Minister Deng Alor Kuol, Sudan Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, and Uganda Foreign Minister Sam Kahamba Kutesa after a meeting and working lunch that …
Read More »Bujagali sale goes bad
Bujagali sale goes bad: President Yoweri Museveni’s push to cut the cost of power from the 250 MW Bujagali dam has put him at the centre of a fight with investors and technocrats at the Energy Ministry over the sale of a stake in the dam project writes Haggai Matsiko …
Read More »Behind Uganda’s refusal to send troops to South Sudan
Sorting out South Sudan – Behind Uganda’s refusal to send troops to South Sudan under UN mission Uganda appeared to have caught regional conflict observers by surprise when it announced it would not contribute troops to a regional brigade designed to bolster the UN mission in South Sudan – By Independent Team & …
Read More »Bogus elections, costly by-elections
Electoral Commission criticized as cost of elections to be repeated nears Shs30bn About 25% of the outcomes of the 488 parliamentary elections conducted in February are being challenged in courts of law. That is not to mention the main one; the presidential election, which was also challenged in court. If …
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