Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda have transparency laws, but corruption persists NEWS ANALYSIS | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | Uganda records some of the lowest levels of compliance with access to information requests in East Africa, highlighting a persistent gap between transparency laws and their enforcement across the region. Between 2018 …
Read More »The day Kampala goes offline
What happens when mobile money fails, hospitals lose data, and the invisible infrastructure behind modern life suddenly stops working? NEWS ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | What if, tomorrow morning in Kampala, your mobile phone stopped working – not because the battery died, not because you forgot to buy data, …
Read More »Memes, shutdowns and Museveni’s seventh term
Uganda’s digital public sphere and the 2026 election SPECIAL REPORT | RONALD MUSOKE | As President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 81, was sworn in on May 12 for a seventh straight term in office, Uganda marked another formal milestone in a presidency that has now spanned nearly four decades. …
Read More »Is the Civil Service the gravest failure of Uganda?
COMMENT | ANDREW PI BESI | Reader, on May 12th at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, President Yoweri Museveni will take his seventh oath of office. As I have previously noted, under his reign, Uganda’s economy has expanded, and, indeed, today Uganda is wealthier than at any time in its 64 years …
Read More »Botswana’s Ex-President Festus Mogae, who tackled H.I.V., Dies at 86
The democrat was considered the architect of the Southern African country’s economic rise and a pioneer in the fight against AIDS Gaborone, Botswana | AGENCIES | The political career of Botswana’s ex-President Festus Gontebanye Mogae can be summarized under one heading: “good governance.” During his time in office from 1998 …
Read More »Uganda’s inhaler gap leaves asthma patients exposed
Asthma is responsible for more than 450,000 deaths globally every year, many of which are preventable Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | Uganda’s response to asthma is facing growing scrutiny as health specialists warn that thousands of patients are still unable to access essential inhalers, even as global treatment …
Read More »Uganda government backs off foreign funding bill, but is the risk fully gone?
Parliament passed a softened but still controversial sovereignty law targeting foreign-funded political activity NEWS ANALYSIS | AYENAT MERSIE | Uganda just passed one of the region’s most closely watched pieces of legislation this year — and even in its watered-down form, it’s leaving a mark. On May 5, Parliament …
Read More »Bobi Wine on the books (and songs) that shape his politics
SPECIAL FEATURE | Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, is a Ugandan music star and political leader currently in exile. Framing his movement as a “people power” struggle by young Ugandans for democratic transition, he is a vocal critic of the regime. After a disputed election in January won by long-time ruler …
Read More »Balancing motherhood and leadership
Inside the Life of Pauline Nantongo Kalunda For many people, balancing family and career can feel impossible. But for Pauline Nantongo Kalunda, motherhood and leadership are deeply connected. In a heartfelt conversation ahead of Mother’s Day celebrations, Pauline shared her journey as a mother, leader, mentor, and environmentalist, revealing how …
Read More »Africa turns gold refineries into reserve diversification engines
African central banks are increasingly linking domestic gold refining to reserve management as countries move to retain more value from minerals. The shift reflects a broader effort to diversify away from foreign currency assets while strengthening local supply chains. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Uganda’s foreign exchange …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price