By Mubatsi Asinja Habati Kadiresan Kundhavi has for the last three years been the World Bank’s Country Director in Uganda – her first African posting after working in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Kundhavi has been transferred to manage the bank’s operations in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia. The Independent’s …

By peter nyanzi With an allocation of more than Shs 850 billion for construction of the Karuma hydro power dam and other projects, the energy sector emerged one of the main winners of the 2011/2011 budget, but a reduction in power tariffs and electrification of rural areas, looks increasingly unlikely …

By Haggai Matsiko Martyrs Day, June 3, this year comes about one month after opposition leader, Rtd Col. Dr Kizza Besigye was on April 28 subjected to one of the most brutal arrests by ruthless security forces. The closeness of the events has got some people comparing Besigye’s ordeal to …

By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi Opposition leaders propose ways out as government refuses to act Despite increasing pressure to cut taxes on fuel and ban export of food, the government has stuck to its standard `no intervention’ policy on prices. The recent 3% spike in pump price of fuel from Shs3500 …

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati Moses Lotyong, 19, is in P.3 at Panyangara Primary School in the remote district of Kotido in the drought- prone Karamoja. At Lotyong’s age many Ugandans from other parts of the country are in university. His 11-year-old sister is in P.5 at the same school. Lotyong …

By eriasa mukiibi sserunjogi Protests show beleaguered presidency ahead On May 12, the day of President Yoweri Museveni’s inauguration, the influential New York Times weighed in with a headline, “Protests Overshadow Inauguration in Uganda”. “Ugandans frustrated with their government turned out in overwhelming numbers and boisterous celebration Thursday to welcome …

By frederick golooba-mutebi Opening the gates of hell The shock that gripped the country following the violent arrest of FDC leader, Kiiza Besigye was in itself quite surprising. It was not the first time an opposition politician or even Besigye himself was being roughed up. His arrest this time may …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Bin Laden argued that to end local tyranny, Muslims should fight American first; Cairo and Tunis proved him wrong On Monday, I walked into the studios of Capital FM for my morning radio show only to see breaking news on television that Osama Bin Laden had …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Given that Besigye will not retreat, what are Museveni’s options? Last week on Thursday, the battle between police and Dr Kizza Besigye turned nasty. The police used harmers and guns to smash the windows of Besigye’s car, spray volumes of teargas and pepper-spray into his face, …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Local councils have undermined the effectiveness of public administration without fostering the expected accountability dividend. In 2000, Frederick Golooba-Mutebi gave me a copy of his PhD thesis written at the London School of Economics titled “Decentralisation and Development Administration in Uganda.” It is a sobering account …