Smarter farming can protect a fishery whose export earnings reached US$216.4m last year COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | The ecological integrity of Lake Victoria is compromised by terrestrial nutrient inflows driving eutrophication and harmful algal growth. As of 2026, algal blooms around Lake Victoria have been linked by Uganda’s …
Read More »Japan and East Africa: Partners across the Indian Ocean
East Africa’s external engagement has long been dominated by China and Europe. Japan offers a third option COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | President Museveni’s recent comments on Uganda’s right to access the Indian Ocean underscore just how central the waterway is to East Africa’s economic and strategic future. The Indian Ocean …
Read More »Rethinking Africa foreign policy in the ESG era
The debate between positivist and normative frameworks shifts focus from power and profit to planet and people COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | As foreign governments and corporations race to secure critical minerals across Africa, the language of environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles is becoming more prominent. Behind the policy papers …
Read More »Comparing corruption in East Asia and Africa
In East Asia, corruption `oils the wheels’ of business and governance, in Africa it `rusts the wheels’ COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | Corruption is a global issue shaped by cultural, economic and political contexts that manifest differently across regions closely associated with development. East Asia and Africa both grapple with corruption, …
Read More »Uganda’ energy transition path
Balancing opportunities for sustainable development with challenges of governance, corruption, inconsistent policies, resource limitations COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | Uganda, similar to many Sub-Saharan African countries, faces significant challenges in energy policy development due to economic, environmental and political factors. While Uganda has made progress in energy development, a substantial portion …
Read More »Governing Uganda’s natural resources sectors
The regulatory frameworks in oil, gas and mining require strengthening for sustainable development COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | Uganda’s natural resource wealth, especially oil, gas and minerals holds enormous potential for economic development. It is critical that the realisation of this potential is guided by a robust legal and regulatory framework …
Read More »Iran’s engagement with Africa
Promise of economic opportunities, genuine partnerships, a more inclusive world order COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | The visit by President Ebrahim Raisi to Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe earlier this month represented a significant milestone in Iran’s flourishing engagement with Sub-Saharan Africa. The diplomatic mission also underscored the continent’s growing agency in …
Read More »Artificial Intelligence and education in Uganda
Curriculums preparing for the brave new normal need to shift away from rote learning and prioritise creativity COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | Education around the world has undergone profound change over the past few years, driven by exponential developments in technology and communications. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated these changes, notably …
Read More »Indians take centre stage
Why they integrate well and have made invaluable contributions to Uganda and countries around the world COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | President Museveni will host the Afro-Indian Investment Summit at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Kampala on 17-18 November, 2022. The event is part of the centennial celebration of the …
Read More »Preparing for climate change
Practical measures to strengthen land tenure security in support of food security are required urgently COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | Climate change is real. Greater effort is required to improve land governance and agrobiodiveristy in order to strengthen resilience to deal with the adverse effects of climate change already …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price