Kampala, Uganda | NEWS CORRESPONDENT | Parliament has deferred debate on sugarcane weighbridge regulation to April 15, directing State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (Industry) David Bahati to return with a detailed ministerial statement, as scrutiny intensifies over weighbridges linked to sugarcane theft and unregulated trade. The decision pauses …
Read More »MAO: Come clean on Speakership
Nobert Mao has no locus, objective reason or right to make personal noise in the name of seeking the speakership of our 12th Parliament. The prerogative lies with the President and his NRM Party, with whom Mao should engage privately and quietly. COMMENT | PROF MORRIS OGENGA-LATIGO | After some silence …
Read More »Anita Among’s dilemma
How the Speaker’s growing political influence is leading to increasing pressure for her to go THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | The battle for speaker of parliament is going to be the defining issue of the next five years of President Yoweri Museveni’s government. Of course, the …
Read More »Parliament faces last-minute legislative rush before 12th House swearing-in
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As Uganda’s 11th Parliament approaches its April 24 dissolution, legislators are urging extended sittings to pass the national budget and clear a pile of pending bills before the end of their term. Newly elected MPs are expected to be sworn in between May 13 …
Read More »Govt seeks Shs6 trillion supplementary budget to bridge funding gap
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government has tabled before Parliament a supplementary budget request worth Shs6 trillion, to finance additional expenditure requirements across ministries, departments, agencies and local governments for the 2024/2025 financial year. The request was presented by the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development …
Read More »Tough times, surprising priorities
A glimpse into Uganda’s Shs166.8 billion MP vehicle allocation COMMENT | LILIAN ZWEDDE SENTEZA | In a controversial move, Uganda’s Parliament greenlit Shs166.8 billion (approximately $45 million) in the 2026/27 national budget to purchase new vehicles for its 529 lawmakers. This amounts to roughly Shs315 million per MP. Officially framed as …
Read More »The Race for Speaker of Parliament in Uganda: A defining moment for democratic accountability
COMMENT | DR PETER WANDWASI | As Uganda approaches the conclusion of another electoral cycle, the race for the Speaker of Parliament is evolving into more than just a contest for a legislative position; it is a crucial competition that could significantly influence the future of governance and democracy …
Read More »Somalia parliament approves new constitution
The new constitution extends the presidential term from the current four years to five years. It also stipulates that the president will be elected by parliament, while members of parliament will be chosen directly by citizens. MOGADISHU, SOMALIA | Xinhua | Somalia’s bicameral parliament on Wednesday approved the country’s new …
Read More »Parliament approves budget framework as debt growth raises scrutiny
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Parliament on Thursday approved the National Budget Framework Paper (NBFP) for FY 2026/27–2030/31, clearing the way for preparation of detailed budget estimates, even as lawmakers and analysts raised concerns over debt sustainability, growth assumptions, and compliance with fiscal rules. The framework sets the fiscal …
Read More »UPDF delegates elect 10 MPs, CDF not on list of candidates
Lt Gen Sam Okiding, D/CDF & IG Lt Gen Sam Kavuma, Dep Coord OWC Lt Gen James Mugira, MD NEC Maj Gen Henry Masiko, Joint Staff Political Commissar Maj Gen James Kinalwa, Joint Staff HRM Maj Gen Joseph Ssemwanga, Dep Comd Land Forces Brig Gen David Gonyi, Chief of Staff …
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