Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The second reading of the constitution amendment bill 2017 got off to a chaotic start, with members of the opposition again questioning the presence of plain clothes security operatives in the chamber. “Those are my bodyguards, don’t you know them?” Kadaga asked. “I am …
Read More »LIVE: ‘Police ready for Age Limit debate’
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s Police chief Gen. Kale Kayihura has vowed that his officers will ensure proceedings in parliament are not interrupted when the constitution amendment bill 2017 comes up for its second reading today. “We support the Parliament and there must be order at Parliament. We …
Read More »EU warns Britain against Brexit deal ‘backtracking’
Strasbourg, France | AFP | The EU on Tuesday warned Britain against “backtracking” as it rounded on a top minister for suggesting that London could back out of its Brexit divorce promises if it does not get a trade deal. Britain’s Brexit minister David Davis caused alarm by saying that a …
Read More »Kadaga blocks access to Parliament from President’s Office
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has ordered security organs other than the police to vacate parliament as tension rises ahead of the second reading of the “Age Limit” consitution amendment bill 2017. Kadaga also asked police to seal off the hallway linking the President’s Office and parliament, …
Read More »Museveni defends Age Limit amendment
Ugandans should have final say on who leads them – Museveni Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The presence of age limits for any elective office goes against Article 1 of the 1995 Constitution, the bedrock of that supreme law, which says “Power belongs to the people”, President Yoweri Museveni …
Read More »Mnangagwa urges public unity as cabinet sworn in
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, called for public unity to revive the country’s sickly economy as his new cabinet took office on Monday. “I have sworn in a new cabinet just to finish the term of the former president, which is a period of six to …
Read More »Is UCC going rogue?
Parliament to probe communications regulator over its media cuts and bans Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | What, really, is the mandate of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)? On its face, UCC’s mandate appears clear; it is the country’s communications regulatory agency. It is supposed to promote and safeguard the interests …
Read More »THIS WEEK: Government requests to borrow as parliament resumes
THIS WEEK: Government requests to borrow as parliament resumes Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Plenary resumed on Nov.28 after members of parliament returned from their constituencies where they had been consulting their voters on the proposed constitutional amendment bill to remove presidential age limits from the current 35 to 75 …
Read More »THIS WEEK: Kadaga still waiting for Museveni’s response on clobbered MPs
THIS WEEK: Kadaga still waiting for Museveni’s response on clobbered MPs Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has revealed that she has not yet received feedback from the president regarding unknown persons who attacked parliament and beat up MPs. While speaking at a function attended by legislators opposed …
Read More »Free speech in Zimbabwe parliament after 37 years of oppression
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | The Zimbabwean parliament did not have time to vote for Robert Mugabe’s dismissal — because the president had already resigned. But this extraordinary session served as an outlet for elected officials, who took the opportunity to denounce the excesses of his authoritarian regime. On this …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price