Chief Whip Obua Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The NRM caucus will support the proposed amendments to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act as presented by the Attorney General. This includes a proposal of trying civilians accused of illegally possessing specific firearms before the Court Martial first, although these will be given the prerogative to appeal their sentences before other courts. The revelation was made by Hamson Obua, Government Chief Whip in a statement he issued while announcing what transpired in the Caucus meeting held Friday afternoon at State House Entebbe. The Caucus discussed the principles that are set to be brought in the UPDF Bill, that was recently withdrawn in order to incorporate changes following the January 2025, Supreme Court judgment that blocked the trial of civilians before the General Court Martial. This evening, I met the NRM party’s parliamentary caucus at State House, Entebbe. We had discussions...

Winnie Byanyima, Bobi Wine and Elias Lukwago at the NUP Headquarters on Wednesday Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDNET | Security personnel have raided and cordoned off the National Unity Platform (NUP) headquarters. The personnel comprising of the police, army and operatives from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce-JATT also sealed off the party’s leadership training centre in Kmawokya. Acting Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Spokesperson, said the raid follows videos that have been circulating on social media where NUP members are threatening to cause violence. Kulayigye said that the state cannot just look when such attacks are being promised by an organized group. NUP President Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine on social media platform X confirmed the raid.  “Museveni’s criminals have just broken into our offices at Kavule after blocking off all roads leading there. They have also raided our School of Leadership at Kamwokya. COWARDS,” Bobi...

Cwinya-ai Nairobi, Kenya | UGC MEDIA | The DP World Tour Magical Kenya Open is undoubtedly the grandest stage for any golfer coming out of Uganda. With a huge gallery, a global television network and the cream of the DP World golfers on the draw, stage fright is almost certainly going to come into play for an inexperienced but talented golfer. That was the story for Joseph Cwinya-ai. Playing in his biggest career tournament ever, the Toro-born golfer found the going tough at the par-71 Muthaiga GC. He shot a 10-over 81 to finish the day in 146th position. “The truth is that every thing was a learning experience for me,” a candid Cwinya-ai admitted. He, however, hopes to play a more improved second round. “I know my mistakes from today and come tomorrow, I will lower that terrible score,” he noted. Cwinya-ai is competing in Muthaiga as an amateur...

Visiting Minister Nankabirwa and host minister Musenero being shown around the new facility Accelerating Uganda’s Leap into the New Economy Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  In a strategic move to accelerate Uganda’s leap into a knowledge-based economy, the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Secretariat, in collaboration with Future Lab, the Research to Industry Centre of Excellence, the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology, and the National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Innovation Skills Enhancement Project (NSTEI-SEP), officially launched the Uganda Deep Tech Centre of Excellence in Namanve. According to experts, this landmark initiative marks a transformative moment in the nation’s deep technology and industry 4.0 evolution. The launch event Wednesday, was graced by Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, and hosted by Dr. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation. “Through this Centre, we aim to create a dynamic ecosystem where deep technology propels economic transformation and...

Eron Kiiza in the court room. PHOTO URN KAMPALA, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | The High Court in Kampala has directed lawyers representing detained lawyer Eron Kiiza to file written submissions in his bid for release from prison. Kiiza is currently serving a nine-month sentence handed down by the Court Martial. On Wednesday, Civil Division Judge Dr. Douglas Singiza instructed the Attorney General, the Commissioner for Prisons, and Kiiza’s legal team to submit their arguments by the close of business on Thursday, February 20, 2025. These submissions will help the court determine whether to rule in favor of Kiiza’s release or uphold his conviction. Judge Singiza also asked the parties to formally request a ruling date through the Judiciary’s Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS). However, he assured them that his decision on Kiiza’s case—as well as those of Dr. Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutaale—would be delivered no later...

Ggoobi, Michael Guiraud and ambassador Doreen Ruth Amule.  COURTESY PHOTO Secretary to the treasury Ggoobi preaches markets, investment and tourism to Ugandan diaspora community in France Paris, France | THE INDEPENDENT | Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi has met Sales Director of Airbus Michael Guiraud on day three of his four day working visit of France. Uganda Airlines operates a fleet primarily composed of Airbus aircraft, including the A330-800 widebody planes, allowing them to serve long-haul routes and recently adding an A320 to cater to medium-range needs; essentially relying heavily on Airbus for its international flight operation. Ggoobi has also met  Gregoire Durival, Sales Director of the Sagemcom Energy and Telecom SAS plus officials of Satlantis, a Space Technologies Company based in Spain. Lined up for meetings in the next 24 hours are officials of BPIFrance and Eiffage Group to discuss available solutions to financing solutions involving French Companies and...

KAMPALA, UGANDA | Xinhua | Several foreign players have arrived in Kampala ahead of the Uganda International Badminton Challenge 2025. The Challenge sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) with a prize of 17,500 USD will take place from February 19 to 23 at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium in Kampala, capital of Uganda. Keisha Fatimah Azzahra from Azerbaijan, who ranks 56th in the women’s singles told Xinhua that she is happy to be in Uganda for this championship. “I am very happy that I can compete in this tournament because my target is to perform well so that I continue to improve my ranking in the world,” added Azzahra. Uganda highest ranked women’s player Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi, who is fresh from winning a bronze medal at the All Africa Senior’s Championship in Cameroon last week has also made it clear she will go all out to prove herself on...

Chief Steward of Femme Forte Penelope Sanyu KAMPALA, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | Femme Forte Uganda has announced the launch of “Her Virtual Museum of African Feminists,” a pioneering digital platform dedicated to celebrating the lives and legacies of feminist icons across the African continent. The museum will launch on March 7, 2025, just ahead of International Women’s Day as a tribute to the sheroes who, in many ways have and continue to pave the way for gender justice and more equitable society. Rooted in the wisdom and resilience of Siblings who came before us, this museum is a space to celebrate movement wins, amplify feminist narratives, and collectively build upon the foundations of liberation laid by African feminists throughout history. Rather than merely drawing inspiration from existing frameworks, the initiative recognizes the urgent need to create alternative feminist knowledge, ones that centre African art, realities, experiences, power, and radical imaginations....

Rugumayo was only East African to make the cut in the Kenya Open last year. PHOTO ABSA KENYA Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT & AGENCIES | Willy Deus Kitata will carry Uganda’s flag at this week’s Magical Kenya Open after he booked his ticket by wining a 36-hole international qualifier at VetLab Sports Club this afternoon. Thirteen players from Uganda (7), Rwanda (2), Malawi (1) and Nigeria (3) competed for the three available slots. Kitata, who carded rounds of 76-73 and will now be looking to follow in the footsteps of countryman Ronald Rugumayo, who became the first Ugandan to make a DP World Tour cut 12 months ago. “It’s been a stressful week but finally we made it the hard way,” he said. “It means a lot to me being a DP World Tour event. We have work ahead of us but we are going to go do it.” Veteran...

One of the FREE-BSEIGYE posterS that’s circulating on social media Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who also serves as the lawyer for detained four-time presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye, has called for his client to receive specialized medical treatment at a hospital of his choice, citing serious health concerns. Besigye was rushed from Luzira Prison to a private clinic in Bugolobi on Sunday after his health deteriorated. The transfer occurred shortly after Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, visited him in prison alongside Besigye’s doctor. “I have visited Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye at Luzira Prison in the presence of his doctor. I have given him counsel and asked him to resume taking food as the government fast-tracks the transfer of his case from the Court Martial to a civil court,” Baryomunsi stated. However, Lukwago dismissed Baryomunsi’s claims that Besigye’s condition was solely...