The Karamoja subregion in Uganda has long been known for insecurity, severe poverty, hunger, disease, and general backwardness. This north-eastern part of the country has been the typical example of underdevelopment, notwithstanding its vast resource potential. The sub-region has a wide expanse of land, and mineral deposits augmented by a considerable likelihood of the presence of oil deposits. Notwithstanding these resources, the region remains backwards, with little development. Current reports from

While conducting research in Lira, Northern Uganda, last month, we came across a young girl, about 11 years, in the morning who had fainted along the road from walking a long distance to school. As we rushed her back to her home, the father shared that she had left for school fine after doing house chores and the health facility was too far to take the young girl as she was vomiting. Fortunately, we had moved with some

The book Genesis relays a story of a Pharaoh who had a dream that foretold the seven years of bountiful harvest and seven years of famine. Having received interpretation from Joseph, a Jewish prisoner, the Egyptian king at once gave him all power to ensure that he averts the brunt of the impending famine. The young prime minister started filling the silos with grain in times of plenty to buffer the country’s food supply. Indeed, the Pharaoh’s decision proved wise when famine enveloped the lands and the people of

The demise of the Rt. Hon Jacob Oulanya took the country by storm. The vibrant legislator and speaker of the eleventh parliament was a man of vigour, charisma and generosity, which explains his favour across the country. His death sent shock waves to those who knew him, and bereavement obfuscated reason, exposing the deeply rooted tribal entitlements and perverted spirit of ethnic divisiveness. It all began with the bold bigotry of the Acholi parliamentary forum’s demand that the next speaker and deputy speaker come from northern Uganda or be Acholi. For the most part, this vilifying demand was also happens to be

Over the previous weeks, the nation has had its eyes glued to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, seeking to understand the criterion of accessing mid-term savings. This comes after the NSSF (Amendment) Act 2021 came into force on 4th January 2022. The Amendment made a host of changes in the operation of the NSSF, including changes in the board's constitution to provide for mandatory and voluntary contributions, mid-term access of savings, and other matters. The amendment as a whole is landmark legislation that streamlines the functioning of the NSSF

The plight of Ugandans shipped to the Middle East has intermittently been in the news for several years now. The most common headlines on the subject are Ugandans being tortured by their employers abroad, having their pay withheld by recruiting agencies, dying from lack of treatment and bodies rarely repatriated home. The most recent case regarding the subject was that of Ms Judith Nakintu. A company recruited her to work as a housemaid abroad only to have her kidney extracted without her consent and later abandoned by the recruiting agency without the necessary treatment, resulting in permanent disfig.