Kampala - The African Mirror

Oct

2023

Uganda arrests 40 opposition supporters as their leader arrives

UGANDAN security forces have arrested 40 people during an operation against supporters of opposition leader Bobi Wine whose detention under house arrest the United States said demonstrated eroding democracy in the East African country. The 40 were held in the capital Kampala and elsewhere as authorities thwarted plans to hold what the opposition had described as a million-strong march on Thursday. The march was supposed to have begun at Entebbe International Airport, south of the capital, where Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, arrived from abroad. Wine was instead bundled into a vehicle and driven home where he has…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Police arrest 11 Ugandan MPs

NEWS

POLICE in Uganda detained 11 female members of parliament who they accused of staging of an unlawful protest, with some of the lawmakers sustaining injuries during their arrest. The lawmakers were detained just outside the parliament buildings in the capital Kampala as they prepared to march to the Ministry of Internal Affairs where they intended to hand over a protest note to the minister. They were protesting what they said was police brutality and the use of excessive force to disperse various functions organised by female lawmakers in their local constituencies in recent weeks. "I strongly condemn the manner in…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

LGBTQ Ugandans live in fear as new law looms

Uncategorised

AT a shelter for lesbian women in Uganda's capital Kampala, gone are the days when the residents, having fled abuse and stigma at home, could breathe easy and be themselves. That came to an end a month ago when parliament passed some of the world's strictest anti-LGBTQ legislation, which would criminalise the "promotion" of homosexuality and impose the death penalty for certain crimes involving gay sex. President Yoweri Museveni said on Thursday that he supports the legislation but has requested some modifications from parliament, including provisions to "rehabilitate" gay people before he signs it. Staff at the shelter, a nondescript building in…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Why working as a journalist in Uganda is particularly tough

MEDIA FREEDOM

UGANDAN journalists are subject to state intimidation and violence almost on a daily basis. During the recent presidential elections, media crews covering opposition candidates – often in protective gear – were targets of physical assault for weeks. In one of the more egregious acts, journalists were beaten outside a United Nations compound in the capital Kampala while covering a post-election story – sparking international outrage. Authors KAREN MCINTYRE, Assistant Professor, Journalism and Director of Graduate Studies, Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture, Virginia Commonwealth University MEGHAN SOBEL COHEN, Associate Professor, Department of Communication and the Master of Development…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

For Ugandan activist, COVID curbs set new hurdle in climate fight

ENVIRONMENT

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA IN a run-down residential compound in Kampala, Vanessa Nakate thrusts her fist in the air as she rallies 30 young demonstrators to defend their planet against climate change. "What do we want?" she shouts, to a ragged chorus of "climate justice". The youngest protester, two-year-old Manvir Ssozi, sucks his thumb as he flaps a placard that reads: "Money will be ... useless on a dead planet." Nakate's demonstration in the Ugandan capital is part of a global day of youth action against climate change inspired by Sweden's Greta Thunberg. A wiry and vivacious 23-year-old, Nakate founded a climate…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

How we’re measuring air quality in Kampala – and why it works for African cities

AFRICITIES

ENGINEER BAINOMUGISHA, Associate Professor, Makerere University IN Uganda, even though air pollution is a big challenge in parts of the country, there is hardly any air quality monitoring. Engineer Bainomugisha – along with other scientists at Makerere University – has developed a machine that monitors air quality. He explains how it works, and why it’s so important. What are the main drivers of air pollution in Kampala and are there any indications of how bad it is? Generally, I would say the main drivers of air pollution in Kampala are transport, industry, burning of wood or charcoal and burning of…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Projects to transform Kampala

AFRICITIES

UGANDAN President Yoweri Museveni has launched two major projects that are set to transform the country’s capital Kampala. Museveni officiated at the launch of the Kasubi Market, in central Kampala and later presided over the start of a major infrastructure project. “ As part of efforts to make Kampala a more organised city, I presided over the commissioning of the new Kasubi Market and the launch of construction works on the Lubigi and Nakamiro drainage channels “Kasubi Market will house over 1,400 traders though currently only 800 are using it because of SOPs on social distancing. With this facility functional,…