By John Stephen Katende

10^th January 2011

Judgment Day: Voters line up to vote in Juba

The people of Sudan have embarked on a week-long referendum vote process that many analysts believe is likely to result in independence for Southern Sudan; thus splitting Africa’s biggest country in two.

Voting kicked off on Sunday 9^th January.  Early reports from Juba, the likely capital of an independent South Sudan, indicate that the turnout has been good.  Thousands have been lining up for hours to be among the first to vote on their region’s independence. (more…)

By Timothy Nsubuga

10^th January 2011

Dr. Kizza Besigye with NRM defectors in Gulu

A sizeable number of NRM supporters from the northern Uganda district of Gulu abandoned their candidate incumbent President Yoweri Museveni last week and defected to Dr. Kizza Besigye’s Inter Party Cooperation [IPC].

Dressed in candidate Museveni’s yellow “Pakalast” campaign T-Shirts, the defecting NRM supporters, (more…)

By George Murumba

10^th January 2011

Museveni: Backs South Sudan independence

President Yoweri Museveni has come clean and thrown his weight behind Southern Sudan’s desire to break away from President Bashir’s north to form Africa’s newest nation.

President Museveni’s remarks came a day before the people of South Sudan started voting in a referendum that analysts say will almost certainly lead to the birth of an independent South Sudan.

Asked by the BBC’s Joseph Warungu if (more…)

By Dennis Otim

10^th January 2011

Lt. Col. Kulaigye, despised by Ugandans

An overwhelming number of Observer newspaper’s online readers have attacked the UPDF and Defence Spokesperson Lt. Col. Felix Kulaigye for his political attack on IPC presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye.

In his opinion article “UPDF despises Besigye’s political bankruptcy” published on 2^nd January 2011, Kulaigye said the UPDF will “…not remain neutral when blatant lies are told by those in the know to those that don’t know”. (more…)

By Sharon S. Tibenda

3^rd January 2011

Buganda Kabaka waving a dummy key

The Kabaka of Buganda, His Highness Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, may have used the New Year celebrations that he presided over at Lubiri to send a silent but clear 2011 election directive to his subjects the Baganda, an analyst has said.

During the New Year celebrations at Lubiri, several religious leaders took to the podium to condemn the incessant socio-political injustices that they said have been (more…)

By Dr. Kizza Besigye

3^rd January 2011

Dr. Besigye with FDC's Key symbol

Fellow Ugandans, allow me, on behalf of IPC, FDC, and on behalf of my own family, to extend to you a warm and heartfelt message of peace, goodwill, happiness and above all, hope of a better future as we enter 2011.

As we get into the New Year, let’s think about the oppressed, disease-ridden, fear-filled, hungry, and downtrodden people in our society as a result of the wasted years of the NRM regime.

Our suffering brothers and sisters that we think about today (more…)

By Timothy Nsubuga

3^rd January 2011

M/s Wokuri

The Inter Party Cooperation [IPC], a potent political force of four opposition parties which is confident of winning the elections next month, has hit back at what it called the ‘senseless arrogance’ of Museveni’s personal attacks on Dr. Kizza Besigye over oil.

While campaigning in Rukungiri on 27^th December, President Museveni is reported to have said:  “…I can’t leave the seat when we have just discovered those resources like oil.  And if I am to leave, I will look for someone in NRM to take care of them”. (more…)

By John Stephen Katende

3^rd January 2011

Defeated Gbagbo

All Ambassadors who were appointed by and were serving at the pleasure of the defeated Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo in European countries have been ‘de-recognised’ and deemed illegitimate.

Laurent Gbagbo, who is widely believed to have lost the presidential contest to Mr. Alassane Ouattara, has since refused to hand over power.  His decision to cling to power has attracted wide condemnation from African and world political leaders.

FDC Party President Dr. Kizza Besigye was among (more…)