Our fifth post in an ongoing series.

The Roundup:

Examinations begin for students in Senior Four and Senior Six, with a full breakdown here

Earlier this month, Uganda celebrated 51 years of independence: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Eventful-week-as-Uganda-turns-51/-/2558/2019758/-/g3k0wz/-/index.html

The presidential adviser on political affairs, David Mafabi has called for a national consensus on how to tackle land disputes in the country in order to spur economic development: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/648008-national-consensus-to-solve-land-conflicts.html

The Uganda Science Education Programme (USEP) has launched an academic progressive score card to monitor the quality of science learning and teaching in secondary schools: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/648465-uganda-science-education-programme-launches-score-card.html

Identity in Contemporary Art Practice in Africa and the Diaspora: http://www.anotherafrica.net/art-culture/to-be-or-not-to-be-african-is-that-even-the-question

The LRA Crisis Tracker’s Mid-Year Security Brief claims that active combatants are ‘tired of killing’: http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27850:kony-rebels-tired-of-killing-new-report&catid=34:news&Itemid=114

Can Radios Stop the Lord’s Resistance Army in Congo?: http://africanarguments.org/2013/10/10/can-radios-stop-the-lords-resistance-army-in-congo-by-scott-ross/

Ivory beyond the LRA: why a broader focus is needed in studying poaching: http://africanarguments.org/2013/09/17/ivory-beyond-the-lra-why-a-broader-focus-is-needed-in-studying-poaching-by-kristof-titeca/


Happy Reading!

Our fourth post in an ongoing series.

The Roundup:

The National Teachers’ Union called for a nationwide strike among primary and secondary school teachers, Museveni meets MPs over the strike, Minister of Education interviews about the strike, and an agreement reached Sept 26 (government says called off, strikers say suspended)

An overview of the Sept. teacher’s strike: http://www.independent.co.ug/news/news-analysis/8264-teachers-strike

OpEd on the strike and the state of primary schools in Uganda: http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27788:is-government-serious-about-education-&catid=37:guest-writers&Itemid=66

The railway that runs through northern Uganda is being utilized for the first time in two decades since it was abandoned due to frequent LRA attacks, with many hoping it will bring a boost in regional trade

A new O'level curriculum to be introduced in 2017 will focus on Life Education: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/647677-new-o-level-curriculum-to-focus-on-life-education.html

Tenants in Gulu face forced eviction at Uganda Railways Corporation quarters: http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Tension-as-tenants-face-eviction-in-Gulu/-/688342/2004354/-/1ersu1z/-/index.html

Makerere evening classes under threat: http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27629&Itemid=114


Happy reading!

Our third post in an ongoing series.

The Roundup

Talks begin again with striking lecturers at Makerere University, lecturers reject government offer, MP Reagan Okumu responds to his northern district’s teachers after President Museveni makes derogatory remarks to teachers, strike is called off after lecturers agree to 70% pay raise

Lecturers will work longer hours as a result of the settlement between Makerere employees and the University: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/646719-makerere-lecturers-to-work-more-hours.html

The Malaise of Makerere: Underfunding, Overcrowding, Strikes: http://gga.org/analysis/the-malaise-of-makerere-underfunding-overcrowding-strikes

Students protest the Public Order Management Bill in response to a police vow to block even home meetings as Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister meets with Ambassadors to explain the implications of the Bill

The New York Times Magazine features a collection of photo scraps from Gulu Real Art Studio, and History in Progress Uganda shares Nigerian curator Bisi Silva’s challenging reflection

Student loans bill details revealed: http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27242:student-loans-bill-details-revealed&catid=34:news&Itemid=114

The International Day Against Enforced Disappearances on August 30th carries difficult memories for northern Uganda: http://www.irinnews.org/report/98669/uganda-struggles-to-come-to-terms-with-its-disappeared

Questions arise over the fairness of land disclosures as Uganda expands its oil industry: http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27066:oil-payments-affected-people-feel-cheated

A successful end to Uganda’s first film festival hopes to enliven an industry that may provide new avenues for self-representation


Happy reading!

Our second post in an ongoing series.

The Roundup

Makerere University strike turns to an indefinite closure, police took over the property, staff and the Government respond

Norbert Mao, Ugandan DP leader, and the UN, among many others, condemn the passing of The Public Order Management Bill, which restricts political conversations between three or more individuals without government permission.

Historicizing the Public Order Management Bill just passed in Uganda: http://angeloizama.com/2013/08/06/musical-chairs-history-amin-and-public-order-in-uganda/

Makerere students protest the Public Order Management Bill and the larger context of a now-shutdown Makerere University: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/13+Makerere++Kyambogo+students+held+over+demo/-/688334/1960052/-/drp8ru/-/index.html

Higher Education Bill tabled: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Higher+education+loans+bill+tabled/-/688334/1962248/-/15hkh9d/-/index.html

Uncertainty for Victoria University students after its accreditation was suspended in response to legislation proposed to further criminalize homosexuality in Uganda: http://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/What+next+for+Victoria+University+students+/-/691232/1960390/-/h74hui/-/index.html

Students develop an app for pain-free malaria tests: http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/08/ugandan-app-for-pain-free-malaria-test/

Kyambogo University loses land to developer: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Kyambogo+University+loses+land+to+developer/-/688334/1961798/-/ro7yl9z/-/index.html

A coalition of 40 civil-society groups petition the Speaker of Parliament over maternal deaths:http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/645883-kadaga-petitioned-over-maternal-deaths.html

Students win the top prize at Orange’s Community Innovations Award competition for their app sharing agricultural information across Uganda: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/645889-students-create-agro-market-mobile-app-in-orange-competition.html
 
Happy reading!

We believe in easy, open access to information. Keeping up to speed with developments in a field - especially one with which you may not otherwise be connected - is no easy task. With these two premises in mind we are inaugurating a new series of updates, a news roundup of sorts that will share what we’re reading and thinking about at the moment. Links are by no means endorsements; instead, they serve as entry points to a larger conversation we hope you will join.

This will be the beginning of an ongoing series of posts collecting news, commentary, and other media relevant to the work that we do. We’ll link mostly to education and (post) conflict related issues in northern Uganda and the region more broadly with other, related stories occasionally interspersed.  We hope to serve as a forum for collecting what often feels like an overwhelming amount of information, highlighting what we’re reading in a given week or month in an easily digestible format.

Think we missed an important piece in the roundup? Let us know in the comments!
 

The Roundup:

Commentary (and dissenting voices) on a new, much-discussed report by Resolve on a weakened LRA: http://www.irinnews.org/report/98509/lra-weaker-than-it-has-been-in-at-least-20-years

Government to charge interest on student loans: http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26111&Itemid=114

The World Bank makes a significant policy shift and emphasizes the need for investment in higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/644758-university-education-the-new-world-bank-darling.html

Commentary on Caesar Acellam’s June 28th public address, including his story of defection: http://justiceinconflict.org/2013/07/31/a-rebels-escape-an-lra-commander-tells-his-story/

Ugandan Army accused of land grabbing in Lamwo District: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Army-accused-of-grabbing-graves/-/688334/1930960/-/12t1u9f/-/index.html

President Museveni warns teachers against participating in a planned, nation-wide strike: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/644982-don-t-strike-museveni-tells-teachers.html

Government embarks on expanding six universities and two degree-awarding institutions: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/644811-govt-to-expand-universities.html

Makerere Students Win Microsoft Women’s Empowerment Award: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307190079.html

Dr. Alcinda Honwana on “Youth, Waithood, and Protest Movements in Africa” (full transcript and introductory remarks for the International Africa Institute’s 2013 Lugard Lecture): http://www.internationalafricaninstitute.org/lugard.html

 
Happy reading!