It points to political class bent on retaining power | DAVID E KIWUWA | Elections are the quintessential arbiter of political contestation within democratic countries. This is a path Tanzania has followed for the past 25 years, since it first held its first multiparty elections in 1995. But elections are …
Read More »America’s history of contested presidential elections results
From Samuel Tilden to Al Gore | ROBERT SPEEL | As states continued to count their ballots in the 2020 election, it seemed possible that Democrats and Republicans would end up in court over whether President Trump won a second term in the White House. President Trump had said he’s …
Read More »Police violence scares voters
So why does President Museveni ignore it? Uganda, Uganda | MUBATSI ASINJA HABATI | Since scenes of violence being meted out in broad daylight against the most prominent presidential candidates challenging President Yoweri Museveni, most commentators and analysts have said the violence sets stage for the 2021 elections. Presidential nominees …
Read More »New art residence opens in Kampala
Artists in residence given opportunity for self- discovery and sale art Kampala, Uganda | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | A new artists- residency has opened its doors in Kampala. It is a product of Afriart gallery, running under the Silhouette Projects, an incubator platform of the gallery. It is a unique venture …
Read More »Tondeka bus company owners sign new deal
But missed milestones signal more bumps on the road Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Tondeka Metro Company (TMC) which wants to introduce public transport buses in the Kampala city metropolitan area has signed an operating management contract with Rose Hill Transport (RHT) Holding Ltd of Mauritius. Under the …
Read More »Money and Politics Friends or Foes?
Examining the relationship between money and politics during elections in African countries and measures that could be put in place to eliminate inappropriate use of public money or fundraising from questionable sources NEW ANALYSIS | MATHIAS HOUNKPE AND OLIVIER BUCYANA | Since the 1980s and early 90s the majority of …
Read More »Money talks in American elections
Big business, political strategy and corporate involvement | RICHARD A. DEVINE AND MICHEAL HOLMES | Political spending by corporations is big business. As one corporate executive with experience in business-government relations says, “A company that is dependent on government that does not donate to politicians is engaging in corporate malpractice.” …
Read More »WTO: Okonjo-Iweala facing block from US
Unclear if move is attempt to sabotage trade body much criticised by Trump | THE INDEPENDENT | The U.S. is blocking the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the next head of the World Trade Organization despite the former finance minister of Nigeria winning the overwhelming backing of the WTO’s 164 …
Read More »Civil society proposals for revamping the economy
Reforms cover public debt, interest rates, taxation and public spending Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | A group of civil society organisations under their umbrella organization Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) have presented a list of budget proposals to government that they think can jumpstart the economy that has …
Read More »An evolutionary jolt helped cattle to spread across Africa
Now genetics must make them more productive | OLIVIER HANOTTE | African cattle breeds are astonishingly diverse, and often quite beautiful. They range from the dark-red Ankole of southern Uganda, with their massive heat-dissipating horns, to the Boran which thrive in the dusty plains of northern Kenya, to Ethiopia’s sturdy …
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