Why many of our politicians go broke after leaving cabinet even though we think they are rich THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Last week, media reported that former Deputy Prime Minister, Henry Kajura, is in financial trouble. Three years after leaving cabinet, he is losing his …
Read More »The politics of Uganda’s healthcare
Why our hospitals lack ambulances as public officials indulge themselves in fancy four-wheel drive vehicles THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Last week someone close to me had a medical emergency in Mubende referral hospital. A child died inside the womb of his fiancé. The only ambulance the …
Read More »Population data, demographic dividend and tax collection key for Uganda’s economic growth
COMMENT | Ndereya Besi | This week, Uganda plays host to two African conferences. First, the 8th African Population Conference (APC) and the 4th International Conference on tax in Africa. APC is organized in conjunction with National Population Secretariat and supported by the Union of African Population Council in conjunction with United Nations Fund …
Read More »‘Sophia tye kwene?’
Where is Sophia? A mother’s cry of despair and her unwavering search for her missing daughter COMMENT | Marije Slijkerman | October 28, 2019, marks four years without Sophia. Our lovely, smart, strong-willed, lively, cheerful, ambitious and beautiful daughter and sister. It is unreal, incomprehensible, unacceptable and unbearable. It is said …
Read More »A frank memo to the youths
Why young people in East Africa should stop agonising and begin organising THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | This week I was in Arusha Tanzania to speak at a conference of youths from East Africa organised by YouLead. They came bustling with the energy and zest. I was …
Read More »COMMENT: Why Africa smiles
Generosity is one of the key components of Africa’s community life COMMENT | Vanessa Kimuri & Julius Domba | Africa is largely considered an evincible inferior continent by many; and poor. Most people appreciate the high levels of material poverty that strike the lives of the Africans unfavourably across the continent. …
Read More »Uganda’s democratic delusions
How Museveni, Besigye and Bobi Wine are birds of a feather that only fly apart THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | This week, the state brought out the full power of riot police to bear on opposition activist, Dr. Kizza Besigye. Using water cannons, they took direct …
Read More »Against privileges for a few
Why Makerere University students (and lecturers) do not need or deserve special treatment THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | The strike by Makerere University students over a 15% increase in fees, actually based on a recommendation by the Students Guild, has dominated media for a week. The government …
Read More »Inside Europe’s savior complex
How Western efforts to remake Africa have changed from colonialism to international development assistance THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Last week, I was invited to speak on international development assistance (foreign aid) at the geopolitical conference at Makerere University organised by the French embassy and the …
Read More »Sudan’s next disaster
THE LAST WORD: Why the plan to hand Bashir over to the ICC is misguided and will likely be counterproductive THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | The new government of Sudan has given a major indication that it will hand its former president, Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, …
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