How our country has descended into the ideology of a nanny state that is ruining youths THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | There has grown and consolidated a depressing mindset in our country that for anything good to happen, government must be the one to do it. This mindset …
Read More »Uganda’s constitution in perspective
What makes successful laws and why some are easily violated and others upheld THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | This week, I watched a 2013 video clip of Prof. Joe Oloka-Onyango talking about constitutionalism in Uganda. In a very eloquent speech, he decried the continued defilement of Uganda’s constitution. …
Read More »The future of liberal democracy
Why efforts to export liberal democracy abroad are likely to undermine it at home – in the West THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | On September 25th, Italy held an election, which was won by the center-right coalition led by Giorgia Melon’s Brothers of Italy, a radical right-wing political …
Read More »The Lee Kuan Yew myth
Why I think Singapore would have transformed even with a less able leader THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | There is a widespread myth that Lee Kuan Yew, the legendary prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990, was singularly responsible for the transformation of that island city-state …
Read More »A return to Rwanda Part 3
Why the way Rwandans tend to public spaces with dedication and care shows they see their country as something precious and reflective of their identity THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | When you visit Rwanda, the very first impression you get (as you drive from the airport to …
Read More »A return to Rwanda – Part 2
In Rwanda’s case, here was a man (Kagame) willing to impose harsh discipline on his lieutenants. They were willing to accept it because the alternative of living forever as refugees was not appealing to most of them THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M MWENDA | Post genocide Rwanda is …
Read More »A return to Rwanda
Revisiting a country whose development trajectory and welfare outcomes defy historic precedents THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | On October 15th, I travelled to Kigali, Rwanda. It was my first time to visit the country since October 2018. I had little time to visit places to see the …
Read More »Uganda’s inflation a fetish
Why government policy to control inflation at 5% under whatever circumstances is misguided THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | A fetish is an inanimate object (like a small stone or wood curving of something like an animal) that is worshipped for its supposed magical powers. That is what …
Read More »Uganda’s inflation a fetish
Why government policy to control inflation at 5% under whatever circumstances is misguided THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | A fetish is an inanimate object (like a small stone or wood curving of something like an animal) that is worshipped for its supposed magical powers. That is what …
Read More »The illusion of free speech
How the war in Ukraine demonstrates the poverty of freedom of the press and speech in Western liberal democracies THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The war between Russia and Ukraine (actually better described as the war between Russia and the Western world in Ukraine) is a classic case study …
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