COLUMNISTS

By Marino Xanthos Current usage patterns of so-called `petroleum-based commodity thermoplastics’ are not sustainable Plastics are everywhere. Whether used to store leftovers, keep hospital equipment sterile, or insulate a home, plastics are unmatched for their adaptability, durability, and low cost. Given their seemingly boundless benefits, it is unsurprising that plastics …

By Kavuma-Kaggwa With his military background assured, it is only the democratic political plan missing for him to climb to the top Since the meteoric rise to the military rank of Brigadier General in Uganda’s National Army, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is now the topic …

By Cissy Kagaba The national ID scandal is one of those things that depict how deep corruption has become entrenched in our system. It exposes the levels to which our leaders will go to take the citizenry for granted.  The ID scandal had been on-going for some time without government …

By Naomi Wolf Redressing women’s underrepresentation in land ownership and politics requires individualised leadership and skills training Is it always offensive to advise women to change something about themselves in order to ensure that they can achieve their goals? To suggest the need for any self-scrutiny on women’s part is …

By Harold Brown The US is reducing defense spending and will likely avoid commitments of military forces in Africa The European Union already faces considerable risks concerning its structure, uncertain economic recovery, north-south imbalances, and British ambivalence about membership. Exposure to bad outcomes in Africa, with its myriad security problems, …

By Charles Onyango-Obbo The normal, the unusual, and very strange things about Kenya election Kenya went to the polls on March 4. It was the first election under the new and quite liberal constitution that was adopted in August 2010. For Ugandans seeking to understand how the election played out, …

By Andrew M. Mwenda In his willingness to change his mind in the face of new facts, he embodied the finest traits of intellectual self-confidence I spent most of Saturday March 2 night staring at my computer at home trying to write an obituary of the First Deputy Prime Minister …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Becoming the 1st revolutionary leader to leave voluntarily On February 8, 2012, Rwanda’s ruling party, the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) held a meeting attended by over 2,000 delegates. At that conference, President Paul Kagame introduced two subjects: the challenges facing the country from the international community’s …

By Andrew M. Mwenda The decision on whether Kagame stays or retires may be in the hands of international organisations The fortunes of a nation, especially a poor one, are determined not only by its leaders and people but also by the interests and whims of powerful nations. This fact …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Why the president must be happy with the current debate between him and his leading critic I have been following with keen interest the debate in the press between President Yoweri Museveni and opposition leader and activist, Dr. Kizza Besigye. From the standpoint of a democratic …