COLUMNISTS

By Andrew M.Mwenda If you criticise the opposition about their lack of an alternative policy, they do not present it, they instead accuse you of having been bought by the President.  A striking feature of intellectual life in Uganda is the paradox of political debate; the country is at once …

By Bob A. Kasango Whether Gaddafi outlives the NATO airstrikes or not, he is the wrong man for Libya and Africa must ask him to go as they ask NATO to stop the shelling. Rebel leaders rejected a plan presented by the African Union (AU) for a ceasefire and an end to …

By Andrew M.Mwenda Forgive a public servant who delivers a quality product even if he violated 100% procedural rules but punish one who follows every rule and gives a bad product. In this column last week, I argued that the various institutions mandated to exercise oversight functions on the executive …

By Morrison Rwakakamba In due honesty, the hoe will and can never transform agriculture in Uganda but tractors will. The Uganda 2011/2012 budget has been exhaustively discussed, debated and reflected on in the wider media, blog dashboards, twitter, facebook, trading centres, bars, wedding meetings, saunas and sports clubs etc. Ugandans …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Since 1996, it has become hard for the government to initiate and implement a big development project because of power struggles. The contest for political power in Uganda between President Yoweri Museveni and the opposition largely led by Dr Kizza Besigye has become so intense that …

By Bob A. Kasango While not very skilled in political persuasion, he is a prolific political operator combining charm, cunning and ruthlessness. The appointment of Kinkizi West MP John Patrick Amama Mbabazi as  Prime Minister has attracted wide political debate and commentary. Prof. George Kanyeihamba believes Mbabazi will be powerless as a …

By Andrew M. Mwenda In 2005 Museveni gave Shs5m to each MP to remove presidential term limits; in 2010, he paid Shs20m per MP to pass the Cultural Leaders Bill. Last week, I was in Johannesburg to attend a World Bank conference on the South-South dialogue on natural resources. I …

By Kisembo Elia The spiritual aspects that informed the NRM ideological commitment to the people’s plight is being eroded. Africa is a continent that did not form a political and economic   ideology of its own in the recent past.  The political and economic ideologies that we use were just imposed …

By Bob A. Kasango Upon his return from Nairobi, Besigye made remarks that violated most if not all the standards for responsible opposition. The call by Dr Kizza Besigye upon his return from Nairobi, for his supporters to continue with the “Walk to Work” protests gets one thinking about the …

By Andrew M. Mwenda If individual ability and the right circumstances are necessary but not sufficient for success, what else is needed? Recently, I chanced upon a documentary on Discovery Channel titled “Altered Statesmen” and featuring British World War II hero, Winston Churchill. It is a story of alternative history. …