COLUMNISTS

By Andrew M. Mwenda Finally, the dust has settled over the death and burial of Michael Jackson. Throughout his career, Jackson fought two battles; one with himself, the other with general societal norms. The battle within himself was an attempt to discover the childhood denied to him by his father’s …

By Patrick Matsiko wa Mucoori Whatever clucks and walks like a duck is always a duck even by another name. No matter whether the UPDF calls itself a disciplined pro-people’s army or defender of human rights, it will always be more known by its actions than its words. In April …

 By Andrew M. Mwenda In the 1997/98 budget, government allocated Shs 200 billion to education; in the 2009/10 budget, Shs 1.1 trillion. Although the budget for education has grown fivefold in twelve years, there is little (save for a spike in student enrolment and new buildings) to show for it. …

By Patrick Matsiko Wa Mucoori The year is 2011 and the number of districts in Uganda has hit 150 and is still growing. The opposition and civil society are foaming at the mouth about the government’s increasing public expenditure on administration when social services have totally shrunk and decayed. There …

By Andrew M. Mwenda For three weeks now, Western media have covered the elections and resultant demonstration in Iran with unparalleled zeal. But the reporting has been a one sided affair without even the slightest attempt to show balance. The partisan way they have covered the opposition to the complete …

By The Independent Team 19th April, 2009 His ExceIIency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President, Republic of Uganda. Your Excellency, RE: DELAY IN AMENDING THE ELECTORAL LAWS I salute you Mr President. I am addressing you on the above subject as a matter of extreme concern for peace and stability of our …

By Mubatsi Asinja Habati In November, 1999, President Museveni ordered the police to arrest homosexuals after it was alleged that two gay men had wedded in a Kampala suburb. Religious leaders welcomed the president’s directive, insisting that homosexuality is not only against the biblical teachings but it goes against African …

By Obed K. Katureebe ‘Your Excellency, we are aware that it is the Committee of the Prerogative of Mercy that advises you on such matters. We take this occasion and opportunity to appeal for your attention for the plight of John Sanyu Katuramu as it is a matter which touches …

By Bob Roberts Katende After the death of the Omukama of Toro kingdom, Patrick Olimi Kaboyo, in 1993, disagreements rocked the monarchy over the management of the kingdom’s property. The ensuing battle pitted the kingdom’s Prime Minister John Katuramu against the royals, especially prince Happy Kijanangoma and princess Elizabeth Bagaya. …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Writing about the 2009/10 budget in this column last week, I argued that Uganda has achieved allocative efficiency without realising technical efficiency. The result: Although large sums of the budget are allocated to priority sectors like health, education, infrastructure and energy, these funds are diverted by …