Why the recent state brutality towards opposition politicians and journalists should make us revisit liberal traditions THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The 19th century cartoon character, pot-bellied bourgeoisie Monsieur Prudhomme, carried a large sword with a double intent: primarily to defend the republic against it enemies, and secondarily, …
Read More »The disintegration of the FDC
Why liberal minded Ugandans should celebrate the breakup of FDC and rally behind its enlightened leaders THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The inevitable is happening. Uganda’s largest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), is breaking up. Twenty two out of its 36 Members of Parliament (MPs) …
Read More »Uganda’s incompetence paradox part2
How Uganda performs well in spite of corruption and incompetence and what it teaches us THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | In 2013 I wrote an article with exactly this headline, the reason this is named “Part2”. It was about how the state in Uganda exhibits gross corruption and …
Read More »Africa over the last 30 years
Why the claim that our continent’s problems are caused by “poor governance” is a lot of baloney THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | I have just re-read the 1989 report of the World Bank titled “Sub Saharan Africa: From Crisis to Sustainable Development.” It is a rich document in terms …
Read More »Our nation’s next disaster
How the re-launch of Uganda Airlines is most likely going to bring our country to tears – unless THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The decision by Uganda government to re-establish a state-run airline is a strategic blunder. More than two decades ago, Uganda took a strategic decision to …
Read More »In defence of social media tax
THE LAST WORD: Why taxing mobile money and social media is a politically revolutionary act that may help improve our democracy THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Since government introduced a tax on mobile money and social media, there has been deafening opposition to it from every …
Read More »Museveni leadership of economy
THE LAST WORD: How the president’s successful economic stewardship is now in the past with little direction on the future THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | President Yoweri Museveni has been named 12th among 24 leaders globally whose individual contribution has had a significant positive impact on their …
Read More »Kayihura’s road to jail
KAYIHURA: How the former IGP became a victim of his own success, internal power struggles and changing geopolitics THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kale Kayihura, was the longest servicing officer in a top and sensitive security position under President Yoweri …
Read More »Uganda’s crime outrage
THE LAST WORD: How to renew our nation’s security architecture to cope with the new challenges of murder and kidnapping THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | The cold bloodied murder of Arua Municipality Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Abiriga, has reignited the debate on security in Uganda. Throughout last year, it …
Read More »Inside NRM’s Rukungiri debacle
How the bye-election shows us that Besigye is the best ally in Museveni’s pursuit of power THE LAST WORD |Andrew M. Mwenda | Last week, NRM lost a bye-election in Rukungiri in spite of (and I think also because of) deploying all its resources in the area. The …
Read More »