What Uganda’s current and future politicians can learn from the life and character of Mzee Byanyima Although I knew he was old (at 96) and was aware of his declining health I was still shocked when I heard the news of the death of Mzee Boniface Byanyima. I have …
Read More »THE LAST WORD: A giant retires
What Uganda’s current and future politicians can learn from the life and character of Mzee Byanyima By Andrew M. Mwenda Although I knew he was old (at 96) and was aware of his declining health I was still shocked when I heard the news of the death of Mzee …
Read More »THE LAST WORD: The logic of Besigye’s claims
What psychology tells us about FDC’s claims to have won last year’s presidential election By Andrew M. Mwenda This column is a logical thought experiment. Recently, opposition presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye, claimed on a television show that he won the last presidential elections and that he has evidence to …
Read More »THE LAST WORD: On Museveni and Stella Nyanzi
How the detention and trial of a Makerere academic exposes the moral bankruptcy of Uganda’s elites By Andrew M. Mwenda Dr. Stella Nyanzi, an academic at Makerere University, has been jailed for using foul language to criticise President Yoweri Museveni and his wife, Janet. It is permissible to call the …
Read More »MWENDA: Gossip dies when it hits a wise person’s ears!
MWENDA: Gossip dies when it hits a wise person’s ears! BE THAT WISE PERSON ON THIS, LABOUR DAY In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?” …
Read More »THE LAST WORD: Uganda’s declining growth
Why we need to think of how to develop national capacity to manage our economy By Andrew M. Mwenda Uganda is going through the worst economic performance since 1987 when the government of President Yoweri Museveni began liberal economic reform. In the first quarter of this financial year, the …
Read More »THE LAST WORD: The problem with term limits
As Sierra Leone’s president seeks to amend the constitution and extend his presidency, it is time for Africa to pause and reflect By Andrew M. Mwenda The president of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, wants to amend the constitution and remove term limits on the presidency. Koroma is not the …
Read More »THE LAST WORD: On Museveni-Besigye talks
How the opposition leader has blundered on the chance to promote his political project – if he has any By Andrew M. Mwenda Media reports have recently indicated there are attempts to organise talks between the government and the opposition. For such talks to be meaningful, they have to involve …
Read More »THE LAST WORD: Manufacturing still matters
Why very few poor countries will escape poverty by taking gigantic leaps into the service industry By Andrew M. Mwenda Two weeks ago, I had a disagreement with the president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, at a conference in Kigali, Rwanda. Kim had argued that increasing automation and …
Read More »COMMENT: Why ‘Buy Uganda’ is bad deal
By eyeing government contracts, potentially game-changing policy locks out general public solidarity with business I have a confession to make. I love mangoes. They are as sweet to look at as they are sweet to taste. Whether arranged in the cool aisles of supermarkets, on neat stalls of town markets, …
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