COLUMNISTS

By Angela Merkel and François Hollande A call for a fundamental shift to low-carbon infrastructure, technologies, land use France, incoming Presidency of COP 21, and Germany, Presidency of the G 7, are firmly decided to take all efforts to reach an ambitious, comprehensive and binding UN climate agreement by the …

By Christine Mungai Weighing in on Africa’s troubles with democracy and prosperity I once heard a saying that if elders are having a serious meeting and a little boy wanders too close by, the old men will chase him away faster than his legs can carry him. But if a …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Exposing the hidden bias behind our obsession with Western goodness and Africa’s dysfunctions The greatest triumph of the colonial state was not the integration of our economies and social/political systems into the international capitalism system. That could have been achieved without colonialism and via free trade. …

By Patrick Kagenda Son of founding father promises to return party to `sound footing’ Two weeks after he was allowed to contest for the party presidency, Jimmy Akena appears set to follow in the footsteps of his father, UPC founding father and two time former Uganda president; the late Milton …

By Ian Ortega To love the President, we must close one eye to his failures and open both to his achievements Every person has a utopia that they create in their minds. Deep in their minds though, it doesn’t seem one, it seems achievable. Yet, when the winds of reality …

By Andrew M. Mwenda What FDC needs to do to reinvent itself and generate morale among its supporters After his defeat in this month’s elections, Ed Miliband did the honourable thing and resigned the leadership of the British Labor Party. Miliband followed an evolving tradition of unsuccessful political party leaders …

By Charles Onyango-Obbo About free markets, democracy, and why world peace might be bad I am writing this letter directly to you Andrew Mwenda. First, to say, I am glad that you are now like the prodigal son who is – kind of – returning home.  For a few years …

By Andrew M. Mwenda The argument sounds attractive, but the numbers and the history of nationalisation say different Recently, media reports indicated that government of Uganda would like to buy Bujagali dam from Bujagali Electricity Limited (BEL). This follows recent trends by the state to own and manage the main …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How the current crisis in Burundi is likely to ignite a regional conflagration Pierre Nkurunziza wants to remain president of Burundi. His opponents don’t want him to. Nkurinziza says the constitution allows him another term in office. His opponents say the Arusha Accords, which formed the …

By Patrick Kagenda That outgoing UPC party president Olara Otunnu has an unusual approach to Ugandan politics is an open secret. Still, observers have said, his announcement on May 18 that the party was extending an olive branch to party stalwart Jimmy Akena and other contenders who had missed the …