COLUMNISTS

By Simon Peter Kaye Mini-skirt brawls, Gen. Sejusa leaks, gay bashing, teargas, and World Cup in 2014 An in-depth analysis of anticipated trends and phenomena bound to shape Uganda’s socio-economic and political landscape this year reveals some interesting projections. Let me play the oracle and tell you what to expect …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Attempts to make Mandela a secular saint and set his actions apart from the general experience in Africa distort history Two weeks ago, I committed “sacrilege” on my television show on NTV when I said that many of the things former South African president, Nelson Mandela, …

By Haggai Matsiko & Andrew Mwenda Karegeya, Nyamwasa split In mid 2013, the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) had scheduled an election for its leaders in South Africa for Aug 8. However, in the weeks preceding the election, the party experienced infighting and consequently the election was postponed. Two camps had …

By Henry Zakumumpa How poor African countries unwittingly develop rich western countries About three months ago, the local press was awash with reports of a raging debate in parliament about Uganda’s proposed borrowing from China to build the Karuma hydro power dam. The legislators maintained that this would exhaust Uganda’s …

  By Prashant Thakker With forward-looking regulation and technology, MFIs can provide more access to financial services Microfinance is, at its heart, an effort to provide financial services to people who are not served – or are under-served – by the formal banking system. With appropriate, accessible, and fairly priced …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Uganda needs social reform built around collectivities and not another constitution per se The year 2014 is going to be the year that sets the tone for the 2016 elections. The politician with an argument for the future of Uganda is Beti Kamya. She has been …

By Morris DC Komakech Shows how the NRM’s centrist politics undermines the foundation of national sanity The tension rising now in Kampala over the Justice Catherine Bamugemeriere’s report was expected. The KCCA/Tumwebaze Tribunal manufactured prima facie “facts” of misconduct, abuse of office and incompetence upon which the Kampala City Council …

By Werner Bergholz Technology advances have reduced the price of  simple, universal, scalable photovoltaics by as much as 75% An estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide, including 550 million in Africa and 400 million in India, have no access to electricity. Most live in rural areas where the population is sparse …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Why the opposition leader cannot dare seek a compromise with Museveni because he would be accused of selling out Now that we have finished mourning and burying Nelson Mandela, we can celebrate his life by asking ourselves: can opposition leader Kizza Besigye act like him? If …

By William Lacy Swing For several years I have been saying that migration can be summed up by a series of D words: Demographics, Disasters, Demand, Disparities and Dreams. This year I am adding a new D: Desperation. The world watched in horror in October when some 360 African migrants …