In The Magazine

COMMENT | DAVID LUKE | African governments are seeking an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beyond 2025. The law was enacted in 2000 to “encourage increased trade and investment between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa”. The Conversation asked David Luke, who specialises in African trade policy …

New focus is on the economy, instead of civil and political rights Kampala, Uganda | DICTA ASIIMWE | For years, Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has produced annual reports with various variations of this excerpt from its 2020 report: “The government was reluctant to investigate, prosecute, or punish officials who committed …

President said Africa should go to this high-level meeting with a common message on developing the continent’s energy needs Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | President Yoweri Museveni has advocated for a collective African voice at the upcoming climate change meeting in the United Arab Emirates, emphasizing the importance of articulating …

Justice Minister Mao leads outcry at Human Rights Convention COVER STORY | IAN KATUSIIME | A legislator lying frail on a hospital bed after a long detention. UP to 32 political prisoners charged in the General Court Martial. Thousands unaccounted for after abductions. A tough law against homosexuality. An American couple …

Uganda’s lost opportunities at next year’s big international conferences and what can be done to salvage the situation THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | January next year, Uganda will host two big international conferences back-to-back: the Nonaligned Movement (NAM) summit and the Group of 77 (G77) summit. This is an important …

Zimbabwe’s renowned stone sculpture tradition dates back to Great Zimbabwe, a mediaeval city known for its iconic stone walls, and from which Zimbabwe derives its name. Dominic Benhura has made a livelihood from his translations of this tradition, since the age of ten. ART | BIRD AGENCY | Armed with a small …

UHRC shouldn’t be lamenting like the rest of us about human rights violators when it can bring them to order COMMENT | PETER NYANZI | I read Uganda Human Rights Commission Boss Mariam Wangadya’s article titled, ‘Let’s depoliticise human rights’ (New Vision, October 26), with mixed feelings. Of course given that …

When governments make nationalist mistakes, it is primarily their own people who pay the price COMMENT | DANI RODRIK | With the United States leading the way, the world seems to be entering a new era of economic nationalism, as many countries prioritise their domestic social, economic, and environmental agendas over …

Both Arabs and Israelis must think carefully about what their policies and actions are likely to accomplish COMMENT | MUHANNAD ALAZZEH | The October 7 Hamas attack and Israel’s remorseless military response have once again revived a seemingly unending cycle of violence in the Middle East. As matters stand, there are …

Traditional perinatal care workers save lives and shouldn’t be marginalised Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Governments should review their positions on traditional birth attendants and recognise and support their work, including by ensuring they are paid and resourced adequately. That is the position of the international research and advocacy NGO, …