By Andrew M. Mwenda How realistic is the risk of political upheaval in Africa and what can be done about it? Two weeks ago, I was in Nairobi, Kenya to attend a conference on Africa’s political risk profile. The moderator of the first session posed four questions for discussion: Is …
Read More »Opposition shoots self in foot, again
By Agather Atuhaire Mutual suspicion undoes the fragile unity of the Parliamentary opposition and hands victory to the NRM A conflict between opposition parties Forum for Democratic Change and Democratic Party has destroyed any hope of opposition unity and jeopardized equitable party representation in the East African Legislative Assembly. On …
Read More »A global new deal
By Jomo Kwame Sundaram Public investment and basic social protection can turn around economies by creating millions of jobs Recent political developments, including the defeat of incumbent governments in France and Greece, suggest that the public’s tolerance for economic policies that do not reduce unemployment has collapsed. Indeed, given the …
Read More »The Marketscope (Part 2)
By Dr. Robert Rutaagi Uganda’s competitiveness in the domestic, regional and global markets Niche’ and its adjunctive derivative ‘marketing’ is a terminology that is greatly abused. The word niche is of French origin, meaning “a small hole, in a large wall, usually used to hang a photograph or art craft”. …
Read More »Opinion polls; the bitter truth
By Mubatsi Asinja Habati Research World International (RWI) published its first ever political opinion poll on May 22 which has become controversial. Dr. Patrick Wakida, who is the chief researcher and RWI chief executive, spoke to The Independent’s Mubatsi Asinja Habati. What motivated you to do this political poll? It …
Read More »The politics of opinion polls
By Mubatsi Asinja Habati Hardly two months after an Afrobarometer opinion poll indicted President Yoweri Museveni’s management of Uganda and provoked the ire of First Lady Janet Museveni, another poll has arrived at a similar conclusion: Most Ugandans want the old man out. Near the top of the list of …
Read More »Ssebaana Kizito
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi It’s almost as if he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth The year 198 seems to have been a wrong time to start a business in Uganda. Starting in 1966 or earlier, the economy took a plunge. Many Ugandans, especially professionals, had fled …
Read More »50 years stoking people power
By Rukiya Makuma It is 50 years since Amnesty International, one of the leading international human rights advocates, first started issuing annual reports about the state of human rights in countries around the world. The agency recently issued its 50th report and Michelle Kagari, deputy programme director of Amnesty International …
Read More »Lukwago and NRM finally talk
By Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi As the Lord Mayor attempts to build bridges with the NRM majority in KCCA, his own opposition base is getting nervous Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago seemed to have a clear strategy concerning disagreements over running the city. He would position himself as a pro-people leader …
Read More »Local politics goes to East Africa
By Agather Atuhaire Does NRM’s overwhelming Parliamentary majority give it license to silence other voices in the regional assembly? Uganda’s Parliament risks frustrating commencement of the 3rd East African Legislative Assembly with its unwillingness to implement a ruling of the East African Court of Justice with respect to how Uganda’s …
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