By Eric Kabera Critics of Rwandan President Paul Kagame – including complimentary ones – unfailingly cite two flaws: that he is illegitimate because he hails from the minority; two, he is intolerant of freedom of expression. The first charge is easily disposed of. Why for example has no one found …
Read More »Cabinet worried about who Otunnu represents
By Independent Reporter Is he simply the Trojan horse of yet unknown forces? The two-week whirlwind tour of the country by recently returned former UN under-secretary general Olara Otunnu is raising political temperatures in the country and worrying the NRM government in spite of the nonchalant attitude it has taken …
Read More »Why Uganda has no citizens
By Andrew M. Mwenda Last week, I was in Stanbic Bank to pay tuition fees for my niece, Cynthia. My sister Florence died when Cynthia was only seven. Now she is 19, pretty, vibrant, ambitious, intelligent and ready to take on the world and change it. Although she qualified for …
Read More »Rich Baganda, poor Acholi
By Joseph Were New report reveals economic imbalance among Uganda’s tribes From a distance it looks like a giant quilt of different shades between brown and black spread on the side of the gradually slopping hill. Getting nearer, however, reveals tinny brown unbaked brick buildings, squashed next to each other …
Read More »Can Otunnu revive UPC’s fortunes?
By Joe Powell On Saturday evening at the Serena the UPC stalwarts turned out in their droves, resplendent in bright red ties, shirts and kitenges, often accessorised with Obote pin badges. Alongside the UPC supporters were prominent members of other opposition parties, including Prof. Latigo, Jack Sabiti, Ken Lukyamuzi, Akbar …
Read More »Otunnu comes with message of opposition unity
By Bob Roberts Katende Asubo Macorious, is a strong Uganda Peoples Congress supporter. He left his home area, Arua on Friday at 9:30pm destined for Kampala then to Entebbe Airport; to welcome a person, not personally know to him, but one he believes has the ability to bring the change …
Read More »Colonialism reclaiming Africa?
By Andrew M. Mwenda Colonialism is back; bold and unashamed. The West has decided to reclaim leadership in Africa. Only last week, I watched US Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton, give instructions to Kenyan politicians on how they should manage the affairs of Kenya. She demanded that the democratically …
Read More »Otunnu is not automatic IPC joint presidential candidate for 2011
By Bob Roberts Katende Conservative Party president Ken Lukyamuzi is the current head of the opposition Inter-Party Cooperation. Bob Roberts Katende spoke to him about its recent retreat in Jinja. What’s your take on the appointment of Electoral Commissioners against the interparty cooperation’s call to have an input in composition …
Read More »Gambling on Otunnu
By Melina Platas Is he worth it or is Besigye, who got 37% of the vote in 2006, better? Olara Otunnu has re-entered Uganda’s political scene. But does this internationally renowned figure come home to divide or unite the opposition? The Inter-Party Coalition (IPC) meetings in the past few months …
Read More »Eight hours in congo
By Molly Lister Fighting the stereotype, two wazungu experience the lesser-known side of Goma. It was around 11am on August 5 when a friend and I crossed the border into the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma from Rwanda. It was the start of roughly eight hours that …
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