THE LAST WORD

By Andrew Mwenda On May 20, the American Congress held a hearing on the “deteriorating human rights situation in Rwanda”. The timing was surprising because there have hardly been incidents of human rights abuse in Rwanda for a while. Instead the hearing took place against the backdrop of widespread demonstrations …

By. Andrew M. Mwnda  How the arrest of Rwanda’s chief of intelligence in London shows the British government projecting its behavior on RPF Let us imagine a situation where a Spanish judge indicts 40 top Israel generals. The judge alleges that in 1933, Jews formed a terrorist organisation in neighboring …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Why there was never a South Korean but a Congolese miracle Let us present an alternative history of the world. The year is 1960 and we have two countries – Mexico and France – each with a per capita income of $100. Both countries have emerged …

By Andrew M. Mwenda In challenging Museveni, Mbabazi may have made his boldest political move ever but equally the most fatal one On Monday Amama Mbabazi declared his intentions to challenge President Yoweri Museveni for the leadership of the NRM and the country. The message launching his campaign was the …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Our continent needs to focus on its positive attributes and use those to inspire future generations The definitive clash of wills during the Second World War that paved the way for the defeat of Nazi Germany was the battle of Stalingrad. Soviet leader Josef Stalin had …

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 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 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 Andrew M. Mwenda Why elections in India select criminals for politicians but produce dedicated public servants in Norway and Sweden I have argued before that the very specific way democracy has evolved in Uganda is injurious to the common good. I use the word “very specific” because I am …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How electoral competition eliminates public spirited candidates and increases the numbers of self-interested ones Around election-time,many candidates for office from across the political divide come to me for advice or assistance. We discuss practical political issues: How do I raise money for my campaign? Who are …