How the war in Ukraine demonstrates the poverty of freedom of the press and speech in Western liberal democracies THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The war between Russia and Ukraine (actually better described as the war between Russia and the Western world in Ukraine) is a classic case study …
Read More »Aiding the enemy Part 2
America’s opportunities and main challenge as it seeks to contain China from dominating Asia THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M MWENDA | In the April 17th column (see: “Aiding the enemy: How US involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is helping the rise of China to surpass America as the world’s …
Read More »Uganda’s pursuit of modernity
Why every modern asset should be respected for its functionality and not merely its symbolism THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | Whatever its critics say, capitalism remains the most consequential system (and ideology) of organising human affairs in history. Born in Western Europe, it has spread across the …
Read More »Africa’s politics of fiction
It is incredible how politics in our part of the world is far removed from reality THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | What determines the governance strategies elites employ in any given country? The philosopher, Karl Marx, argued that the way people organise themselves to solve their basic …
Read More »The strategy of fighting ADF
How to handle the new wave of terrorism without helping terrorist achieve their political objectives THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | On Tuesday, terrorists struck again exploding bombs that killed three innocent bystanders (may their souls RIP) and three people carrying the bombs. The initial suspicion was that …
Read More »On Museveni and his critics
What we always miss about the governance strategies employed by leaders of poor countries THE LAST WORD | Andrew M Mwenda | Last Sunday, a high school alumni found me at a cafe in town and with a sardonic smile gave me an unwelcome compliment. “Andrew,” he said as he bit …
Read More »I am shocked Ugandan journalists are angry
Museveni’s violence and what it should teach us THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Yesterday the NRM government, in characteristic style, used military police to unleash violence against a group of activists escorting Bobi Wine to the UN Human Rights office to deliver a petition. It was the same …
Read More »Bobi Wine’s dangerous duplicity
What the evacuation of his family from Uganda before elections reveals about Uganda’s musician turned politician Kyagulanyi THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M MWENDA | In 2018, I appeared on Frontline program of NBS television with Bobi Wine. In the heat of the debate he said that if there were chaos …
Read More »Uganda’s prosperity paradox
How rapid economic growth and improving quality of life are causing mass discontent THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | There is widespread anger especially among the youths in Uganda’s urban areas, but most pronounced in Kampala. Very many commentators on current affairs think this is a result of …
Read More »Why and how the opposition is playing right into Museveni’s hands
On Wednesday, Kampala went on fire after police arrested pop star turned politician/presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine. The riots continued through yesterday (Nov.19). The partisans on either side are in overdrive. Critics of government post videos of police shooting at crowds where some people have, unfortunately, died. THE …
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