How our country stands at a critical juncture between Museveni’s frying pan and Bobi Wine’s fire THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | Uganda has a new hero: Bobi Wine. He is being presented domestically and internationally as the symbol of our struggle for democracy, freedom, liberty and social transformation. Even …
Read More »The dangers of public opinion
Why the recent state brutality towards opposition politicians and journalists should make us revisit liberal traditions THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The 19th century cartoon character, pot-bellied bourgeoisie Monsieur Prudhomme, carried a large sword with a double intent: primarily to defend the republic against it enemies, and secondarily, …
Read More »The disintegration of the FDC
Why liberal minded Ugandans should celebrate the breakup of FDC and rally behind its enlightened leaders THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The inevitable is happening. Uganda’s largest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), is breaking up. Twenty two out of its 36 Members of Parliament (MPs) …
Read More »Uganda’s incompetence paradox part2
How Uganda performs well in spite of corruption and incompetence and what it teaches us THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | In 2013 I wrote an article with exactly this headline, the reason this is named “Part2”. It was about how the state in Uganda exhibits gross corruption and …
Read More »Africa over the last 30 years
Why the claim that our continent’s problems are caused by “poor governance” is a lot of baloney THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | I have just re-read the 1989 report of the World Bank titled “Sub Saharan Africa: From Crisis to Sustainable Development.” It is a rich document in terms …
Read More »Our nation’s next disaster
How the re-launch of Uganda Airlines is most likely going to bring our country to tears – unless THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The decision by Uganda government to re-establish a state-run airline is a strategic blunder. More than two decades ago, Uganda took a strategic decision to …
Read More »Museveni leadership of economy
THE LAST WORD: How the president’s successful economic stewardship is now in the past with little direction on the future THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | President Yoweri Museveni has been named 12th among 24 leaders globally whose individual contribution has had a significant positive impact on their …
Read More »Uganda’s crime outrage
THE LAST WORD: How to renew our nation’s security architecture to cope with the new challenges of murder and kidnapping THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | The cold bloodied murder of Arua Municipality Member of Parliament, Ibrahim Abiriga, has reignited the debate on security in Uganda. Throughout last year, it …
Read More »Inside Africa’s real tragedy
THE LAST WORD: How the ideology of a welfare state has destroyed our continent and impoverished its people THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Everywhere I turn these days, Ugandans (and Africans generally) are complaining about the sorry state of our education and healthcare systems. There is a …
Read More »The problem with Africa
The problem with Africa: If our countries remain poor, it’s because its leaders and elites are too kind to their people to force transformation THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Last week, President Yoweri Museveni tweeted a picture of himself pushing a bicycle in some village “promoting” an irrigation scheme. …
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