Why the president’s efforts against corruption may be politically appealing but are strategically of little value THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Last week, President Yoweri Museveni launched an “anti-corruption unit” in his office. This is one in many efforts the president has tried and failed in the last …
Read More »The destiny of nations
THE LAST WORD: Why some nations prosper and others stagnate and what we cannot do about it THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has 187 countries in its list of nations whose Gross Domestic Product (GDP) it captures. Of these, 39 are listed as …
Read More »The future we must fight for
Why our democracy will not be strengthened by a violent contest but dialogue and compromise THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | The current struggle between President Yoweri Museveni on the one hand and the two most popular opposition groups to wit Defiance led by Dr. Kizza Besigye, and …
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 »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 »Inside NRM’s Rukungiri debacle
How the bye-election shows us that Besigye is the best ally in Museveni’s pursuit of power THE LAST WORD |Andrew M. Mwenda | Last week, NRM lost a bye-election in Rukungiri in spite of (and I think also because of) deploying all its resources in the area. The …
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 »Thinking succession in Uganda
Why the failure of a third force has locked us in a choice between Museveni and Besigye THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | In debating whether President Yoweri Museveni should go or stay we are not indulging in an abstract theoretical exercise but a challenge of practical politics. …
Read More »Uganda’s new villain
THE LAST WORD: Why the country and its president are fighting the wrong enemy on electricity tariffs THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | A large cross section of Ugandan elites is angry, very angry. It thinks the price (tariff) it buys electricity at is too high. …
Read More »The poverty paradox
UGANDA: Why economic development tends to increase social insecurity leading to anger THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | A couple of months ago, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics produced its survey showing that between 2012 and 2017, the number of people living in poverty increased from 19 to 27%. This provided …
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