Opinion

East Africa’s external engagement has long been dominated by China and Europe. Japan offers a third option COMMENT | CHRISTOPHER BURKE | President Museveni’s recent comments on Uganda’s right to access the Indian Ocean underscore just how central the waterway is to East Africa’s economic and strategic future. The Indian Ocean …

“Perhaps contexts are far less universal than circumstances” — S.R. Karugire COMMENT | ANDREW PI BESI |  Africa, our ancient continent, has since 2024 witnessed no fewer than twenty presidential elections. This year alone, Tanzania, Malawi, Cameroon, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire have all held polls. In Uganda, our electoral season is …

How our country lacks the policies and institutional rules to achieve its ambitious development goals THE LAST WORD |  ANDREW M. MWENDA | The Ugandan government has set itself a very ambitious goal: to expand the economy by 1,000% in 15 years. This means the economy must grow at an annual …

  COMMENT | NNANDA KIZITO SSERUWAGI |  After President Museveni captured power in 1986, Uganda adopted a “no party” or what was commonly known as the “movement” political system. Under this system, political parties were banned from campaigning, sponsoring candidates or holding rallies. President Museveni and the NRM argued that the …

COMMENT | ANDREW PI BESI |  For the past few days, a video showing Hassan Bassajabalaba addressing mourners at his mother’s funeral has been trending on social media. It has been trending because in it, Hassan B, as he is commonly called, decries the inefficient state of our healthcare system. The …

COMMENT | DR ROBERT KALYESUBULA |   Being a doctor in a low-income country can be one of the most trying journeys anyone can take. And today, I was reminded – again – why I became a doctor and why, despite every challenge, I continue to practise nephrology here in Uganda. When …

Explaining the Ugandan Opposition’s Weak Anti-Musevenism COMMENT | NNANDA KIZITO SSERUWAGI | Many members of Uganda’s opposition have made profitable careers from opposing President Yoweri Museveni on almost everything, rather than standing for any ideals distinctly identifiable with themselves. It is obvious what they stand against (or claim to stand against), …

COMMENT | CONSTANCE KICONCO | From the Student: “I keep things to myself. My friend was struggling with school pressure. He told the school counsellor that he felt like ending his life because no one seemed to understand him. Instead of helping, the counsellor reported him to the administrators. He was called out …

COMMENT | OBED K KATUREEBE | Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, the Minister of Internal Affairs, must be deeply concerned by the recent events in Yumbe District, where members of the Muslim community reportedly attacked their fellow citizens of the Christian faith. Over the past few days, Muslims in Yumbe, led by the …

COMMENT | PATRICK OYULU |  By the time New York woke up this morning, Kampala group chats were already five voice notes deep. Somewhere on the campaign trail, a random New Yorker says, “I used to live in Muyenga,” and Zohran Mamdani replies “Oh, I lived in Buziga. Now, yours …