Column

Asserting that ordinary people cannot form valid opinions on issues of democracy or governance is over-stated By Francis Kibirige The Independent magazine Issue Number 469 of May 12 – 18 carried an article titled `Afrobarometer: Right poll, wrong people.’ This article raised two major issues relating to public opinion polling. …

Ladislaus Kiiza Rwakafuzi is a human rights advocate. For more than 25 years he has provided free services to the needy whose rights have been abused. Beneficiaries include victims of the September 2009 Buganda riots victims, suspects in the murder of Muslim clerics, and others. But the 54-year says he …

Winnie Nakanwagi aka Nwagi, the Ugandan singer best known for her award winning single ‘Musawo’ to which she dances seductively, has one mantra for survival in the highly fickle entertainment industry; be ready to receive the positive and negative feedback from the audience. She says it is a lesson she …

His contract was renewed because his enemies inside the government underestimate him while the opposition demonise him By Andrew M. Mwenda Parliament last week approved President Yoweri Museveni’s reappointment of Gen. Kale Kayihura as Inspector General of Police (IGP). With 12 years at the helm, Kayihura is now the longest …

  What Uganda’s current and future politicians can learn from the life and character of Mzee Byanyima By Andrew M. Mwenda Although I knew he was old (at 96) and was aware of his declining health I was still shocked when I heard the news of the death of Mzee …

At only 18 years, Dorah Mwima was crowned Miss Uganda in 2008; making her the youngest beauty queen ever in the country. Mwima had just returned to Uganda from Kenya where her family had lived for over fourteen years. In fact, it was just two weeks back home, when she …

What psychology tells us about FDC’s claims to have won last year’s presidential election By Andrew M. Mwenda This column is a logical thought experiment. Recently, opposition presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye, claimed on a television show that he won the last presidential elections and that he has evidence to …

Ronald Mayinja; the renowned kadongo kamu folk musician, is possibly most politically and socially-driven Uganda singer. Over the last ten years, he has been popularly known for message loaded songs like ‘Tuli ku Bunkenke’ (Situation is tense), ‘Tuwalana Nguzi’ (We are against corruption), ‘Africa! Ani agula ensi’ (Africa is up …

How the detention and trial of a Makerere academic exposes the moral bankruptcy of Uganda’s elites By Andrew M. Mwenda Dr. Stella Nyanzi, an academic at Makerere University, has been jailed for using foul language to criticise President Yoweri Museveni and his wife, Janet. It is permissible to call the …

  Brian Ahumuza is a known name in Uganda’s men’s fashion world.  In just seven years; starting in 2010, he has styled and groomed celebrities, modeled apparels, a launched an array of high end fashion shops. And he is just 27 years old and was not born anywhere near the …