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 »Closing and merging public agencies
Why the new government reform measures should not throw away the baby with the bathwater THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | The decision by government of Uganda to reduce the number of semi autonomous government agencies, commissions and other bodies is a very good and long over due. …
Read More »The strategy of radical extremism
How a section of those advocating for change is against any public scrutiny of the values and policies THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | On the night of Friday August 31t, one of our top musicians, Bebe Cool aka Moses Ssali, was nearly lynched by supporters of Bobi Wine aka …
Read More »The poverty of Uganda’s elites
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 »Agnes Akite aka Arach on funny Ugandans
Kampala, Uganda | AGNES E NANTABA | Comedian Agnes Akite has recently received heaps of praise from fans after her clip about real life experiences of people who mimic songs and insert own words and the escapades of pregnant women went viral. Like her previous performances, Akite prepared the script to …
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 »Solome Basuuta: The queen of love
Kampala, Uganda | AGNES E NANTABA | Solome Basuuta is commonly known as the `queen of love’. It is all she sings about. She also calls her music the ‘love genre’. Her debut album was titled `The Song Love’ and features a poem and her hit song `Nz’ani’. “My music reminds …
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