COLUMNISTS

  Why the arrest and detention of Jacob Zuma is dangerous for the unity and stability of the “rainbow nation” THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | The arrest and detention of former South African president, Jacob Zuma, for contempt of court is a sad event. No wonder, many …

How the US and her NATO allies lost trillions in a vain effort to turn Afghanistan into Denmark THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | After twenty years of occupation and trillions of dollars spent fighting the Taliban, the United States and her NATO allies are beating a hasty …

How public anger against Uganda government’s response to COVID is driven more by prejudice than facts THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Last Saturday, I lost my auntie, Princess Damali Komukyeeya of Toro. I tweeted that although she had COVID, she was fairly fine Friday evening. She developed breathing …

Who is a moral candidate for parliament: the candidate who promises electricity or one who distributes cash to voters? THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Someone sent a quote allegedly from a one “Prof.” PLO Lumumba to an internet chatgroup I belong to. Lumumba seems to have run …

   Why government needs to think differently about where it needs to invest in order to effectively contain the pandemic THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | COVID has returned with a vengeance and is now ravaging Uganda. In March and April, the virus seemed to disappear. Out of …

The president’s choice of ministers and what it tells us about the factors that shape the character of cabinet THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | President Yoweri Museveni’s recent cabinet has excited a lot of debate. Many pundits question its competence to manage the country and lead it …

How Uganda’s tax policy on real estate has destroyed the once thriving sector and stifled economic growth THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | This week, the government will read the 2021/22 budget. Given the poor performance of the economy, government is proposing new taxes. For instance, it has …

How the former parliamentary speaker made a series of blunders that may sink her otherwise great political career THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Rebecca Kadaga is a lady of many parts. For twenty years, she held sway over Uganda’s parliament: first as deputy speaker (20001-2011), and then …

How social media promotes radical extremism with a high potential to undermine democracy as we know it THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Democracy is in crisis. Globally. The risk is not the effort of tyrants. It is the naivety of liberals. For a century, two institutions underpinned …

  How the president’s criticism of the electricity distributor is likely to undermine investor confidence in Uganda THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | President Yoweri Museveni recently repeated his claim that officials of the government of Uganda who negotiated the Umeme concession sold the country. It is a …