The pros and cons of the President’s long rule and what they portend for the country he has rebuilt THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | This week, President Yoweri Museveni and his NRM celebrate 34 years in power. Museveni inherited a country whose state had disintegrated and economy …
Read More »Fear as red cross withdraws ebola screening volunteers
Kisoro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kisoro district Ebola surveillance officials are concerned about the partial withdrawal Ebola screening volunteers deployed by Uganda Red Cross Society-URCS from the Uganda-Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC borders. Red Cross had deployed Ebola surveillance staff at seven entry points including Bunagana, Chanika, Kanombe Ntek, …
Read More »Museveni opens a Pandora’s box
How the president’s intervention to halt the procurement of Kampala-Jinja expressway is a disaster THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Last week, I had a meeting in Mukono, a town only 20km east of Kampala. The meeting was scheduled for 2pm. Knowing the heavy traffic on Jinja …
Read More »Kampala grinding to a halt
How NRM politics have made Kampala a dysfunctional city and what cannot be done about it THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | As we enter 2020, Kampala has become a dysfunctional city. The heavy rains of 2019 have left most of the roads in a horrible state …
Read More »Corruption and poverty
THE LAST WORD: Why our obsession with corruption as a cause of our poverty is too much ado over little or nothing THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Cognitive scientists argue that human beings are [inherently] cognitive misers i.e. we prefer to do as little thinking as possible. …
Read More »THE LAST WORD: Atubo’s disappointing lamentations
THE LAST WORD: Why African elites are deluded to think the “international community” has our best interests at heart THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Last week, I read with sadness, disappointment, disillusionment and frustration an article in Daily Monitor by former minister Omara Atubo. He was explaining …
Read More »THE LAST WORD: Besigye’s political honesty
THE LAST WORD: How the leading opposition figure hit the nail on the head when talking about money and politics THE LAST WORD | By Andrew M. Mwenda | Last week, I attended the launch of an autobiography by former cabinet minister, Mathew Rukikaire: 70 Years a Witness. In attendance …
Read More »Understanding Kajura’s woes
Why many of our politicians go broke after leaving cabinet even though we think they are rich THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Last week, media reported that former Deputy Prime Minister, Henry Kajura, is in financial trouble. Three years after leaving cabinet, he is losing his …
Read More »The politics of Uganda’s healthcare
Why our hospitals lack ambulances as public officials indulge themselves in fancy four-wheel drive vehicles THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Last week someone close to me had a medical emergency in Mubende referral hospital. A child died inside the womb of his fiancé. The only ambulance the …
Read More »COVER STORY: Battle for the ghetto
How Museveni can beat Bobi Wine Kampala, Uganda | JOSEPH WERE | The 2021 presidential election campaign is in full gear; at least for the incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni. And this time, even after 33 years in power, Museveni appears once again to be bringing something new to the campaign. …
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