COLUMNISTS

By Andrew M. Mwenda How electoral competition eliminates public spirited candidates and increases the numbers of self-interested ones Around election-time,many candidates for office from across the political divide come to me for advice or assistance. We discuss practical political issues: How do I raise money for my campaign? Who are …

By Jean Claude Nkundwa and Jonathan W. Rosena Should the army fracture, the UN in concert with the African Union must prepare to intervene if necessary When Faustin Kobagaya fled his northern Burundi home in March, sneaking through the night to the Rwandan border, he was running from what could …

By Isaac K Ssemakadde Let us enhance the role of civil society in corruption related litigation As the public grapples with the recent collapse of the Shs165 billion pension scam case in the Anti-Corruption Court, I find it appropriate to advocate for enhancement of the role of civil society in …

By Andrew M. Mwenda The benchmarks that Rwandans should discuss as forming the basis for sustainable peaceful transfer of power President Paul Kagame believes in presidential term limits and desires to retire in 2017. I say this with a lot of confidence because I have had many discussions with him …

By Peter Nyanzi Why it is self-defeating for proprietors of private schools to shun taxes on their net annual profits The evening TV news bulletin on April 14 showed two very happy men; the first was Prof. Lawrence Mukiibi, the proprietor of St Lawrence Schools and colleges, the other was …

By Joseph Were As big money grows bigger, the poor must undress or else the powerful will undress them On April 14, a group of elderly women stripped before a huge gathering called over a government plan to re-demarcate land for a national game park in Apaa village, Labala parish, …

By Morris Komakech. If the land issue is not handled well, a possibility of a return to insurgency may become a reality The scenes of resistance by women of Apaa village in Amuru district should remind this government that vulnerability can drive people to extreme measures in their defence. Certainly, …

By Flavia Nassaka EC says slashing budget, but Finance says funding available On April 21, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission Badru Kiggundu together with the Commission’s Secretary Sam Rwakoojo appeared before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee to present their budget frame work paper for financial year 2015/16. They …

By Patrick Kagenda Akena faces opposition from area UPC leaders Hardly a fortnight after party President Olara Otunnu announced the UPC roadmap to 2016 that will see a new party president elected, jostling for position has intensified. In Lango region, which is regarded as the cradle of UPC because its …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How the flaws in the post-apartheid political settlement have shaped the current anti-immigrant sentiments Last week, “popular” anger in South Africa exploded into a new wave of violence. Youths wielding machetes and looking like Rwanda’s interahamwe in 1994 roamed the streets burning and/or slashing their victims …