THE LAST WORD

By Andrew M. Mwenda NRM had historically suffered major defections before every election but it enjoyed a big infusion of opposition figures in 2007-11 It is almost a year since last year’s presidential elections. The dust over the recriminations over it has settled. We have had sufficient time to reflect …

By Andrew M. Mwenda With only 8% access to electricity and 75% of subsidies going to big businesses, why are MPs supporting subsidies? Last week, a parliament committee passed a resolution cancelling the increase in electricity tariffs. Many Ugandans genuinely believe that in many of its actions, the 9th parliament …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Is the standoff between government and traders the tip of an irreparable breakdown of their relationship? Last week, striking traders paralysed business in Kampala. Negotiations between their association, KASITA, and the government did not yield much. As with all previous strikes and demonstrations in Uganda over …

By Andrew M. Mwenda It is not corruption per se but the fragmentation of power that explains Uganda’s crisis. Two things stand in contradiction of one another regarding corruption in Uganda: On a positive note, it seems not to have undermined economic growth – at least, not yet. Uganda has …

By Andrew M. Mwenda My latest attempt to qualify Rwanda’s progress to the incredulous mind of a critic Over Christmas, Timothy Kalyegira and I got involved into a heated SMS exchange about Rwanda, a subject I am deeply interested in and one that he is equally obsessed with without noticing …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How theft of public resources has been used to build a broad multi ethnic coalition that sustains Uganda’s political system The last Quarter of 2011 in Uganda was filled with one corruption scandal after another. Yet in spite of many corruption scandals unearthed, the mass media …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Because he has little pecuniary interest in power and no messianic image of himself, Kagame will easily retire in 2017 Since his press engagement in Kampala, President Paul Kagame has come under increasing attack from some people accusing him of being unclear about his intention to …

By Andrew Mwenda A section of the public and critics have lately been saying Andrew Mwenda has changed. I don’t agree with them, and records of my publications going back in time bear me witness. Throughout my career, I have cherished the key cornerstones of journalism – truth and accuracy, …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Why Besigye may have a chance at the presidency and how the President risks impeachment by parliament Two things that seemed almost impossible and improbable at the end of March this year are increasingly becoming possible and probable as the year closes. One was that Forum …

By Andrew M. Mwenda A section of the public and critics have lately been saying Andrew Mwenda has changed. I don’t agree with them, and records of my publications going back in time bear me witness. Throughout my career, I have cherished the key cornerstones of journalism – truthful and …