By Andrew M. Mwenda Exposing the hidden bias behind our obsession with Western goodness and Africa’s dysfunctions The greatest triumph of the colonial state was not the integration of our economies and social/political systems into the international capitalism system. That could have been achieved without colonialism and via free trade. …

By Haggai Matsiko Fights in party primaries could be worse than 2010 Since April 27, when President Yoweri Museveni launched a massive registration of members of his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party registers members, questions have emerged about the `real’ motive behind it. The NRM party register tends to …

By Andrew M. Mwenda What FDC needs to do to reinvent itself and generate morale among its supporters After his defeat in this month’s elections, Ed Miliband did the honourable thing and resigned the leadership of the British Labor Party. Miliband followed an evolving tradition of unsuccessful political party leaders …

By Haggai Matsiko Warning to leaders seeking to unconstitutionally cling onto power Apart from fears Burundi could return to another civil war similar to the 13-year long one that ended in 2006, many point to the Burundi instability as a reminder of what danger lurks when leaders seek to unconstitutionally …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How the current crisis in Burundi is likely to ignite a regional conflagration Pierre Nkurunziza wants to remain president of Burundi. His opponents don’t want him to. Nkurinziza says the constitution allows him another term in office. His opponents say the Arusha Accords, which formed the …

By Independent Reporters & Agencies Are international networks protecting the arrested ADF leader? By Independent Reporters & Agencies The arrest in Tanzania of the elusive Jamil Mukulu, leader of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) should bring to a close almost 20 years of the group’s quiet terror not only in …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Why elections in India select criminals for politicians but produce dedicated public servants in Norway and Sweden I have argued before that the very specific way democracy has evolved in Uganda is injurious to the common good. I use the word “very specific” because I am …

By the Independent Team Bujumbura (Burundi) (AFP) – An attempt to overthrow Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza ended in failure on Friday as coup leaders admitted defeat and were arrested or forced to go on the run from loyalist troops. General Godefroid Niyombare, who launched the coup in the central African …

By the Independent Team Bujumbura (Burundi) (AFP) – Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza arrived back in the country Thursday, a day after a coup was declared while he was in Tanzania for regional talks, his office said. “President Pierre Nkurunziza is now in Burundi,” his senior communications advisor Willy Nyamitwe told …

By the Independent Team A top Burundian general on Wednesday announced the overthrow of President Pierre Nkurunziza, following weeks of violent protests against the president’s bid to stand for a third term. The radio broadcast by General Godefroid Niyombare — who was sacked from his position as the central African …