Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | President Ellen Sirleaf’s vice president since 2005, Joseph Boakai has campaigned as a natural transition candidate after helping to ensure peace has prevailed in Liberia since back-to-back civil wars. Boakai will face former footballer George Weah in a runoff for the presidency on November 7, …
Read More »Africa’s real intellectual crisis
Why Museveni is not the cause of the problems of Uganda but rather their product and reflection THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Last week, I accepted to join a whatsapp chat group of Ugandan “intellectuals”. The administrator told me that it discusses “serious issues.” I therefore …
Read More »Pastor Happy Ngabo: On being `the war son’
Pastor Happy David Ngabo gained fame for the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) weekly prayers he conducted as part of the ‘Free my vote’ campaign in early 2016. Kampala, Uganda | AGNES E NANTABA | His fiery sermons and preaching captured the imagination of many across the country as …
Read More »COMMENT: Museveni’s useless courses
Why President’s flippant talk about curriculum suggests Uganda could soon get a University of Boda boda COMMENT | JOSEPH WERE | I have written this article assuming that President Yoweri Museveni is serious when he says he is not happy to fund courses like psychology, political science, social science, …
Read More »Are Ugandans docile?
Why last month’s scuffles in parliament excited the public but did not lead to popular protests THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Last week, poorly trained security operatives entered the parliament’s main chamber and removed opposition members who were protesting plans by the ruling party to amend the constitution …
Read More »Monalisa Umutoni: the self-taught top makeup artist
Monalisa Umutoni, popularly known as Mona Faces, is a self-taught Ugandan make-up artist and among the biggest talents. At 25 years, Umutoni has worked with celebrated Ugandan women and fashion stars. She is fascinated by art and beauty, which she built upon with the help of numerous YouTube tutorials, and …
Read More »Inside Museveni’s life presidency
Why the removal of age limits may be the best way to get a peaceful succession in Uganda THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | There is consensus among Ugandan, African, and even global elites that presidents who rule for long make peaceful succession impossible. This informs the current …
Read More »Eleanor Nansibo Nabwiso: Young actress eyes global success
Eleanor Nansibo Nabwiso is an actress and producer known for roles in `Watch Over Me’ (2013), `Rain’ (2016) and `The Hostel (2011)’. `Rain’, a movie about keeping hope alive against all odds, is her first production under the Nabwiso brand. Kampala, Uganda | AGNES NANTABA | Her acting and film …
Read More »Uganda’s misguided debate
Why many Ugandans are addressing the wrong issue in the debate on lifting age limits THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Last week the NRM caucus did the expected and recommended the removal of age limits on the presidency so that President Yoweri Museveni can rule for …
Read More »Charles Ssenkubuge ‘Siasa’: Drama’s living legend
Renowned stage and movie drama actor Charles James Ssenkubuge aka Siasa is cocky, with a loud laugh, and a natural suaveness – what is sometimes called swag. It is, therefore, not surprising that he is a dominant figure in Uganda’s entertainment industry circles. That he has spent 35 years in …
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