Why it’s important for the army or the government to tell the story of its transformation THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | Next year, the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) will mark three major milestone dates. It will be exactly 50 years (Golden Jubilee) since its formation under …
Read More »Inside Uganda’s election budget
Why opportunities that theoretically exist to cut wasteful public spending are politically impossible THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | This year, Uganda has been hit by three major disasters: a locust invasion, floods and COVID-19; a combination of which will shrink economic growth. COVID-19 has been the most …
Read More »Integrity, accountability critical for effective COVID-19 response and recovery
COMMENT | Jonas Mbabazi | Integrity and accountability should be an integral part of a resilient response to the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring that government actions benefit citizens that have been hit hard. In a rather strange way, many fear that the ongoing pandemic could present opportunities through which government bureaucrats can …
Read More »Our nation’s threatened middle
The challenges of being independent in Uganda’s increasingly polarised and toxic debates THE LAST WORD | ANDREW M. MWENDA | In March of this year, President Yoweri Museveni invited me to speak to National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament (MPs) then on a retreat in Kyankwanzi. The day before …
Read More »Weazher Mayanja on the fire of art
‘Art is my life; I love spending on anything related to art’ The Independent | AGNES E NANTABA | Weazher Mayanja is an artist who is known for his Tadooba technique of using soot in powder and smoke form to paint art pieces. But he also paints, does sculpture, draws, …
Read More »Barbara Katende Kivumbi: On a practical approach to personal financial freedom
‘We lose sight over the fact that genuine wealth is achieved over time after taking steps’ Kampala, Uganda | AGNES E NANTABA | Barbara Katende Kivumbi is a lecturer, personal finance coach, transformational speaker and author of ‘Money Cure.’ But her favorite reference is ‘mother of twins.’ Katende’s passion lies …
Read More »Najjemba Mbabali: On Museveni’s letter that took four years to reach her
`Serving as a minister was a struggle because many ministers clash for visibility and work’ Kampala, Uganda | AGNES E NANTABA | Rosemary Mariam Najjemba Mbabali is a former politician, turned fashion designer and owner of Celebrity Styles; a boutique. She was Minister of Urban Planning between 2012 and 2016. …
Read More »MP Bernard Atiku on being unselfish
‘I have witnessed street children barely two years old being exploited to beg under the scorching sun and felt so low’ Kampala, Uganda | AGNES E NANTABA | Bernard Atiku is the Ayivu County Member of Parliament. Now in his second term, Atiku arrived in parliament in 2011 on the …
Read More »Jessica Nanyunja: On her vision for pot water
Jessica Nanyunja is the brain behind Harmony Nutri Foods Limited with its flagship brand of Harmony pot water. Kampala, Uganda | AGNES E NANTABA | It is a darling amongst many Ugandans who have yearned to rekindle their love for pot-smoked water. Many decades ago, most Ugandans used clay products; …
Read More »Isaiah Katumwa: On authentic Ugandan jazz
‘Taste of music, like any other product, is not based on class but exposure’ Kampala, Uganda | AGNES E NANTABA | Isaiah Katumwa is a renowned saxophonist and jazz promoter. For close to two decades, he has been growing enthusiasm for jazz in the country and region. He is widely …
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