COLUMNISTS

Why our democracy will not be strengthened by a violent contest but dialogue and compromise THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | The current struggle between President Yoweri Museveni on the one hand and the two most popular opposition groups to wit Defiance led by Dr. Kizza Besigye, and …

Why the new government reform measures should not throw away the baby with the bathwater THE LAST WORD |  Andrew M. Mwenda | The decision by government of Uganda to reduce the number of semi autonomous government agencies, commissions and other bodies is a very good and long over due. …

How a section of those advocating for change is against any public scrutiny of the values and policies THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | On the night of Friday August 31t, one of our top musicians, Bebe Cool aka Moses Ssali, was nearly lynched by supporters of Bobi Wine aka …

How our country stands at a critical juncture between Museveni’s frying pan and Bobi Wine’s fire THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | Uganda has a new hero: Bobi Wine. He is being presented domestically and internationally as the symbol of our struggle for democracy, freedom, liberty and social transformation. Even …

  Why the recent state brutality towards opposition politicians and journalists should make us revisit liberal traditions THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The 19th century cartoon character, pot-bellied bourgeoisie Monsieur Prudhomme, carried a large sword with a double intent: primarily to defend the republic against it enemies, and secondarily, …

  Why liberal minded Ugandans should celebrate the breakup of FDC and rally behind its enlightened leaders THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The inevitable is happening. Uganda’s largest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), is breaking up. Twenty two out of its 36 Members of Parliament (MPs) …

  How Uganda performs well in spite of corruption and incompetence and what it teaches us THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | In 2013 I wrote an article with exactly this headline, the reason this is named “Part2”. It was about how the state in Uganda exhibits gross corruption and …

Why the claim that our continent’s problems are caused by “poor governance” is a lot of baloney THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | I have just re-read the 1989 report of the World Bank titled “Sub Saharan Africa: From Crisis to Sustainable Development.” It is a rich document in terms …

How the re-launch of Uganda Airlines is most likely going to bring our country to tears – unless THE LAST WORD | ANDREW MWENDA | The decision by Uganda government to re-establish a state-run airline is a strategic blunder. More than two decades ago, Uganda took a strategic decision to …

  THE LAST WORD: Why taxing mobile money and social media is a politically revolutionary act that may help improve our democracy THE LAST WORD | Andrew M. Mwenda | Since government introduced a tax on mobile money and social media, there has been deafening opposition to it from every …