Are Kagame’s proposals to fellow African leaders too bitter a pill for them? By Gerald Mbanda The Rwandan President Paul Kagame, during the recent 28th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, presented recommendations for the institutional reform of the African Union. He told his fellow leaders that these would …
Read More »COMMENT: Surviving the trump era
The silver lining in the Trump cloud is a new solidarity over core values such as tolerance and equality By: Joseph E. Stiglitz In barely a month, U.S President Donald Trump has managed to spread chaos and uncertainty – and a degree of fear that would make any terrorist …
Read More »COMMENT: Checks and balances before roads
Successful projects are not just about professional skill and technocratic expertise but accurate facts and public interest By: Paolo Mauro In the 2016 American presidential election, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump agreed that the US economy is suffering from dilapidated infrastructure, and both called for greater investment in renovating and …
Read More »COMMENT: Trump and rebirth of press freedom
In a healthy democracy, the press helps citizens hold the government accountable, by vigorously interrogating official policies and behavior By: Tony Karon U.S President Donald Trump’s administration has shocked the mainstream press by bullying news outlets and unabashedly trafficking in “alternative facts” (also known as lies). But Trump’s challenge to …
Read More »COMMENT: Rethinking role of media
There is tendency in Uganda for the `privilegentia’ to prescribe a role for the mass media that only furthers their privileges By: Isabella Bwiire Talking about the role of the media, pre-supposes that journalists being the main players in the mass media are not value neutral. This of course doesn’t …
Read More »COMMENT: Achieving Africa’s industrialisation
COMMENT: By Justin Yifu Lin and Andrea Goldstein In an interconnected global economy, effective development demands effective external partnerships In the mid-2000s, after decades in the slow lane, African economies hit the accelerator. But what lies ahead for the continent is not an open highway. If Africa is to achieve …
Read More »COMMENT: Uganda and Trump’s Gag Rule
COMMENT: By Joy Asasira & Dennis Jjuuko Is American foreign policy to blame or poor prioritisation by the Ugandan government? U.S President Ronald Reagan first invoked the global gag rule also known as the Mexico City Policy in 1984, followed by President George W. Bush in 2001. President Donald Trump …
Read More »COMMENT: Budgeting for a sustainable future
Leaving people behind and under-investing in basic quality services, carries social, economic, and political risks Uganda’s draft National Budget Framework Paper for fiscal year 2017/18 proposes an ambitious 10% budget increase, benefiting mainly infrastructure, such as roads in the Albertine oil region. Funding for the security sector also increases, but …
Read More »COMMENT: Developing skilled human capital
COMMENT: By Michael Wanyama Success, challenges of funding higher education institutions through student loan scheme It is now three years since the establishment of the student loan scheme in 2014 in Uganda. The idea of the student loan scheme was propelled by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of …
Read More »COMMENT: Powering Africa’s future
COMMENT: By Alpha Condé Leaders are demonstrating a new determination to improve prospects for younger generations by electrifying our economies When G20 leaders meet later this year in Hamburg, investment in Africa’s future will be high on their agenda. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already committed to using her presidency …
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