THE LAST WORD

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 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 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 Andrew M. Mwenda How electoral competition eliminates public spirited candidates and increases the numbers of self-interested ones Around election-time,many candidates for office from across the political divide come to me for advice or assistance. We discuss practical political issues: How do I raise money for my campaign? Who are …

By Andrew M. Mwenda The benchmarks that Rwandans should discuss as forming the basis for sustainable peaceful transfer of power President Paul Kagame believes in presidential term limits and desires to retire in 2017. I say this with a lot of confidence because I have had many discussions with him …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How the flaws in the post-apartheid political settlement have shaped the current anti-immigrant sentiments Last week, “popular” anger in South Africa exploded into a new wave of violence. Youths wielding machetes and looking like Rwanda’s interahamwe in 1994 roamed the streets burning and/or slashing their victims …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How improved performance of the two companies tends to attract increasing hostility from parliament and the public The Members of Parliament in Uganda, supported by a loud section of our chattering elite class, seem determined to hold to wrong things dearly even in the face of …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How the debate on amending the Constitution to remove term limits is evolving in Rwanda and the issues to consider President Paul Kagame recently said he does not want Rwanda to amend the constitution to remove term limits. But I do not think this will stop …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How Uganda’s politics cannot create a government that delivers public goods and services efficiently Last week, I proposed the need to rethink the role of the state to fix our education system. I argued that we should separate the financing of education from its provision. The …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Unhappy with their officials, what the two presidents are asking for is a return to the past, not a leap to the future Three weeks ago, President Paul Kagame; during a government leadership retreat, expressed disaffection with top officials for delaying government projects unnecessarily. Then last …