THE LAST WORD

By Andrew M. Mwenda How Museveni has shifted from reliance on military force to coerce political support to the use of money to rent it My article, “What keeps Museveni in power” (The Independent April 12-18), attracted the most intense debate on our website. Apparently, most critics of President Yoweri …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Why African countries should follow the example of Rwanda, Ghana and Zambia by moving from foreign aid to bond markets Last week, the government of Rwanda issued an international 10-year bond to raise $400 million for infrastructure development. Within two days, the bond had been oversubscribed …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How our admiration of Western systems has more do with how it perceives itself than the reality of its being I still cannot explain what got into my head recently to re-read William Shirer’s, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a 1,200 pages tour …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How party’s tolerance of rebel MPs was typical of its tolerance of other ills and a danger to democracy Finally, the NRM decided to expel it’s so called “rebel MPs”. Many critics of President Yoweri Museveni and the NRM have denounced this decision. The MPs themselves …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How the President’s success in retaining power rotates around his obsessive focus on all threats to it. A friend recently sent me a text message saying: “Man, what’s up with the Mbuya and Bombo attacks and an attempt on Kale. Ankunda’s answers in the Observer and …

By Andrew M. Mwenda Why Western attempts, genuine though they may be, to promote democracy in poor countries is anti-democratic As I write this article, a debate is raging in America on gun ownership – indeed it has been raging for generations. Every other day, there is carnage in America. …

By Andrew M. Mwenda It is very unlikely that Museveni would trade US$ 404m to the treasury for a private bribe of $50m. Here is why. Press reports that Tullow Oil discussed to bribe President Yoweri Museveni with a private cash payment of US$50 million for his 2011 re-election campaign …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How the West is seeking to usurp Africa’s struggle for freedom and democracy using a humanitarian language Since the end of the Cold War, a movement to save Africa from Africans has grown and gained momentum across the Western world. This movement is reflected in campaigns …

By Andrew M. Mwenda The only way a managing director can protect their job at the fund is by sitting on their arms and doing nothing Early this year, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) bought shares worth Shs 52 billion in an Initial Public Offering by Umeme, the electricity …

By Andrew M. Mwenda How the electoral process in Kenya produces powerful political families that use identity to wield power Many factors may have influenced the 2013 election in Kenya. But three of these stand out. The first is the influence of political families who have held sway over Kenya’s …