By Andrew Mwenda and Mubatsi A. Habati This continuation of a conversation between The Independent’s Andrew Mwenda and Mubatsi A. Habati and leading political philosopher, Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, focuses on regional issues. Prof. Mamdani, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Burundi have troops in Somalia. It is the first time Kenya has …
Read More »Armed struggle: Mamdani tells politicians to learn from Luwero
By Andrew Mwenda and Mubatsi A. Habati Leading political philosopher Mahmood Mamdani says the government’s ban on the political pressure group Activists for Change (A4C) is naïve and likely to drive opposition underground. He spoke to The Independent’s Andrew Mwenda and Mubatsi A. Habati. The government has banned the civic …
Read More »Commission of inquiry a mockery of justice
By Andrew Mwenda A section of the public and critics have lately been saying Andrew Mwenda has changed. I don’t agree with them, and records of my publications going back in time bear me witness. Throughout my career, I have cherished the key cornerstones of journalism – truth and accuracy, …
Read More »Coach Williamson wanted me to lie – Obua
By Andrew Mwenda and Eriasa Mukiibi Coach Williamson wanted me to lie – Obua Moments after the Uganda versus Kenya match, which ended in a goalless draw and saw Uganda fail to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, The Independent’s Andrew Mwenda …
Read More »Rwanda and prejudices towards Africa
Without placing allegations of human rights abuses in context, it is easy to call Obama or Cameron delusional despots. Last week, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, while on twitter, got into a heated exchange with a British journalist, one Ian Birrell. The journalist was accusing him of human rights violations, …
Read More »Museveni versus Besigye
By Andrew M. Mwenda Given that Besigye will not retreat, what are Museveni’s options? Last week on Thursday, the battle between police and Dr Kizza Besigye turned nasty. The police used harmers and guns to smash the windows of Besigye’s car, spray volumes of teargas and pepper-spray into his face, …
Read More »The maths of the Feb. 18 elections
By Andrew Mwenda Using robust data, it is theoretically possible but realistically improbable Besigye can- not just win, but force Museveni to a second round. On February 18th, Ugandans will go to the polls to elect a new president. All the last three elections have been a two-horse race between …
Read More »Can the US afford a democratic Egypt?
By Andrew Mwenda Past experiences show that America is willing to countenance democracy only when it produces outcomes favourable to its interests. The current protests in Egypt have placed the United States in a big dilemma. America is a leading advocate of democracy around the world. Yet often times, the …
Read More »The US cannot save Afghanistan
By Andrew Mwenda Last week, I finished reading Bob Woodward’s new book, Obama’s Wars, an inside account of Obama’s approach to the war in Afghanistan. Then on Sunday night, I watched a two-hour documentary on National Geographic titled Inside Talibanistan, an interesting tale of the complexity of fighting the Taliban …
Read More »The trouble with democracy in Africa
By Andrew Mwenda Last Saturday, October 16, I was a guest on Capital Radio’s Capital Gang programme and our debate settled down to the subject of democracy in Africa ‘ specifically on Uganda and Rwanda. Like most debate on anything in Africa, the discussion did not use the facts of …
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