By Patrick Kagenda Cheers and tears as Busoga becomes kingmakers’ arena Friday, Sept. 12 was a day like no other in Jinja, the main town in the Obwakyabazing Bwabusoga kingdom on the shores of Lake Victoria in central eastern Uganda. The impending coronation of Prince Nadiope Gabula IV as king …
Read More »The paradox of Uganda’s politics
By Andrew M. Mwenda How Museveni has centralised and personalised while at the same time decentralised and institutionalised it with the help of his opponents Last week, a very successful Ugandan businessman invited me visit a big project he is doing in collaboration with the government on one of its …
Read More »The politics of the anti-gay bill
By Andrew M. Mwenda Why the anti homosexuality law is most likely going to be used for political rather than moral reasons Finally President Yoweri Museveni has “yielded” to the advice of “our scientists” to sign the anti homosexual bill. Most Ugandan elites who were cheering him on social media …
Read More »The link between sex and politics
By Andrew M.Mwenda Understanding the popularity of Museveni and Besigye through evolutionary science To understand the incentives that drive citizens who vote and the politicians who seek their votes, we may need to appreciate the lessons of evolutionary psychology especially in regard to male-female sexual relations. (I am sorry for …
Read More »Inside Africa’s politics of patronage
By Andrew M. Mwenda How Rwanda is defying the established mechanisms of organizing politics in Africa and why it is succeeding Last week, we were at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) for a two-day conference on Rwanda. It always amazes me how this small …
Read More »The price of politics
By Andrew M. Mwenda Why Uganda’s large cabinet, numerous presidential advisors and new districts are politically lucrative And so it was that inside the New Vision of Monday July 22 was a printed list of our ministers – a 78-strong cabinet – up from 71. The biggest “ministry” is the …
Read More »Politics should be a sacrifice not selfish interest
By Julius Odeke Dr Ian Clarke aka Busuulwa is the LC III Chairperson for Makindye Division. He spoke to The Independent’s Julius Odeke about his political plans, the future of Kampala City, and the challenges of urbanization. More Ugandans are moving into urban areas. What are the implications of this …
Read More »Politics of a Langi wedding
By Joan Akello Why UPC members are bitter over Museveni’s invite to UPC MPs Amongi – Akena’s wedding On April 6, President Yoweri Museveni adjusted his busy schedule in Kampala and traveled to Minakulu Sub-county, Oyam District in Lango to attend a traditional wedding. For starters, President Museveni has not …
Read More »The aristocracisation of Kenya politics
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 …
Read More »Kategaya: his views and politics
By Andrew M. Mwenda In his willingness to change his mind in the face of new facts, he embodied the finest traits of intellectual self-confidence I spent most of Saturday March 2 night staring at my computer at home trying to write an obituary of the First Deputy Prime Minister …
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