Opinion

Uganda, with its sizeable and youthful population, grapples with a pressing issue: high youth unemployment, which stood at 6.58 percent in 2022. A significant number of young individuals find themselves either underemployed, engaged in low-quality jobs, or have altogether abandoned their pursuit of employment. The primary culprits contributing to this crisis encompass a skills-demand mismatch, restricted access to capital and …

By Crispin Kaheru I would like to express our gratitude to Africa Freedom for Information Centre (AFIC) for hosting this event, marking the International Day for Universal Access to Information. The significance of access to information, along with the challenges associated with navigating the digital space, cannot be overstated in today’s ever-changing world. At the international level, the right to …

“While presenting a paper today on youth participation in governance processes for Recreation for Development and Peace (RDP) Uganda, I was posed a question by a national youth leader: ‘How is greatness created?’ I reframed his query to emphasise that the life you lead is a reflection of the world you shape. A few successful individuals have one thing in …

By Crispin Kaheru This year’s 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China presents a remarkable opportunity for Uganda and the broader world to take stock of a profound journey of mutual learning and collaboration. Looking at the intricate web of lessons that China and Uganda exchange, it becomes evident that this relationship is not merely about learning; …

Whereas Bunyoro Kitara-Kingdom is supposed to be non-partisan, it is surely meant to be political. Apolitical societies only attract fools to lead them. Bunyoro must decide whether to shape leadership or the political leadership to shape it towards the direction of disrespect, following and extinction. I have opted to be humble. My sibling normally tells me that Bunyoro is under …

The pursuit and preservation of power have never been the primary objectives of a political party or a national government. Democracy is a fragile concept, nurtured and sustained by enlightened purpose, self-sacrifice, and even negotiations. However, the so-called political science experts overseeing Uganda’s current political landscape should be cautious not to succumb to the allure of power hegemony and political …

There are close to 4 million people living in refugee camps across Africa. Of the more than 300 camps, nearly 70% are situated within 30km-50km of an international border. They include some of the largest camps in the continent, such as Kakuma in northern Kenya, Nyarugusu in western Tanzania and Bidibidi in north-western Uganda. The closer the camp is to an international …

In early April 2023, Kenyan police discovered a mass grave linked to a Pentecostal church in the coastal town of Malindi. By the end of the month, at least 110 bodies had been dug up from shallow graves in the area’s Shakahola forest. A loss of this magnitude is traumatic and painful for the families and friends directly affected, and also for the public exposed …

The First Law of Economics, the joke has it, is that for every economist there exists an equal and opposite economist. The Second Law of Economics is that they are both wrong. Indeed, in my profession it often seems that way. Take my fellow economist David Ndii, who recently wrote a lengthy and well-acclaimed paper making a case for less investment …

None peaceful political transitions have characterised Uganda’s governance for the entire post-independence era. As early as 2001, this culture of violence was introduced into Uganda’s politics and the electoral process. The violence escalated through the 2006 and 2011 elections reaching epic levels during the 2016 and 2021elections. Violence will turn out to be a response to the well recruited grounded …