By: Gwada OgotLandlord is a freedom fighter, Fighting against my freedom, He frees me of everything, Yawa Landlord yawa… Landlord is a nationalist, A nationalist means a national appetite; He eats anything, Yawa Landlord yawa… Landlord is a liberator, And strives to relieve me, Of all things I own, Yawa Landlord yawa… Landlord tethers me, [...]

We are very privileged to live at a time when Uganda is experiencing high political turbulence. Even with the increasingly narrowing space for alternative voice in the country, Uganda still carries the title of a ‘good-governed, multi party democratic country.’ As you might realize, democracy has lately become like an ISO certification of quality for states. If one wants to market a product called Uganda, they are compelled to slap a seal of ‘democracy’ to make the country more appealing to investors, tourists, donors, diplomatic calls, and possibly, hoodwink its very own citizenry about the quality of governance in the country.

   By: Gwada OgotA poem by Gwada Ogot The political landlord has built, Hovels and shacks- slums, Upon our petrified minds, So he extorts rental taxes; Landlord sets rules for squatters -to abide by, In his squalid people’s party estate; Cheap rents with high costs, The return -political lip service; No, the party is not built [...]

In the contemporary world, we have so many examples of such state leaders especially in Africa who have attempted to manage all aspects of government business but have ended up getting sidetracked from the long term strategic state goals. Recent events in Uganda explain this scenario better – the president seems to have lately defined himself as the sole figure of ‘solution’ in the country.

When President Museveni first proposed the scrapping of Bail for specific categories of people, I thought it was one of the usual political jokes that he throws around to crack people up during his long speeches. Little did I know that his move was real and would raise such extraordinary national dust as has been witnessed in the past couple of months.