For over two years now, the world has been captivated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like the unwelcome guest we would so badly wish to go away soon, the virus keeps rearing its ugly head in different forms. Believe it or not, we are now getting mutants of mutants, partly because some people are obstinate about being vaccinated or have no access to the vaccine, thus allowing the virus to multiply and mutate. As if that is not a big enough problem, we now have a new virus with an ugly syndrome, the monkeypox virus, making its round in several countries in Europe and America. The good thing is that the virus is not as dangerous as COVID-19 in terms of infectivity and pathology.
By Okot Nyormoi, Editor, retired cancer biologist and author of the novel Burden of Failure
A couple of months ago, there was much fury about the demise of the late Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah. It began when it was discovered that he was flown to Seattle, Washington, USA, for treatment. Some people demonstrated against him for wasting government money instead of spending it on improving the national health services. And when he died, some people celebrated his demise because they accused him of being one of the enablers of the autocratic rule. They attribute the regular violation of human rights: extrajudicial killings, disappearance of government critics, torture, etc. in Uganda when he presided over the amendment that removed the age limit which allows President Museveni to rule indefinitely. Some of the most vulgar poems were even written in celebration of the Speaker’s demise.
By John A. Akec, Vice-Chancellor of Juba University
The recent pronouncements about a plan to conduct feasibility studies on the defunct Jonglei Canal Project by the South Sudanese Vice President for Infrastructure. H.E. Taban Deng Gai, with the backing of South Sudan’s Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation, Hon. Manawa Peter Gatkouth, has raised eyebrows and risked opening the old wounds between Sudan and Egypt that were thought to have long been healed and forgotten.
By Ocaya p’Ocure, Social and political commentator in Uppsala.
Upon initiating debates about Swedish NATO membership, skepticism spread. In Sweden, we had just got a new government and a new Prime Minister, and the omicron variant of COVID-19 threatened Christmas celebrations. Four weeks later on January 1st, 2022, Foreign Minister Ann Linde responded in a parliamentary debate by reiterating previous positions on dialogue with the population within the Social Democrats party. She also talked about opportunities for in-depth cooperation with NATO debates. Well, the NATO issue is now being debated extensively within the Swedish Social Democratic Party, at dinner tables and intensively throughout the country.
On April 26, 2022, unknown terrorists or some anti-Ethiopia entity bombed and killed at least 20 people in the ancient city of Gondar and caused outrage. This is a city I love. This is the city where I attended high school. I remember this ancient city as a hub of diversity. Jews, Christians, and Muslims respected, acknowledged one another, and lived side by side peacefully for centuries. Most modern enterprises were owned by non-Gondaries.
By Harold Acemah, a political scientist, and a retired career diplomat.
Our brothers and sisters of the Republic of Kenya go to the polls in three months’ time on August 9, which coincides with the birthday of the mother of my son Matthew Acemah. In anticipation of the victory of my preferred presidential candidate in Kenya’s elections, I have purchased t two bottles of vintage champagne to celebrate two events on that momentous day.
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.png "Linde Signing NATO Application")
.png "Dr. Aklog Birara")
