Andrew M. MwendaAndrew Mwenda

Uganda

 

Occupational Information

Job Title: Managing Director of Independent Publications Limited

Professional History

Andrew is an African journalist and entrepreneur. Currently, he is the Managing Director of Independent Publications Limited, the publishers of The Independent, East Africa’s leading current affairs news magazine. He has also invested in schools, is involved in microfinance, mobile money, and strategic communications. On top of sitting on the boards of some multi-national corporations in Africa, Mwenda also sits on the Presidential Advisory Committee of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda

He was nominated by Foreign Policy among the Top 100 Global Thinkers in 2010, Andrew was also nominated by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2008 and by the Africa Study Institute as an Archbishop Tutu fellow, a program for “Africa’s future leaders” (2009). He has also won the International Press Freedom Award (2008) by the Committee to Protect Journalists “in tribute to his commitment to a free press in Uganda and the whole world” and the Outstanding Alumni Award from the British Council (2006).

Andrew is a winner of the British Chevening Scholarship, Andrew holds a Master of Science degree in Development Studies from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Makerere University in Uganda. He was a visiting fellow at Yale University (2010), a fellow at the University of Oxford’s Said School of Business (2009), a John Knight Fellow at Stanford University (2006-07), a visiting lecturer at the University of Florida at Gainesville (2005) and a visiting fellow at the University of Leiden’s Africa Study Centre (2003).

Andrew is a recognized African voice in the global debate on the failures of foreign aid to Africa and the need for investment and trade as drivers of growth. A TED speaker, he is a regular speaker at conferences across the world. Mwenda worked as Political Editor of Daily Monitor and General Manager of its affiliate FM radio, KFM before establishing The Independent in 2007. He has worked as a consultant for the World Bank, the World Resources Institute and Transparency International. He has also written for international news media like Des Spiegel and the International Herald Tribune, New York Times, and Foreign Policy; produced documentaries for BBC World television and radio.

Andrew has also authored and co-authored articles for international academic journals like Africa Affairs, Journal of Modern African Studies, Review of African Political Economy, Journal of Commonwealth Studies, Journal for Contemporary African Studies, and the Journal of Democracy on top of publishing chapters in several books among others.

Qualifications

Development Studies from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies
Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Makerere University in Uganda

Programs

2009 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow

 Additional Tags: Journalism, Publications, Media, Education, Investments, Governance, Microfinance, Strategic Communications, Speaker, Consultancy, Author

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About AFLI

 

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The African Leadership Institute (AFLI) focuses on building the capacity and capability of visionary and strategic leadership across the continent. Developing exceptional leaders representing all spheres of society, the Institute’s flagship programme is the prestigious Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship. Offering a multifaceted learning experience and run in partnership with Oxford University, it is awarded annually to 20-25 carefully chosen candidates, nominated from across Africa. Alumni of the African Leadership Institute form a dynamic network of Fellows passionately committed to the continent’s transformation, bridging the divide between nations and ensuring that Africa is set centre-stage in global affairs.