Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi, Author at Development Watch Centre

The Modern Thucydides Trap: How China’s Rise Challenges American Hegemony

The American political scientist, Graham Allison, popularised the concept famously known as the “Thucydides Trap.” This concept suggests that whenever a rising power threatens to displace an established one, the tension often guarantees a conflict will arise (war), unless deliberate efforts are made to avoid it. The concept borrows its name from Thucydides (c. 460-400 […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • Aug 28, 2025 • 5 min read

China-Uganda

Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park: Revolutionising Uganda’s Manufacturing Sector

Chinese investments have played an inextricable role in Uganda’s emergence as one of East and Central Africa’s major manufacturing hubs. The dividends from the industriousness of Ugandan industries have transformed not just Uganda but also several other countries whose consumer markets depend on Ugandan-manufactured goods, including the DRC and South Sudan, to mention a few. […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • Aug 26, 2025 • 5 min read

Foreign Policy Analysis

The Paradox of Mao’s Legacy: How Revolutionary Flexibility Shaped China’s Economic Miracle

Different political scientists have argued that the market reforms implemented in China, which explain its great economic success today, were engineered and inherited from Mao Zedong’s theory and practice in guerrilla tactics, which premise flexibility as a key strategy in any exercise. I want to share my thoughts on this idea and argue against the […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • Aug 18, 2025 • 4 min read

China-Uganda

China’s Role in Africa’s Renewable Energy Transition

As the leading global player in green/ clean energy, China has played a pivotal role in Africa’s green energy transition through its investments in exploring solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal energy, and nuclear projects at their early stages on the continent. Through FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation), China has addressed Africa’s pressing need for sustainable, accessible […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • Aug 3, 2025 • 5 min read

Agriculture

Lessons from China’s Agricultural Revolution for Uganda’s Rural Transformation

As a late-developing country, there are remarkable lessons Uganda can draw from China’s transformative journey in alleviating widespread poverty and modernising agriculture. Over the last four decades, China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, a feat unparalleled in history. Part of the strategy through which this rapid and broad transformation was achieved came […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • Jul 24, 2025 • 5 min read

Foreign Policy Analysis

Learning from China: Adapting Development Strategies for African Contexts

Although it may not be possible to have a comprehensive cookbook of China’s rapid development recipes, a few policy frameworks implemented in the country can provide guidance. The Chinese development model has not been uniform. It has been at every stage punctuated by state-led industrialisation alongside export-oriented growth, and strategic global engagement, among other factors/ […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • Jul 17, 2025 • 4 min read

Development Assistance

Austria’s Role in Uganda’s Development and Humanitarian Response

Neither geographical distance nor cultural diversity has limited the connection between Austria and Uganda. Over the years, the two countries have developed a relationship through cooperation in development, cultural exchange, diplomatic engagements, and initiatives related to humanitarian causes, among other areas. The bilateral ties between the two countries have been significantly bolstered over the years. […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • Jul 15, 2025 • 5 min read

China-Uganda

Time Africa to Adopt China-Scale Development Commitment

Africa is tied to conventional, rudimentary, unambitious, lethargic modes of governance and political-economic behaviour. We pursue cliches of democracy and development and all related norms and conformities that have been taught to us by the developed, Western world with full blindness to our crucial realities. We lack a grand strategy for development. We are adapted […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • Jun 17, 2025 • 4 min read

Foreign Policy Analysis

Freedom in Context: The Western Misunderstanding of Chinese Democracy

Several Western-based polling organizations rank China among countries with the least freedom of expression. According to Freedom House, which regards itself as the oldest American organization devoted to the support and defence of democracy around the world, China is ranked as “NOT FREE” as per their 2024 Freedom in the World report. Its Global Freedom […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • May 14, 2025 • 6 min read

Foreign Policy Analysis

Why America Will Lose Tariff War Against China

It is impossible to make any assessment of economic growth worldwide without coming face to face with the contribution of China, in any country’s economic growth. But America is also the world’s largest developed country. It is impossible to point at any nook or crevice of the world and not find American capital or financing […]

Nnanda Kizito Sseruwagi • Apr 16, 2025 • 6 min read