The Long Form Podcast

Before the RPF liberation struggle, before 1990, and before Rwanda’s transformation, there was RANU (Rwandese Alliance for National Unity) — a small underground movement created by Rwandan refugees living in exile. In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, former Rwandan Minister of Justice and RANU founding member Tharcisse Karugarama tells the story of growing up as a refugee in Uganda, the stru...

What does it really take to build a global career from Africa?  In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and YouTube creator Tayo Aina reflects on a decade of traveling across Africa and the world, documenting cities, cultures, businesses, and untold stories.  We discuss the hidden costs of creating world-class content, the challenges of traveling with a Nigerian passport...

African music has never been more popular. Afrobeats, Amapiano, and other African sounds are reaching audiences across the world, generating billions of streams and reshaping global culture. But who is really benefiting?  In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Audiomack Co-Founder and CMO David Ponte discusses the rise of African music, the economics of streaming, why many artists still struggl...

Uganda is often described as a country full of potential. But beneath the optimism, many Ugandans are navigating rising costs, economic pressure, uncertainty, and growing skepticism about the future.  In this episode of The Long Form Podcast , journalist and analyst Angelo Izama discusses Uganda's changing mood, the rise of drug use as a coping mechanism, the country's oil strategy, AFCO...

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Dr. Lawrence Muganga discusses identity, belonging, education, and the future of Uganda.  From his childhood selling rabbits to becoming Vice Chancellor of Victoria University and later being nominated as State Minister for Internal Affairs, Dr. Muganga reflects on his journey, the debate surrounding Uganda's Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, his arre...

What does it actually mean to be East African? In this episode of The Long Form Podcast , Marcus Kwikiriza reflects on living and working across Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, and why the dream of an integrated East Africa remains more complicated than many people assume. Drawing on his experience during Kenya's 2007–08 post-election violence, Marcus discusses ethnicity, identity, labour mobility...

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Okwir Rabwoni reflects on a life shaped by revolution, ideology, and war across East Africa.  After leaving school at 17 to join the National Resistance Army, Rabwoni trained in Libya and Cuba before later joining the Rwandan Patriotic Front during the liberation war in Rwanda at the request of Major Gen. Fred Rwigema. He would later fight in Congo and wor...

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Dr. Adonia Ayebare discusses the hidden diplomacy behind the Uganda–Rwanda fallout, regional security in eastern Congo, and the future of Africa in an increasingly unstable global order.  As Uganda’s Ambassador to the United Nations and a longtime advisor to Yoweri Museveni, Dr. Ayebare offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on how power actually work...

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Isabelle Kamariza shares the story behind Solid'Africa and the hidden crisis she discovered in Rwanda’s public hospitals: vulnerable patients going without food.  What began in 2010 as a small effort to feed a few patients has grown into one of Rwanda’s most impactful social enterprises, now serving thousands of medically tailored meals every day acro...

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Ugandan veteran politician and NRM stalwart Captain Mike Mukula shares a rare insider perspective on the events that shaped modern Rwanda and East Africa.  From his early interactions with Paul Kagame and Fred Rwigema before 1990, to witnessing the aftermath of the Rwandan Civil War and 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Captain Mukula offers a firsthand acc...

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, investigative journalist Canary Mugume of NBS Television opens up about the reality of journalism in Uganda and Africa today.  From reporting on powerful political figures to navigating public scrutiny, Mugume shares what it really means to pursue truth in an environment shaped by pressure, risk, and perception.  We explore the challenges of speaking truth...

This episode of The Long Form Podcast explores what it really takes to enter politics in Rwanda. Jessy Mugisha, a young independent parliamentary aspirant and businessman, shares his experience attempting to run in the 2024 elections and what he discovered about access, participation, and opportunity in the political system.  We discuss youth engagement in Rwandan politics, the barriers facing ind...

The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is often simplified into a story of aggressors and victims — but the reality is far more complex.  In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza breaks down the geopolitical, legal, and strategic forces shaping the Rwanda–DRC crisis, the role of M23, and why tensions between Rwanda and its neighbors continue to esc...

Why are so many young professionals in Rwanda, Uganda, and across East Africa still struggling to build wealth — even when they earn, save, and follow traditional financial advice? In this episode of The Long Form Podcast , Isaac Nkusi, finance professional and host of The Money Blueprint Podcast , breaks down why the conventional path to financial success is failing for many people earning $300–$...

Prices are rising, currencies are under pressure, and global events are beginning to affect everyday life in ways many people don’t fully understand. In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, explains what is really happening inside Rwanda’s economy — and how global shocks such as US sanctions, geopolitical tensions, and rising energy...

Rwanda is often celebrated as a conservation success story, known for its national parks, gorillas, and protected ecosystems. But how much of the country’s natural world has already disappeared?  In this episode of The Long Form Podcast , scientist, photographer, and conservationist Gaël Vande Weghe discusses his research on Rwanda’s biodiversity, including a comprehensive study documenting 229 ma...

Why do people sometimes trust comedians more than politicians?  In this episode of The Long Form, Ugandan comedian Patrick “Salvador” Idringi joins us in Kigali for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, politics, social media, and public criticism in East Africa. Salvador reflects on the pressures of making audiences laugh while navigating political debates, online controversy, and the expecta...

For decades, Africa has depended on imported medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect its people. But what happens when a country decides to manufacture its own?  In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, economic strategist Michael Fairbanks explains the ambitious vision behind Akagera Medicines, a Rwanda-linked biotech company developing treatments for drug-resistant tuberculosis. ...

Can drugs like ketamine, LSD, and marijuana really “rewire” the brain? In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, Dr. Lisa Ndejuru, clinician at the King Faisal Hospital Ketamine Treatment & Research Centre in Kigali, breaks down the science and controversy surrounding psychedelic-assisted therapy, mental health treatment in Africa, and the global rise of ketamine clinics. We discuss Elon Musk’...

What does heroin actually do to a human being — and why are so many young Africans falling into addiction? In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Steve Khald Maridadi a Rwandan filmmaker, opens up about heroin addiction, cocaine, laced marijuana, recovery, psych wards, and the system that failed him. We explore how drug addiction works biologically and psychologically, why jailing addicts may be...

This week on The Long Form, Sonia Mugabo — founder of one of Rwanda’s most recognizable fashion houses — opens up about the trauma, ambition, and emotional cost behind success. Sonia reflects on grief, resilience, entrepreneurship in Africa, motherhood, identity, and the psychological weight of being perceived as “strong.” This conversation explores trauma in Rwanda, African entrepreneurship, crea...

In this episode of The Long Form Podcast, we sit down with Joel Kashaija, a cybersecurity insider and ethical hacker working at the frontlines of digital risk in Africa to unpack why most people, businesses, and even governments misunderstand online security. From smartphones and public Wi-Fi to VPNs, SIM cards, the dark web, and corporate cyber-espionage, this conversation cuts through myths to e...

Davido gets real in this episode! From being young and wild to leaving the club scene, he talks about President Kagame picking him up from the airport, why he’s building a holiday home in Rwanda, and how his music makes Africa come alive. He also speaks on the West’s obsession with Afrobeats and why the world still doesn’t see African music beyond it.   Sponsors: Threat Informat - https://threatin...

Charcoal is a normal part of daily life across Africa, yet its true cost is rarely examined. In this episode of The Long Form , Claudia Muench, CEO of Biomassters, reflects on health, climate, and power — and what it would take for Africa to move beyond charcoal. Join our Patreon to enjoy ad-free viewing https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLongFormPod or support us via our MTN Mobile Money Code 95462 or...

Joshua Baraka on blowing up young, surviving fame, and building longevity in African music. In this episode of The Long Form, Uganda’s rising star opens up about money, pressure, purpose, and protecting his art.  We explore Uganda’s music ecosystem, the financial realities behind streaming success, and how artists can turn creativity into sustainable, generational wealth. Joshua also reflects on i...