Electoral Democracy In Uganda

Electoral Democracy in Uganda: Understanding the Institutional Processes and Outcomes of the 2006 Multiparty Elections analyses the institutionalisation of democratic practice in the Uganda with reference to the 2006 elections. The focus is on elections as a "test" of the strength and legitimacy of Uganda's political institutions. It is argued that elections are more than the casting and counting of ballots. Accordingly, the book analyses the 2006 Ugandan elections in terms of the broader process involving the setting of rules for political contests; the registration of voters and parties; the nomination of candidates; campaigning and voting; the ballot counting and tallying; and, fially, the handling of election complaints. The book examines four key institutions that should, ideally, secure democratic governance - the parliament, the Electoral Commission (EC), the judiciary, and political parties. To present a comprehensive analysis of the key players in the electoral process, the book has chapters on the roles of women, civil society and the media, and security agencies in the 2006 elections.

The continuation of no-party democracy has been constitutionalised by the Constituent Assembly of Uganda, causing great controversy. The 1995 constitution provided for a referendum to be held in the year 2000 to enable Ugandans to revisit the question of political systems and choose between multiparty, no-party and any other form of democracy. The eight contributors including Professor Ali Mazrui, examine the case for and against multipartyism, the justification for no-party democracy as well as its myths and realities, and the wider ideological implications of movement politics in the Great Lakes region. They also explore the possibilities of bridging the gap between movementists and multipartyists in order to adopt a political system based on the widest consensus possible among the people in Uganda.

This 28-page report documents recent cases in which high court judges rulingon electoral petitions determined that candidates and campaign staff had committed criminal acts, yet the alleged crimes were rarely investigated and prosecuted. Some of thosealleged to have committed the crimes during the 2006 elections continue to hold high office, Human Rights Watch said

Are political parties an essential element of democracy? Or can a no-party system constitute a viable democratic alternative? Giovanni Carbone examines the politics of Museveniʹs Uganda to illustrate the achievements, contradictions, and limitations of participatory politics in the absence of partisan organizations. At a time when multiparty reforms were sweeping the globe, Uganda opted for a controversial, no-party democratic model. The countryʹs politics over the past two decades thus provide the perfect opportunity for addressing the many questions -- theoretical, empirical, and comparative -- that the notion of a no-party system of elected government raises. Carboneʹs analysis of how a no-party electoral regime actually works (or doesnʹt) in Uganda fills a gap in both democracy studies and the study of African politics. -- Publisher description.

The management of elections is increasingly generating impassioned debate in these East African nations Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The bodies that manage and conduct elections are, therefore, coming under intense citizen and stakeholder scrutiny for the manner in which they are composed, how they organise and perform their mandates, and the outcomes they achieve. The effectiveness of electoral management bodies (EMBs) has largely been influenced by the impact of political violence on election management reforms in East Africa. Even in countries where EMBs are the products of reforms initiated in the aftermath of violent disputes over elections, they still face enormous challenges in dealing with electoral disputes and anticipating election-related crises. Although changes to constitutions and the laws in these countries have sought to make EMBs independent and, therefore, more inclined to deliver free, fair and credible elections, there are many issues that determine their impartiality and their ability to allow for the aggregation and free expression of the will of the people. These shortcomings negatively impact on democracy. This volume assembles case studies on the capacity of EMBs in these five East African countries to deliver democratic and transparent elections.

The Role of Parliament