Deepening Democracy through Multipartyism: The Bumpy Road to Uganda's 2011 Elections

Abstract

The 2011 elections will be one of the several elections (and the second-ever multiparty election) organized by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) since it captured power in 1986. Despite the regular elections since the 1990s, the quality and outcomes of these elections have remained subjects of debate. Democracy has remained elusive in Uganda despite the re-introduction of multiparty politics. Incumbency advantages, manipulation and unconstitutional use of state resources and apparatuses, and removal of the constitutional term limits on the presidency have combined to hamper effective growth of multiparty politics and democracy in the country. The question is: Does electioneering necessarily produce democratic governance or does it simply create the conditions and norms necessary for institutionalization of democratic rule? In particular, does the existence of multiparty politics necessarily deepen democratic governance? This paper stresses that despite the return of multiparty politics in Uganda, neither has democracy been consolidated nor have elections acted as effective instruments for advancing democratization in the country.

Technological Distribution in Uganda: Information and Communications Technology and the State in an Eastern African Nation

“…After a peaceful transition to independence, Uganda initially experienced a vibrant multi‐party system (Makara, ). The years following independence, however, were characterized by “widespread civil conflict” (MacLean et al, ).…”

“…The years following independence, however, were characterized by “widespread civil conflict” (MacLean et al, ). Soon after independence, Prime Minister Milton Obote suspended the 1962 constitution and installed himself head of both state and government (Makara, ; Saul, ; Uzoigwe, ). Obote utilized the method of divide and rule, resulting in a high level of tribal and religious tension throughout the country.…”

“…Obote utilized the method of divide and rule, resulting in a high level of tribal and religious tension throughout the country. Obote's approach facilitated the rise, in 1971, of General Idi Amin, a high‐ranking military office from the North, who seized power in a coup d’état , and imposed a brutal dictatorship (Makara, ). Amin relied on a narrow constituency and used murder, fear, and abuse of human rights to ensure compliance and to stay in power (Flanary & Watt, ; Short, ).…”

“…In the post Amin period, the Ugandan government lacked representativeness and encouraged high levels of political violence. After a protracted armed struggle, the National Resistance Army, led by Yoweri Museveni, came to power in Uganda in 1986, after more than two decades of civil war (Katusiimeh, ) establishing “no‐party” democracy (Makara, ). In order to establish territorial control throughout the country, Museveni had to co‐opt people from diverse and even opposing groups, religions, languages, and parts of the country (Carbone, ).…”

Insurgent Urbanism, Citizenship and Surveillance in Kampala City: Implications for Urban Policy in Uganda

“…Many Ugandans are still trying to get to the roots of two specific, massive unregulated, semi para-military vigilante groups of informal commandos/ goons called the Kiboko (stick) Squad and now Crime Preventers that often spring up on the streets in big numbers with long menacing sticks to clobber anybody trying to peacefully demonstrate. These plain clothed personnel armed with clubs, batons and canes have unleashed terror and beaten up people indiscriminately while the police standby and look on (Helle et al, 2011;Kigambo, 2011;Makara, 2010;Mulumba, 2011;WaMucoori, 2010).…”