Politics of Uganda

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Politics of Uganda
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Constitution
Government
Parliament
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
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Uganda is a presidential republic in which the President of Uganda is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government business. There is a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is given to both the government and the National Assembly. The system is based on a democratic parliamentary system with equal rights for all citizens over 18 years of age.

The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Uganda a "hybrid regime" in 2019.[1][needs update]

Political culture[]

In a measure ostensibly designed to reduce sectarian violence, political parties were restricted in their activities from 1986. In the non-party "Movement" system instituted by President Yoweri Museveni, political parties continued to exist but could not campaign in elections or field candidates directly (although electoral candidates could belong to political parties). A constitutional referendum canceled this 19-year ban on multi-party politics in July 2005.

Presidential elections were held in February 2006. Museveni ran against several candidates, of whom the most prominent was the exiled Dr. Kizza Besigye. Museveni was declared the winner. Besigye alleged fraud, and rejected the result. The Supreme Court of Uganda ruled that the election was marred by intimidation, violence, voter disenfranchisement, and other irregularities. However, the Court voted 4-3 to uphold the results of the election.[2]

Executive[]

The structure of Uganda's government.
Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda.
Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
President Yoweri Museveni National Resistance Movement 26 January 1986
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda National Resistance Movement 18 September 2014

The head of state in Uganda is the President, who is elected by a popular vote to a five-year term. This is currently Yoweri Museveni, who is also the head of the armed forces. The previous presidential elections were in February 2011, and in the election of February 2016, Museveni was elected with 68 percent of the vote. The cabinet is appointed by the president from among the elected legislators. The prime minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, assists the president in the supervision of the cabinet.

The Cabinet of Uganda, according to the Constitution of Uganda, "shall consist of the President, the Vice President and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State."[3][4]

Ministries of Uganda[]

[5]

Political parties and elections[]

Main articles: List of political parties in Uganda and Elections in Uganda

Presidential elections[]

The most recent president elections in Uganda were held on January 14, 2021 featuring 11 aspirants comprising 10 men and 1 woman.

The announced but contested results are as follows;

Candidates' Names Votes Percentage
AMURIAT OBOI PATRICK 337,589 3.26%
KABULETA KIIZA JOSEPH 45,424 0.44%
KALEMBE NANCY LINDA 38,772 0.37%
KATUMBA JOHN 37,554 0.36%
KYAGULANYI SSENTAMU ROBERT 3,631,437 35.08%
MAO NORBERT 57,682 0.56%
MAYAMBALA WILLY 15,014 0.15%
MUGISHA MUNTU GREGG 67,574 0.65%
MWESIGYE FRED 25,483 0.25%
TUMUKUNDE HENRY KAKURUGU 51,392 0.50%
YOWERI MUSEVENI TIBUHABURWA KAGUTA 6,042,898 58.38%
Invalid Votes 393,500 3.66%
Valid Votes 10,350,819

Source: Uganda ELectoral Commission[6]

The pop star turned politician Bobi wine aka Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu is challenging the election results in the country's highest court, the supreme court seeking to over-turn Museveni's victory.[7]

The highly contested elections marred with violence and opposition repression has outrage, condemnation and sanctions from both the US and the European Union[8]

Main article: 2016 Ugandan general election
CandidatePartyVotes%
Yoweri MuseveniNational Resistance Movement5,971,87260.62
Kizza BesigyeForum for Democratic Change3,508,68735.61
Amama MbabaziGo Forward136,5191.39
Abed BwanikaPeople's Development Party89,0050.90
Venansius BaryamureebaIndependent52,7980.54
Faith KyalyaIndependent42,8330.43
Benon BiraaroUganda Farmers Party25,6000.26
Joseph MabiriziIndependent24,4980.25
Total9,851,812100.00
Valid votes9,851,81295.38
Invalid/blank votes477,3194.62
Total votes10,329,131100.00
Registered voters/turnout15,277,19867.61
Source: EC, EC

Parliamentary elections[]

Main article: 2016 Ugandan general election
Ouganda Parlement 2016.svg
PartyConstituencyWomenSeats
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsAppointedTotal+/–
National Resistance Movement3,945,00048.881993,566,61748.958410293+30
Forum for Democratic Change1,027,64812.7329929,86012.767036+2
Democratic Party349,9624.3413246,2843.382015+3
Uganda People's Congress172,7812.144236,1643.24206–4
Justice Forum20,0890.25016,7410.230000
Ugandan Federal Alliance18,1460.22000.00–000
Conservative Party10,7920.1302,9020.040000
Social Democratic Party5,9720.07000.00–000
Republican Women and Youth Party2,3110.0308,5020.120000
People's Progressive Party2,1850.03016,7200.230000
Uganda Patriotic Movement4700.01000.00–000
Activist Party1750.00000.00–000
Independents2,515,16331.16442,261,89731.0517566+23
Uganda People's Defence Force10100
Total8,070,694100.002897,285,687100.0011225426+51
Registered voters/turnout15,277,198–15,277,198–
Source: EC, Election Passport

Judiciary[]

The Ugandan judiciary operates as an independent branch of government and consists of magistrate's courts, high courts, courts of appeal (which organizes itself as the Constitutional Court of Uganda when hearing constitutional issues), and the Supreme Court. Judges for the High Court are appointed by the president; Judges for the Court of Appeal are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature.

Foreign relations[]

Further information: Foreign relations of Uganda

A fight between Ugandan and Libyan presidential guards sparked chaos during a ceremony attended by the heads of state from 11 African nations on March 19, 2008.[9]

International organization participation[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ The Economist Intelligence Unit (8 January 2019). "Democracy Index 2019". Economist Intelligence Unit. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Uganda's Museveni wins election", BBC, 25 February 2006
  3. ^ 1995 Constitution of Uganda (see page 83 of 192)
  4. ^ 2005 amended Constitution of Uganda (see page 100 of 231)
  5. ^ "Home - Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives". mtic.go.ug.
  6. ^ administrator (2021-01-27). "2021 General Elections". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  7. ^ "Supreme Court outlines timeline for handling Bobi petition". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  8. ^ "Human rights breaches in Uganda, Rwanda and Kazakhstan | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  9. ^ Ntale, Samson. "Guards for African leaders battle; dozen injured". edition.cnn.com.

External links[]

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