Uganda
Uganda exhibits mid-range performance across the categories of Rule of Law and Participation, while exhibiting low-range performance in the categories of Representation and Rights of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework. Over the past five years, it has experienced notable declines in Economic Equality, Participation, Civil Society and Civic Engagement. Uganda is a landlocked and low-income country, largely reliant on agriculture. Despite the endurance of low levels of human development, Uganda has maintained relatively brisk economic growth driven by investments in the oil sector.
In precolonial times, present-day Uganda was ruled by a number of powerful kingdoms, notably the still influential Kingdom of Buganda. In the late 19th century, the country was colonized by the British, whose rule deepened ethnic divisions, skewed the country’s economic development, polarized its elite and, at independence in 1962, left behind a weak state apparatus. Independence was followed by the authoritarian rule of Milton Obote and of Idi Amin. The country’s current president, Yoweri Museveni, came to power in 1986, after defeating Obote in the Ugandan Bush War. For the first two decades of Museveni’s presidency, Uganda was governed under a unique 'non-party system', in which grass roots participation was encouraged through the structures of a single, all-encompassing ‘movement’ and candidates ran for election on the basis of personal merit. Multi-party elections were reintroduced in 2006, however since then further democratization has stalled. In recent years, Museveni has entrenched his power by various means, including patronage, constitutional reform, weakening countervailing institutions and building a politicized security apparatus, that has regularly been deployed against the political opposition and civil society, particularly during elections. Yet, Museveni retains genuine support, especially in the rural areas and among older and wealthy voters, who credit him with stabilizing the country.
Ethnicity is another salient cleavage in Uganda, which is home to over 50 ethnic groups and has a long history of these identities being instrumentalized. Its salience is visible in the prominence of tribalist language in political discourse and in voting patterns, which continue to be influenced by regional fault lines. While some progress has been made on women’s rights issues, gender-based violence is widespread and a priority concern for Ugandans. Women also suffer economic inequalities, most glaringly in gender wage disparities. LGBTQIA+ rights is a highly volatile and politicized issue, and members of this community face severe state and societal discrimination under a harsh legal regime, that in 2023 was made even stricter by the Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Another important issue shaping politics in Uganda is its economic performance, with high unemployment and uneven growth driving the country’s burgeoning urban youth into conflictual opposition with the government. Concerns about unemployment have been exacerbated by anger over pervasive corruption and state-repression and harassment of opposition parties and civil society organizations.
Looking ahead, it will remain important to monitor the various elements of Uganda’s growing authoritarianism. These include the systematic repression of the political opposition and civil society, the militarization of the state and other less visible processes, such as executive interference in the judiciary. Changes here could impact performance across many GSoD indicators. The high cost of living and revelations from the ‘iron sheets’ corruption scandal have fueled anti-government sentiment and protest and require attention to Freedom of Association and Assembly and Civic Engagement.
Updated: August 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
August 2024
LRA commander convicted of crimes against humanity in landmark case
As the first Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) commander to be tried by a Ugandan court, Thomas Kwoyelo was found guilty of dozens of crimes against humanity on 13 August 2024. Kwoyelo was convicted of dozens of atrocities committed during the LRA insurgency. A child soldier-turned rebel commander, Kwoyelo has been in custody since 2009. Rights group International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) described the trial, which had faced years of delays, as a milestone in the country’s efforts to hold war criminals accountable. The trial is also the first atrocity case to be tried under the International Crimes Division, a special division of the High Court, that was established in 2008 to try international crimes. Human rights groups welcomed the verdict as a crucial step toward justice for victims of the LRA’s brutal campaign. Kwoyelo is yet to be sentenced.
Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC, ISS Africa, The Africa Report, Human Rights Watch, ICTJ
July 2024
36 opposition members charged with terrorism offences
On 29 July 2024, Ugandan authorities charged 36 opposition party members with terrorism-related offences. Those charged included members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), one of Uganda’s biggest opposition parties. The 36 people received the charges after they were deported from Kenya, where they had travelled to attend a training course. The prosecution alleged that the 36 individuals had travelled to Kenya with the intent to provide or receive terrorism training. During their arrest, the police are alleged to have beaten and tortured the opposition members. The accused were reportedly unable to enter a plea, as terrorism charges are classified as capital offences, requiring trial in a higher court. Human rights organizations expressed deep concern, accusing the government of weaponizing terrorism laws to silence dissent.
Sources: Reuters, Uganda Police Force, DW, Article 19
October 2023
Security forces crack down on opposition as leader returns to Uganda
Uganda’s police and military have cracked down on members of the opposition National Unity Platform party (NUP) as its leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, returned to Uganda from a trip abroad on 6 October. According to Wine, he was detained by security personnel at Entebbe airport, taken home and then placed under house arrest, an allegation denied by the police, which said that he was merely ‘escorted’ home. A police press release stated that it had also arrested 40 individuals (including an NUP parliamentarian) as part of a security operation to shut down an NUP march that it had declared illegal. Wine, however, said that over 300 people were arrested, and media organisations reported that journalists had been detained and assaulted by security personnel, who had also prevented them from accessing the airport. On 9 October, Wine claimed that Ugandan police and military officers had raided the NUP’s headquarters, alleging that the raid was aimed at stopping a party prayer event.
Sources: British Broadcasting Corporation (1), Monitor, Uganda Police Force, Bobi Wine, British Broadcasting Corporation (2), Committee to Protect Journalists, Voice of America, British Broadcasting Corporation (3)
August 2023
Uganda charges two men with new ‘aggravated homosexuality’ offence
In August, the office of the Director of Public Prosecution revealed that it had charged two men with the capital offence of ‘aggravated homosexuality’, the first such charges since the enactment in May 2023 of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, the legislation that introduced the offence. Aggravated homosexuality is committed where same-sex relations occur in a select list of ‘aggravating’ circumstances, including where they involve a minor (as is alleged in one of the cases) or a disabled person (as is alleged in the other). Uganda has not executed anyone since 2005, with those charged with capital offences usually receiving life sentences. However, the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act has raised fears amongst the LGBTQIA+ community and its advocates of a resumption of state executions. Several people were also arrested in August for lesser offences under the Act and evictions and harassment and violence against LGBTQIA+ persons is reported to have risen in recent months.
Sources: National Public Radio, Amnesty International, British Broadcasting Corporation, France 24, The Christian Science Monitor, International IDEA
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