Election and post-election management of the 2021 elections in Uganda.

On January 14, 2021, Uganda conducted its fourth multiparty general elections under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) regime, which has governed since 1986. This chapter appraises the performance of the Electoral Commission (EC) and associated institutions in managing these polls, emphasizing k...

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Main Author: Makara, Sabiti
Format: Book chapter
Language:English
Published: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Uganda & South Sudan and The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre. 2025
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/3014
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author Makara, Sabiti
author_facet Makara, Sabiti
author_sort Makara, Sabiti
collection KAB-DR
description On January 14, 2021, Uganda conducted its fourth multiparty general elections under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) regime, which has governed since 1986. This chapter appraises the performance of the Electoral Commission (EC) and associated institutions in managing these polls, emphasizing key processes such as the electoral roadmap, voter registration and register updates, candidate nominations, freedom to campaign, and results management. It contextualizes the 2021 elections within historical trajectories of electoral administration since independence, including the shift from no-party to multiparty politics in 2005, persistent demands for reforms, and the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis highlights a persistent trust deficit in the EC stemming from its composition, presidential appointments, and perceived bias toward procedural focus over substantive fairness while questioning whether regular multiparty elections have truly advanced democratic consolidation in Uganda. Drawing on legal frameworks, observer reports, and stakeholder critiques, the chapter underscores how issues like violence, incumbency misuse, and inadequate autonomy undermine electoral integrity, yet notes incremental administrative improvements in areas like voter verification.
format Book chapter
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publishDate 2025
publisher Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Uganda & South Sudan and The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre.
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spelling oai:idr.kab.ac.ug:20.500.12493-30142025-11-13T00:00:37Z Election and post-election management of the 2021 elections in Uganda. Makara, Sabiti Electoral Commission Uganda 2021 elections multiparty politics electoral reforms COVID-19 election management trust deficit democratic consolidation On January 14, 2021, Uganda conducted its fourth multiparty general elections under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) regime, which has governed since 1986. This chapter appraises the performance of the Electoral Commission (EC) and associated institutions in managing these polls, emphasizing key processes such as the electoral roadmap, voter registration and register updates, candidate nominations, freedom to campaign, and results management. It contextualizes the 2021 elections within historical trajectories of electoral administration since independence, including the shift from no-party to multiparty politics in 2005, persistent demands for reforms, and the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis highlights a persistent trust deficit in the EC stemming from its composition, presidential appointments, and perceived bias toward procedural focus over substantive fairness while questioning whether regular multiparty elections have truly advanced democratic consolidation in Uganda. Drawing on legal frameworks, observer reports, and stakeholder critiques, the chapter underscores how issues like violence, incumbency misuse, and inadequate autonomy undermine electoral integrity, yet notes incremental administrative improvements in areas like voter verification. 2025-11-12T22:10:02Z 2025-11-12T22:10:02Z 2025 Book chapter Makara, S. (2025). Election and post-election management of the 2021 elections in Uganda. In Reviewing the form and substance of the 2021 elections (pp. 1–42). Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Uganda & South Sudan and The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/3014 en Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ application/pdf Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Uganda & South Sudan and The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre.
spellingShingle Electoral Commission
Uganda 2021 elections
multiparty politics
electoral reforms
COVID-19
election management
trust deficit
democratic consolidation
Makara, Sabiti
Election and post-election management of the 2021 elections in Uganda.
title Election and post-election management of the 2021 elections in Uganda.
title_full Election and post-election management of the 2021 elections in Uganda.
title_fullStr Election and post-election management of the 2021 elections in Uganda.
title_full_unstemmed Election and post-election management of the 2021 elections in Uganda.
title_short Election and post-election management of the 2021 elections in Uganda.
title_sort election and post election management of the 2021 elections in uganda
topic Electoral Commission
Uganda 2021 elections
multiparty politics
electoral reforms
COVID-19
election management
trust deficit
democratic consolidation
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/3014
work_keys_str_mv AT makarasabiti electionandpostelectionmanagementofthe2021electionsinuganda