Elections and Democratic Governance in Uganda: An Assessment of the Impact of the 2021 General Elections on Uganda Democratic Governance
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Date
2026-05-07
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between elections and democratic governance in Uganda, with a specific focus on assessing the impact of the 2021
Uganda General Elections on democratic governance. The objectives of the study were; to identify the forms and patterns of electoral violence experienced during the 2021 elections, to analyze the key drivers of electoral violence during the 2021 elections and to assess the role of political actors, security agencies, and institutions in either escalating or mitigating electoral violence. The study used descriptive cross-sectional design and quantitative approach was adopted. The study employed a qualitative epistemology and a phenomenological design, and 10 documents were reviewed in connection to the study problem. Data was analyzed using document review analysis. The study result indicated that physical violence, arbitrary arrests and detentions particularly targeting opposition politicians, their supporters, and political activists, voter intimidation and systematic disruption of
opposition campaign activities were the forms and patterns of electoral violence experienced during the 2021 elections. The study also showed that political
competition and struggle for power, state repression and use of security forces, weak electoral institutions and lack of trust, youth unemployment and social
discontent, and poor voter education and misinformation as the major cause of electoral violence in 2021 general elections in Uganda. The study finding further
indicated that the security agencies, including the police and military, are critical in managing electoral processes and maintaining public order. The study concluded that; electoral violence is driven by institutional weaknesses and deliberate political actions, is driven by a complex interaction of political, institutional, and socio-economic factors, with intense political competition at its core and is significantly shaped by the actions and interactions of key institutional and political actors, particularly political elites, security agencies, and electoral
institutions. The study recommends that; promoting rule of law and due process, strengthening voter protection and electoral management bodies, addressing high rate of youth unemployment and promoting responsible political leadership will
help to reduce on the electoral violence
Description
Undergraduate