Electoral Processes and the Future of Democracy in Uganda: A case of 2006 Presidential and Parliamentary Election Petitions.
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Date
2009-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of law.
Abstract
The 2006 Presidential and Parliamentary elections were marred with voter
disenfranchisement, vote rigging, violence and bribery. The outcome precipitated court
battles for both presidential and parliamentary elections. This study was conducted to
assess the electoral processes and the future of democracy in Uganda. This included:
analyzing the legal, policy, institutional and electoral processes of 2006. The findings of
the study indicate that the 2006 elections had several irregularities in the conduct of the
polls. These included deployment of soldiers on polling stations, intimidation of
supporters, and manipulation of voters' registers, which denied a number of people from
voting.
The study recommends that several reforms be undertaken: They include;- Overhaul of
the composition of the Electoral Commission, denying election offenders to participate or
re-run in bye-elections, following their conviction. The study also emphasized a need to
enhance freedom of the media, and proper vetting of presidential and parliamentary
candidates. Security forces should not be permitted to participate in election processes,
Universal suffrage, checks and balances between judicial and legislative branches. The
civil society organisations should be vibrant watchdogs over electoral processes.
V
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law as
Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements of the
Award of Bachelor of Laws Degree of Kampala
International University.
Keywords
Electoral Processes, Democracy, Presidential and Parliamentary Election Petitions