By Rising Nation Editorial Team
As Uganda strides toward long-term growth and global recognition, its path must be underpinned by a credible, transparent, and people-driven democratic process. The recent National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries—while initially conceived as an internal party exercise—unveiled systemic challenges that resonate far beyond partisan politics. With 97 electoral petitions submitted in response to perceived irregularities and unfair treatment, the primaries revealed deeper fractures in the country’s electoral machinery. Far from a routine internal poll, the NRM exercise has become a profound case study on electoral integrity in Uganda—and, more critically, a national wake-up call for broader democratic reform
A Revolutionary Heritage Under Siege
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the architect of Uganda’s post conflict recovery and long serving head of the NRM, recently lamented that “self seekers” are polluting the party’s electoral culture. His statement was more than frustration—it was an urgent plea to preserve the blood earned legacy of NRM/NRA/FRONASA, whose foundation was built on patriotism, sacrifice, and discipline.
That same revolutionary heritage now risks being eroded by electoral malpractice, rampant vote buying, violence, and institutional mistrust. The arrest of individuals involved in tampering with vote tallies in districts like Mayuge, Buyende, and Pader was symptomatic of a deeper democratic decay—one that can no longer be brushed aside.
The Lwemiyaga Flashpoint: When Politics Turns Combative
Perhaps most jarring was the violent confrontation in Lwemiyaga constituency between Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo and Brig. Gen. Rwashande. What should have been a contest of ideas descended into a physical altercation, leaving injuries in its wake and raising serious concerns about the militarization of electoral politics.
Instead of showcasing democratic maturity, the episode exposed how political competition is increasingly defined by force and factionalism rather than policy dialogue and ideological conviction. It also highlighted the alarming entanglement of security organs in civilian electoral affairs, a trend that risks normalizing political violence and eroding public trust.
Transparency versus Intimidation: The Paradox of Standing Behind
The NRM’s unique voting method, where supporters physically stand behind their preferred candidate, is an electoral throwback that combines raw transparency with visible social pressure. While it allows instant confirmation of support and limits backroom manipulations, it simultaneously places voters in a vulnerable position, subject to intimidation, groupthink, and political retaliation.
Though impractical for national elections due to the scale and complexity involved, this practice raises important questions. How can Uganda preserve the spirit of electoral transparency while safeguarding the secrecy and dignity of each voter’s choice?
The Promise and Peril of Digital Elections
President Museveni has floated the idea of transitioning to digital voting for national elections, offering a bold vision of streamlined, fraud resistant processes anchored in biometric verification and real time result transmission. Such a transformation could redefine electoral accountability in Uganda.
Yet digital inclusion remains a serious challenge. Connectivity gaps, weak infrastructure, and low digital literacy in rural areas risk creating a two tier democracy. If not carefully managed, digitization could become another form of disenfranchisement. The President’s warning that elections in areas without digital voting infrastructure would be cancelled raises eyebrows. Cancellation should be an absolute last resort, not a backdoor to silencing communities.
A phased approach, perhaps beginning with pilot projects in by elections, could help assess real world applicability and build public trust before full scale national implementation.
Beyond Ballots: Confronting Intimidation and Money Politics
One of the most corrosive forces in Ugandan politics today is the unbridled use of money to manipulate electoral outcomes. Bribery, vote buying, and campaign financing from wealthy backers distort the political landscape and erode the democratic principle of merit based leadership.
This problem is compounded by the coercive role of security agencies, who should be impartial guardians of order, not enforcers of political outcomes. True democracy cannot thrive under fear. Electoral intimidation, whether physical, emotional, or economic, must be treated not only as a criminal act but as a threat to national cohesion and security.
Uganda needs a robust public financing model for campaigns to reduce candidates’ dependence on private patronage. Equally, it must empower the Electoral Commission to act independently and decisively, with adequate resources and protection from political interference.
Global Lessons: Democracy as a Process, Not a Product
No democracy is perfect. Even in advanced nations like the United States, more than two centuries of electoral experience have not inoculated the system against partisanship, disinformation, and institutional strain. The 2020 U.S. elections, marred by insurrection and unprecedented levels of mistrust, reminded the world that democracy must be constantly renewed.
What distinguishes mature democracies is not flawlessness but their resilience, their capacity for self correction through independent oversight, transparent auditing, inclusive voter registration, and widespread civic education. Uganda must emulate these principles, not just in form, but in spirit.
The Road Ahead: Building a People Centred Electoral System
Uganda’s future rests on the legitimacy of its democratic institutions. Reforms must be meaningful, timely, and people centred—not cosmetic. Key steps forward include initiating genuine electoral reform before the 2026 general elections through broad stakeholder consultations, piloting hybrid voting models that combine digital innovation with manual safeguards, and creating an independent Election Crimes Tribunal to restore confidence in the rule of law.
Investments in civic education, particularly among youth, women, and rural communities, will also play a transformative role in deepening political awareness and reducing susceptibility to manipulation.
A Nation at the Crossroads
President Museveni’s vow to “clean up the NRM” should not end with party politics—it must inspire a nationwide commitment to electoral renewal. The challenge is not just to remove ballot thieves, but to reclaim the soul of Uganda’s democracy.
Elections are more than procedural events—they are moral mirrors of a nation’s values. If Uganda is to truly rise, it must rise on the shoulders of free, fair, and fearless elections, where no citizen is bought, bullied, or betrayed, and where every vote carries the weight of a nation’s future.
