Uganda is a presidential republic that is composed of multiple political parties. However, one political party, the National Resistance Movement, has ruled the country since 1986.
The politics of Uganda have been shaped by the authoritative dictatorship-like style of its president, Yoweri Museveni, who has made a significant impact on Ugandan culture.
Uganda’s president
Yoweri Museveni has served as the president of Uganda, and head of state, for about 34 years.
Museveni’s story started when he led the National Resistance Movement, also known as the NRM, against the Ugandan National Liberation Army in a civil war called the Ugandan Bush War. He was a revolutionary in post-colonial Africa, leading a leftist student group and becoming chairman of other liberation movements in Africa.
The country was previously ruled by leaders like Idi Amin, General Tito Okello and Milton Obote, whose reigns were filled with violence. “Idi Amin’s 8-year rule produced economic decline, social disintegration, and massive human rights violations,” according to a report from the U.S. Department of State
Amin’s presidency was filled with terror and “remains the darkest chapter in Uganda’s history,” where commited heinous acts like deporting Asians. He killed a total of 300,000 people which included dissidents, according to Safari in Uganda. He was eventually exiled to Saudi Arabia after he tried to attack Tanzania.
Obote was elected head of state in 1980. “He embraced socialist policies and increasingly used repressive tactics to stay in power.” A guerilla war under the leadership of Okello raged against him and he was forced out of office.
Okello helped organize the forces that overthrew Idi Amin in 1979. He became a part of the Military Commission, which was a supreme body that led the country after Amin’s reign. Time would pass and he would rise in military rank and eventually became president in 1985.
His presidency was met with a lot of chaos due to conflict between rebel groups, and as a result, the economy tanked.
African Studies Center cites rising conflict as the reason why the economy was in decline. Abuse of power by past presidents also contributed to the problem. Amin, for example, enacted “nationalist, militarist policies and ill-chosen economic strategies to eliminate foreign economic interests and build up the military.”
Consequently, it was a tall order for Okello to try to restore the economy during his short reign.
Okello was overthrown by and transferred his powers to the National Resistance Movement led by Museveni. These events would lead to the five-year civil war called the Ugandan Bush War in 1986. It was a war fought with the official Ugandan government and the Uganda National Liberation Army against numerous rebel groups, most importantly the NRM. The NRM won the conflict and Museveni’s regime began.
He would declare himself president and get elected in 1996. An article from Monitor describes how the election wasn’t free and fair. The Museveni regime banned political parties from participating in elections which led to the constitutional referendum in 2005.
Museveni used violence and intimidation to stay in power. He scrapped the presidential terms and changed the age limits on two occasions in 2005 and 2017. Museveni ran against candidates who he either got exiled or jailed. Voter fraud, disenfranchisement and violence were utilized on people like Kizza Besigye and Bobbi Wine.
Kizza Besgye is a political figure who ran against Museveni four times. He has been mistreated because of his opposition towards the president, according to BBC News. For example, Besgye was acquitted of rape and treason after beings charged prior to the election in 2006.
Bobbi Wine, music superstar turned political figure, opposed Museveni too. He campaigned for a democratic discourse. He has focused on the upliftment of Uganda’s youth and powerless underclass to change the country’s destiny. In doing so, he has been jailed as a means of intimidation.
Prime minister
The other half of politics in Uganda falls under the jurisdiction of its prime minister, who is in charge of departments and agencies to ensure effective delivery of services to the people of Uganda and the coordination of government ministries.
The typical term length is five years. The current prime minister is Robinah Nabbanja who has served in officer for over two and a half years.
Previous prime ministers are the following:
- Ruhakana Rugunda for six years
- Amama Mbabzi for three years (rebelled against Museveni)
- Apolo Nsibambi for 12 years
Each minister in Nabbanja’s cabinet oversees their own department such as Relief, Disaster, Preparedness and Refugees. Uganda’s legislative power is given to the government and National Assembly, which are directed by the president.
Conclusion
Uganda has been stuck under an authoritarian rule for all of its existence.
Present day Museveni has been ruling Uganda for 38 years because he changed the constitution to keep himself in power. He uses fear and violent tactics to get what he wants. All of this symbolizes the problem of violence within the culture of Uganda.
Policy in Uganda reflects culture. I grew up in an American-Ugandan household where my parents still hold these values unconsciously.
The people of Uganda have only seen violence from their government throughout their lives, and as a result, the people have learned treachery and force is the only way to get what they want. Deceitfulness, greed, mistrust and intimidation are the main ethos.
Because of this corrupt culture, there is no visible means for people who want to do good to achieve power. Ugandans cannot trust Bobbi Wine or Kizza Besigye who want to overthrow the tyrant, Museveni. History will inevitably repeat itself.
The only solution is for people of Uganda to let go of their pride and surround themselves with people of all races, ethnicities and other social groups. Those surrounding people should use their influence on the people of Uganda to change their ways of thinking. This type of change will take time. The first step is for Ugandans to start this change within their own communities and households.
Another problem is the habit of Ugandan presidents declaring themselves as president. This is a major reason for violent conflict in the country. There is no freedom of choice over who the people actually want as president. The only solution is a fundamental change to the constitution, or at least a law to be passed for more of a check and balances-like system such as the U.S. has with three co-equal branches of government, also known as the “Separation of Powers.”
I am speaking from the outside looking in. I ask these questions to the media in Uganda and other neighboring countries: What can be done to minimize conflict in Uganda? Does there need to be a revamp of the constitution that truly values freedom? What needs to be done for that to happen? Does Uganda need to let go of its pride and let other nations influence their policies?
How can you change the culture of Uganda?
Featured image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
Edited by Abbigail Earl & James Sutton
