As Uganda’s 2026 elections draw nearer, candidates submit their nomination papers and prepare for intense campaigns, many Ugandans remain skeptical about elections. Years of entrenched leadership, systematic electoral manipulation, and a compromised Electoral Commission have left voters questioning the very purpose of casting their ballots. Security forces play a heavy-handed role in the electoral process, intimidating opposition supporters and creating a climate of fear. Adding to this, repeated internet blackouts, social media restrictions, and vote-buying practices have severely undermined faith in a transparent process. Rural voters are often targeted with cash and food handouts, while many urban youth have simply lost faith, seeing no point in voting. It is not that we hate democracy; in fact, we overwhelmingly support it, but rather because the system repeatedly fails to deliver on its promises.
For decades, for instance, Ugandan elections have been characterized by intimidation, manipulation, and a sense of futility among voters. President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is now seeking a seventh term, nearly five decades at the helm. Over the years, term and age limits have been removed from the constitution, effectively cementing his hold on power. A pattern that has left many wondering if elections in Uganda are merely a rubber-stamp exercise rather than a genuine opportunity for change.
One of the biggest drivers of voter skepticism is the perception that key state institutions lack independence. The Electoral Commission, for example, is widely viewed as being aligned with the ruling party, which, to many of us, raises questions about its impartiality. Reports of ballot-stuffing, voter bribery, and delayed ballot deliveries have only fueled doubts about whether elections are truly free and fair. According to Afrobarometer, only about 42% of Ugandans trust the Electoral Commission to deliver a credible election.
▪ Over the past two decades, Ugandans have maintained a high level of support for regular, open, and honest elections as the best way to choose their leaders.
▪ Three out of four Ugandans say the country needs many political parties to ensure that voters have real choices, a high level of support for multiparty competition compared to other African countries.
▪ But Ugandans are skeptical regarding the quality of their elections. Citizens across the partisan divide have consistently expressed little faith in the Electoral Commission, while trust in the courts, the institution tasked with dealing with electoral disputes, has declined.
▪ A majority of Ugandans trust the EC to execute technocratic tasks such as providing information and managing voter registration, but not to enforce fair competition between parties.
▪ More educated citizens, urban residents, opposition party supporters and nonpartisans, and committed democrats are less likely to trust the EC and courts to ensure free and fair elections. – full report at AfroBarometer
Security forces also play a controversial role during Uganda’s elections. From military deployments to paramilitary youth groups known as “crime preventers,” there has been a long history of intimidation targeted at opposition supporters. In recent years, opposition figures like Kizza Besigye and Bobi Wine have faced arrests, beatings, and even military trials, despite Supreme Court rulings that civilians should not be tried in military courts; the ruling was later dismissed on grounds of national security. These patterns of intimidation and judicial manipulation leave many Ugandans feeling that elections are a rigged affair.
And that’s not to mention the media restrictions. Digital censorship and surveillance add another layer to this complicated picture. Internet shutdowns, social media blackouts, and constant monitoring by local government agents create a chilling effect, discouraging civic participation and stifling open debate. In a country where nearly two-thirds of people already feel unsafe expressing their political views, this digital clampdown is deeply worrying, with decisions made not because they are what the voter would want, but simply because it is what will save them from retaliation, or, in other instances because certain decisions will lead favours.
This culture of patronage and corruption pervades Uganda’s political system. Vote-buying is rampant, with candidates handing out money, food, and other incentives, especially in rural areas where poverty is widespread. This practice distorts the democratic process by encouraging voters to support candidates based on material gain instead of policy or vision.
And this goes beyond votes, patronage networks extend into government jobs, contracts, and public services, rewarding loyalists while punishing dissenters. This entrenches a culture where political support is transactional, not based on trust or good governance. As a result, communities often view elections as opportunities to receive short-term benefits, rather than a way to demand accountability and development.
All these factors contribute to a sense of hopelessness and apathy among Ugandan voters, especially the youth. Voter turnout has been declining in recent elections, with over 50% of eligible voters either unregistered or choosing not to participate. People have come to expect little change, no matter who runs, leading to the widespread feeling that elections are just another ritual with a predetermined outcome.
That said, Ugandans still believe in the ideals of democracy; the frustration lies not in the concept of voting itself, but in the repeated failure of the system to protect their voices.
