In the referendum that was held on July 28, 2005, Ugandans voted to adopt a multiparty system of governance, which resulted in the resumption of activities for parties like the Democratic Party (DP) and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the creation of new ones like the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), among others.
Since then, more parties have been formed to enhance democracy and multiparty rule in Uganda.
Despite the efforts, several political party leaders are misusing the freedoms and rights that are given to them under the multiparty system.
On several occasions, leaders like Kizza Besigye under the FDC party, who contested four times against NRM party President Museveni and lost miserably, have seemed to concentrate more on violence and disobeying law and orders rather than convincing Ugandans to vote for them.
After Besigye losing four times, he resorted to promising his supporters that there was a separate arrangement to “change our situation” that could not wait for 2026: “Since the elections are simply Museveni’s plan and arrangement, with little chance of unseating him.”
“We shall have our arrangement that we are sure can change the situation. Thinking about the election is shooting yourself in the foot,” he said.
Eventually, Besigye was arrested in Kenya negotiating and soliciting for arms and logistical support, transported back to Uganda, now in Luzira prisons awaiting further prosecution.
Evidently, such behaviors of hooliganism have been adopted by NUP’s Bobi Wine. On November 18, 2020, violent protests commanded by Bobi Wine erupted in Kampala and other towns with NUP youths looting people’s properties and burning vehicles with government number plates.
Recently, over 19 of those youths were pardoned by President Museveni after they confessed that they were misdirected by the NUP party leader.
In modern politics, multiparty politics has proved to be the only way of achieving democracy, which has led to the development of many countries the world over. It is obvious that political parties play a critical role in deepening democratic processes, besides providing an avenue for political participation and political mobilization, guiding policy formulation and implementation, and guarding against dictatorship.
For Uganda, it’s unfortunate most politicians have instead used political parties as a shield to break the law.
