ABRIEFHISTORYOFELECTIONSINUGANDA

IntheperiodfollowingUgandasindependenceattainedin1962,political,socialandeconomic
dynamics started to manifest themselves as citizens developed interest in the countrys
democracy.
However,priortoindependence,electionswerenotmuchvalued.Thiswasduetothefactthat
theColonialGovernmentwastheonehandlingtheaffairsofthecountry.
ConstitutionalConference:
Theyear1958marksamilestoneinthehistoryandthedevelopmentofelectionmanagement
inUganda.AConstitutionalConferencewasconvenedandstructuresformedtoorganizeand
conductvariouselectionsleadingtoindependencein1962.
ThefirstElectoralCommissioncomprisedeminentlocaleldersandtraditionalleaders.Under
this Commission, several elections were conducted, the first one being the Limited
African/UgandaFranchiseandRepresentationtotheLegislativeCouncil(LEGCO)of1958.
Following the recommendation in the Wild Committee Report, the Colonial Government
organizeddirectelectionsinUgandain1961.Two(2)politicalparties,namely,theDemocratic
Party (DP) and the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) contested in the election, leading to the
formation of the first ever internal selfgovernment, headed by the Chief Minister, H.E.
BenedictKiwanuka(DP).
In 1962, the Colonial Government organized elections and DP got the majority inParliament.
However, UPC and Kabaka Yeka (KY) merged to become UPCKY, became the majority and
formedthegovernment,headedbythefirstPrimeMinister,AppoloMiltonObote.
Commissionfor1964ReferendumontheLostCounties:
Oneofthefirstissuesfacedbythenewgovernment,wastohandlethethecontentiousissueof
Lost Counties, by then under Buganda, but claimed by Bunyoro Kingdom. These issues
necessitatedtheholdingofareferendum,andthiswassetfortheyear1964.
ItbecamethefirstreferendumtobeheldinthehistoryofUganda,anditculminatedintothe
twocounties,BuyagaandBugangaizivotingtoreturntoBunyoroKingdom.
The1970s
Idi Amin was president of Uganda from 1971 till 1979 and during this period, there were no
electoralactivitiesinthecountry.

CommissionforGeneralElections1980:
After the 1964 Referendum on the issue of the Lost Counties, Uganda went without any
nationalelectionfor18years(19641980).
Following the overthrow of the Idi Amin regime in 1979, the new government organized
indirectelectionsinDecember,1980.
On 25th June 1980, the Chairman of the Military Commission, H.E Paulo Muwanga (RIP),
established the Electoral Commission to organize and conduct general elections, which were
eventuallyconductedon10th11thDecember1980.
TheCommissionforthe1980GeneralElectionscomprisedofK.M.SKikiraasChairperson,and
threeothermembers,namely,Comm.EgweuS,Comm.KeraA.BilaliA,andComm.M.Matovu.
Mr.VincentSekkonowastheSecretarytothisCommission.
TheUgandaConstitutionalCommission(UCC):
After1980,therewerenodirectnationalelectionsinUgandaforalmost14years.
On21stDecember1988,TheNationalResistanceCouncil(NRC)enactedStatuteNo.5of1988,
whichestablishedtheUgandaConstitutionalCommissiontostarttheprocessofdevelopinga
newConstitutionforUganda.
The UCC was composed of: Hon. Justice Benjamin J. Odoki (Chairperson), Prof. Dan M.
Mudoola (Vice C/Person), Mr. Kidembo S. W, Hon. Medi Kaggwa, Hajji Aziz K. Kasujja, Mr.
Kateera J., Lt. Col. Kale Kayihura, Dr. Khidu E. Makubuya, Mrs. Mary Maitum, Hon. Miria
Matembe,Mr.CharlesH.Obwangor,Prof.PharesMukasaMutibwa,Mr.OkotA.O,Prof.Otim
A.,Mr.RwaheruC.,Lt.Col.SserwangaLwanga,Prof.E.F.Ssempebwa,JothamTumwesigye,Mr.
G.PUfoyuru,Maj.Gen.MugishaMuntu,EricT.SAdriko,andG.LByekwaso.Rev.Dr.JohnMary
WaligoservedastheSecretarytotheCommission.
CommissionforConstituentAssembly(CCA):
TheCommissionforConstituencyAssembly(CCA)wasestablishedbytheConstituentAssembly
(CA)StatuteNo.6of1993,toorganizeandconductConstituentAssemblyelections.TheCCA
comprised of Mr. Steven B. Akabway (Chairperson), Vincent F. Musoke Kibuka (Dep.
Commissioner)andGladysM.K.Nduru(Dep.Commissioner).
ThisCommissionorganizedandconductedtheCAelectionsinMarch1994.
TheInterimElectoralCommission(IEC):

FollowingpromulgationoftheConstitutioninOctober1995,anInterimElectoralCommission
(IEC)wasestablishedbytheInterim(Provisional)ElectoralCommissionStatute3of1996and
Parliamentary (Interim Provisions Statute) No. 4 of 1996, for purposes of organizing and
conductingtheGeneralElections1996.
The IEC comprised of Steven B. Akabway (Chairperson), Mrs. Flora Nkurukenda (Deputy
Chairperson),andfiveothercommissioners,namely;Comm.CharlesOwor,Comm.Margaret
Sekajja,Comm.PhilipIdro,Comm.SydaBumba,andComm.AzizK.Kasujja.
TheIECorganizedandconductedthefirsteverdirectPresidentialandParliamentaryelections.
TheElectoralCommission(EC)19972002:
In May 1997, Parliament enacted the Electoral Commission Act (1997), which established a
permanentElectoralCommission.
TheLawprovidesthatthePresidentwiththeapprovalofParliamentappointstheCommission,
who hold office on full time basis for a period of seven years. Their appointment may be
renewedforonlyonemoreterm.
ThefirstpermanentElectoralCommissioncomprisedofHajjiAzizK.Kasujja(Chairperson),Flora
Nkurukenda (Deputy Chairperson), and five other members, namely Comm. Ted Wamusi,
Comm.MaryI.D.E.Maitum,Comm.RobertK.Kitariko,Comm.NassangaH.Miiro,andComm.
CharlesD.Owiny.
In August 2000, Sr. Margaret Magoba was appointed to the Commission, to replace Comm.
Maitum,whohadbeenappointedasajudgeoftheHighCourt.Mr.MuwongeAndrewserved
asSecretarytothisCommission.
Itwasduringthistimethatanewstaffstructurewasputinplace,withtheSecretaryasHead
ofManagement.
BelowtheofficeoftheSecretaryweretwodirectorates:theDirectorateofElections,andthe
DirectorateofFinance&Administration.
Thestructureinitiallyhadsevendepartmentsasindicatedbelow:
ElectionManagement
VoterRegistration
DataProcessing
Administration

LegalandPublicRelations
Finance
CivicEducationandTraining(laterrenamedVoterEducationDepartment).
In2002,twomoredepartmentswereestablished,namely
Planning&Research
HumanResourceManagement.
TheCommissionestablisheddistrictofficeswithpermanentstaff(DistrictRegistrars)tohandle
continuousvoterregistrationandotherelectionrelatedactivitiesatthedistrictlevel.
ElectoralCommission2002todate:
On18thNovember2002,HisExcellencythePresidentofofUgandaYoweriKagutaMuseveni
appointedanewCommission,whichcomprisedofEng.Dr.BadruM.Kiggundu(Chairperson),
Sr.MargaretMagoba(DeputyChairperson)andfiveothermembers,namely:Comm.TomW.
Buruku, Comm. Stephen D. Ongaria, Comm. Dr. Jenny B. Okello, and Comm. Joseph N.
Biribonwa.Mr.SamRwakoojoistheSecretarytotheCommission.
Theseventhmember,Amb.Dr.TomasiSisyeKiryapawo,wassworninFebruary20th2006.
CyprianOgwang/PrincipalElectionOfficer,DepartmentofPlanningandResearchEC
FormorereadarticleinthePublicationofDecember2007