By Joel Musiba
Uganda restored multiparty politics through the July 2005 referendum. Twenty years on, 77% of Ugandans support multiparty competition, yet 75% say party contests “often” or “always” lead to violence.
The ongoing debate around the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) captures this tension. Political parties are calling for a roundtable discussion to address their grievances, arguing that they need resources and a meaningful voice in governance, while the government emphasizes discipline and dialogue.
Fair competition and constructive opposition are two sides of the same coin. Uganda can build both without hesitation.
Fair Competition Means Rules That Do Not Punish Losing
Having parties on the ballot is not enough. The referees, rules, and resources must be neutral to create a level playing field for all players in the political arena.
Referee
Today, the President, who is also a contestant, appoints the Electoral Commission (EC), which oversees the entire electoral process. Article 60 should be reformed to allow the Judicial Service Commission to nominate EC commissioners, who would then be vetted by Parliament and granted secure tenure and an independent budget. This would create a truly independent Electoral Commission that is not subject to invisible control.
Media
During election periods, the media plays a vital role for all political formations and should therefore be equally accessible to all parties. Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) should provide equal free airtime to all political parties during the final 60 days of campaigns. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) should protect private media stations from closure or intimidation for hosting opposition voices. Such measures would strengthen the credibility and integrity of Uganda’s electoral process both nationally and internationally.
Money
The Political Parties and Organisations Act, 2005 should be enforced in a manner that respects equity among political parties. Public funding should be allocated based on votes won and parliamentary representation rather than attendance at IPOD meetings.
The use of state vehicles, public venues, and civil servants in campaigns should be prohibited. Spending caps and mandatory disclosure requirements should also be enforced to prevent any politically favored party from gaining unfair advantages.
Security
Police cannot be seen to permanently harass opposition actors while simultaneously providing security and escort services to National Resistance Movement (NRM) rallies. The Public Order Management Act should be applied neutrally so that any political party intending to campaign can obtain the necessary clearances and conduct activities without undue interference.
Independent oversight mechanisms should also be established to investigate and address election-related violence, thereby reducing post-election grievances.
Afrobarometer found that only about half of Ugandans believed the 2021 general election was free and fair, highlighting persistent concerns about electoral credibility.
Fair competition means that losing candidates return home peacefully—not into exile, detention, or political persecution. Contesting for leadership is not a crime; it is a constitutional right.
This can only be guaranteed by institutions such as the courts, the Electoral Commission, and the police that are capable of acting independently, even when dealing with the ruling party.
Constructive Opposition Works Within the Constitution
Opposition should not be synonymous with automatic boycotts or street-based politics. Constructive opposition challenges government policies while offering alternative solutions. It acts as a check and balance on government rather than transforming itself into an internal rebel movement driven by hostility toward the ruling party.
Four Markers of Constructive Opposition
1. Policy Over Personality
Shadow budgets, health reforms, education proposals, and local service delivery initiatives should form the foundation of opposition engagement. The Forum for Democratic Change’s policy papers and the National Unity Platform’s 2021 manifesto demonstrate what is possible when opposition politics is policy-driven rather than personality-centered.
2. Use Institutions
Parliamentary committees, courts of law, local councils, and dialogue platforms should be used to debate and advance constructive ideas. Empty chairs rarely change rules, and endless boycotts achieve little. In many cases, disengagement only gives the ruling party more room to dominate the political space while portraying opponents as unwilling to engage through lawful channels.
3. Loyal Opposition
Opposition should challenge the government, not the state. The state belongs to all Ugandans, regardless of political affiliation. Opposing the state ultimately means opposing the very citizens one seeks to represent. Political parties should be prepared to concede defeat when elections are genuinely fair and continue advancing their ideas through Parliament and public engagement.
4. Internal Democracy
Political parties cannot demand fair national elections while failing to conduct transparent internal processes. Clean party primaries, published financial records, and leadership development structures are essential. Political parties should avoid promoting individuals solely on the basis of wealth or influence. The often-repeated claim that “every party has been infiltrated” can only be addressed through transparency and accountability.
What Happens Next?
Government often labels dissenting voices as engaging in “unnecessary opposition,” particularly when parties skip IPOD meetings or organize protests. Yet peaceful dissent outside formal dialogue structures remains constitutionally protected. At the same time, opposition parties undermine their own cause when they abandon dialogue altogether and resort to violence or destructive confrontation.
Fix IPOD So Dialogue Is Chosen, Not Bought
IPOD has achieved some important milestones, including a rotational chairmanship, an all-party summit, and regular technical meetings that promote continuous engagement. However, mistrust remains. Meetings held at State Lodge, funding linked to attendance, and efforts to compel participation through statutory instruments have fueled suspicion among some political actors. Imam Kasozi’s observation that “IPOD is largely about money, not dialogue” continues to resonate because financial support appears linked to political behavior.
The Fix
Funding should be completely separated from attendance. Public financing should be allocated according to electoral performance, after which parties should be invited—not compelled—to participate in dialogue. Coerced participation may produce compliance, but it does not build trust.
Five Reforms to Move Uganda Forward Politically
a) Depoliticize the Referee
The Electoral Commission should be subjected to public vetting and empowered to sanction any political party, including the NRM, for election violence or abuse of state resources. Its independence must be guaranteed and protected from political influence.
b) Fund Parties, Not Loyalty
The 2025 amendments should be revised to ensure that IPOD participation remains voluntary. Political parties that choose not to participate should lose influence within the dialogue process—not their public funding. Participation must be based on free choice.
c) Protect Opposition Space
Sections of the Public Order Management Act that are frequently used to block opposition rallies should be repealed. Access to media should be guaranteed, and UBC’s airtime obligations should be legally binding. Special election courts should also be established to resolve disputes within 30 days.
d) Build Capacity
The opposition should be allocated at least 40% of parliamentary committee chairpersonships, including influential committees such as the Public Accounts Committee and Budget Committee. This would strengthen oversight and encourage constructive engagement. Additionally, 15% of party funding should be ring-fenced for policy development units and youth leadership training. Universities and civil society organizations should support “shadow cabinet” programs to build governance capacity.
e) Normalize Political Alternation
Term limits were removed in 2005—the same year multiparty politics returned. Fair political competition requires credible succession pathways. Uganda should either restore presidential term limits or ensure genuine leadership renewal within the ruling party.
The Bargain Uganda Needs
Government
“You will not be punished for participating or winning fairly. You will have security, access to funding, and equal access to the media.”
Opposition
“We will not promote violence or boycott every government initiative. We will oppose destructive policies, concede defeat when elections are fair, and use Parliament and other lawful institutions to advance the interests of the people.”
Political analyst Godber Tumushabe once observed that, after 20 years of multiparty politics, “the promise of a fully competitive democratic system has not been completely realized.” It will only be realized when losing an election no longer feels like losing one’s freedom.
Conclusion
Fair competition is built on neutral institutions and equitable access to resources. Constructive opposition grows when those institutions make it rational to choose the ballot over exile, confrontation, or political despair. IPOD can contribute to this process, but only if participation is a choice, not a condition.
The author, Joel Musiba, is a lawyer, political analyst, and spokesperson of the Engagement Forum for Transformation.
