The impact of the cost of politics on inclusive political participation in Uganda

With the next elections in Uganda scheduled for 2026, this report analyses the dynamics of candidate participation in local and national elections in 2016. Party dynamics, the slow decentralization process,  the identity of candidates, their relationship with the government in power, and their financial capacity influence their electoral successes. One of the report’s findings is as follows: "A female parliamentarian spent more to get elected than a man’ s in Uganda and expenditures and candidates used primarily their personal resources to run for election." 

Based on the data collected for this report, NIMD proposes several recommendations for future elections, including strengthening the legal and policy infrastructure for campaign finance support especially for women; appointing a Registrar of Political Parties with a mandate to register, supervise and regulate the activities of political parties throughout the electoral cycle.