Online Access
http://hdl.handle.net/11295/90665Abstract
ThesisThe process of elections should be free and fair for people to trust formation of legitimate
 government. However, a situation where elections are not free and fair is indicative of lack of or
 poor democracy, and is a recipe for Electoral violence (EV). This has been witnessed in many
 African countries. This study focuses on Uganda whose history was characterized by periods of
 political turmoil since independence laid background for undemocratic governments. The study
 examines the period 1996 -2011 when general elections were organized. This study is guided
 by the following objectives: to carry out an overview of the state of EV in Africa in general and
 Uganda in particular; examine its impact and implications on the economic, social and political
 development in Uganda; and provide implementable solutions to curb Electoral violence in
 Uganda. Many issues advanced in existing literature as causes of electoral violence are usually
 mere symptoms, rather than causes of electoral violence in Africa and Uganda in particular. The
 study finds electoral violence despite its being rampant, to be both a symptom and in other cases
 a cause the real problem. Electoral violence is indicative of the African crisis as manifested by
 political instability, economic hardships, poor governance and leadership issues, which in turn
 determine the manner of politics, weaknesses in institutional framework, and organizational
 failures in the election processes. These in turn fuel the cycle of violence.
 Academically, the study is meant to stimulate further consideration of the three broad
 cause categories above to facilitate the right solutions to the menace of electoral violence in
 Uganda and Africa in general. The study is also relevant for policy practitioners because it points
 at the actual problem not being electoral violence, and the other manifestations usually advanced
 by some literature sources, rather the panacea requires a systemic approach of solving the
 African crisis, strengthening institutions and other election process supporting agencies like the
 justice, law and order agencies to galvanize organizational capabilities.
 The study further recommends governments to address issues related to electoral process
 like electoral reforms through transparent and all inclusive consensus. African Union and subregional
 bodies in cooperation with state governments need to establish an effective early
 warning system to proactively handle issues that may culminate into electoral violence. Africa
 should expedite the operationalization of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and
 Governance.
Date
2015-09-07Type
ThesisIdentifier
oai:localhost:11295/90665http://hdl.handle.net/11295/90665