The Future of Electoral Democracy in Uganda: A Biblical Critique of Power, Justice, and the Erosion of Constitutional Integrity

 

 

By Emmanuel Mihiingo Kaija

 

 

Abstract

 

That’s what it is! A fragile state of electoral democracy; This is a critique of Uganda through both political lens and deep biblical-theological perspectives. It interrogates whether Uganda is still a democracy in form or function, and reflects on the elimination of term and age limits, the psychology of elections in a militarized state, and the continued erosion of constitutionalism. Drawing upon Scripture, real-life case studies, historical trajectories, and empirical statistics, the essay argues that Uganda’s democratic process is undergoing a systematic collapse masked by formalistic rituals of elections. It invites a biblical imagination that reclaims justice, truth, and servant leadership from the grip of political idolatry and autocracy. Theologically anchored in the prophetic tradition and the servant-king ideal of Christ, this paper calls for ecclesial engagement, civic repentance, and institutional reformation.

 

1.Democracy in Form or Function? A Ugandan Mirror

 

Uganda, once celebrated as a rising beacon of post-conflict democratization in Africa following the fall of military regimes in the 1980s, has increasingly descended into a simulacrum of democracy—retaining the external attire of electoral procedures while stripping them of internal substance. The question posed—”Is Uganda still a democracy in form or in function?”—is not merely political, but deeply moral and theological. While Uganda conducts elections at regular intervals and boasts of multiparty participation, the conditions under which these processes unfold betray an alarming trend of democratic backsliding. According to the 2021 Democracy Index published by The Economist Intelligence Unit, Uganda scored 4.93 out of 10, classifying it as a “hybrid regime”—neither fully authoritarian nor truly democratic. This numerical assessment, though secular in nature, aligns with the prophetic biblical insight in Isaiah 29:13, where God rebukes a people who “draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me.” Likewise, Uganda’s democratic shell masks the absence of participatory justice and accountability in substance. In biblical terms, democracy devoid of justice is no democracy at all, for the Hebrew prophets like Amos thundered, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24).

 

Uganda’s political reality reflects a centralization of power around the presidency, undermining the pillars of separation of powers and meaningful civic agency. The executive’s heavy hand is seen not only in the composition of the Electoral Commission, which remains largely appointed by the president, but also in the politicization of security forces who openly back the regime. These structural deformities echo the words of Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” That mourning is not merely metaphorical—it is experienced in voter intimidation, suppression of opposition voices, internet shutdowns, and the deliberate undercutting of youth-led political engagement.

 

2.The Spirit of Constitutional Betrayal: Term Limits, Age Limits, and the Idolatry of Power

 

A cornerstone of democratic sustainability is the presence of constitutional limits on leadership tenure. In Uganda, this safeguard was once enshrined in term and age limits. However, in 2005, the Parliament controversially amended the Constitution to remove presidential term limits, and in 2017, it followed suit by scrapping the 75-year age ceiling. Both moves were justified by the regime under the rhetoric of “popular will,” yet the chaotic parliamentary scenes—including the physical assault of MPs and the military’s incursion into the legislative chamber—revealed a deeper pathology: the enthronement of power over principle.

 

Scripture repeatedly warns against the concentration of power in fallible human hands. In Deuteronomy 17:14–20, God outlines the character of a righteous king—one who must not “multiply horses,” nor “exalt himself above his fellow citizens,” but rather submit to the law of the Lord. The Ugandan context, however, reflects a Caesar-like desire for indefinite rule. President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, once famously declared that leaders who overstay “become a problem.” Yet, decades later, he presides over a state where longevity in power has translated into institutional decay and public disillusionment.

 

This constitutional erosion undermines not only democratic stability but theological integrity. The prophetic rebuke in Micah 3:11 is apt: “Her rulers judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.’” The Ugandan state, by removing checks on power, invokes divine legitimacy while subverting God’s design for just governance.

 

3.The Psychology of Elections in a Militarized State

 

The integrity of elections is not only a function of free ballots, but of free minds. In Uganda, the mental space in which elections occur has been radically distorted by the pervasive presence of military force and coercive policing. Since 2001, opposition candidates—including Kizza Besigye and Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine)—have faced systemic harassment, arbitrary arrests, media blackouts, and even torture. The 2021 elections were marred by over 50 civilian deaths, military deployment across urban centers, and post-election abductions of opposition supporters. The militarization of the electoral process creates a psychology of fear, conformism, and apathy.

 

This condition directly violates the biblical principle that rulers are meant to be “servants of the people for good” (Romans 13:4), not terrorizers of dissent. The prophetic tradition, particularly Jeremiah 22:3, issues a divine charge: “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed.” Uganda’s military incursions into political life, especially during electoral seasons, invert this principle—delivering the people into the hands of their rulers, rather than delivering them from oppression.

 

The psychology of elections in such an environment becomes a ritual of submission, not participation. People vote, but they do not believe. They register, but do not expect justice. This leads to a civic schizophrenia, where public hope and private despair coexist in uneasy tension. As Ecclesiastes 5:8 laments, “If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things.”

 

4.A Call to the Church: From Chaplaincy to Prophetic Witness

 

One of the greatest tragedies in Uganda’s democratic decline has been the complicity or silence of the Church. While some clerics have courageously spoken out—like Archbishop Janani Luwum before his martyrdom in 1977—many today have adopted a posture of political neutrality masked as “peacekeeping.” This abdication of prophetic responsibility turns the Church into a chaplain of the state rather than its conscience. Yet Scripture calls the Church not to comfort the comfortable but to afflict them when they stray from God’s justice. In Ezekiel 34:2–10, God rebukes shepherds who feed themselves and neglect the flock. In times of political deception and violence, silence is itself a betrayal.

 

In Uganda, churches have enormous reach and moral capital. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), over 85% of the population identifies as Christian. This demographic power must translate into a prophetic movement—demanding term limits, free elections, and truth-telling in the public square. In Proverbs 31:8–9, believers are called to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…defend the rights of the poor and needy.” This is not partisan activism—it is holy obedience.

 

5.Recommendations: Rebuilding the Walls with Righteousness

 

Just as Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem amid opposition, Uganda must rebuild its democratic foundations with integrity. The Church, civil society, and international actors must collaborate on the following:

 

A)Reinstating term and age limits: As a safeguard against tyranny, these must be restored through constitutional reform.

 

B)Independent Electoral Commission: Appointment processes must be nonpartisan and subject to public scrutiny.

 

C)Demilitarization of elections: Security forces must be kept away from the electoral process unless constitutionally justified.

 

D)Prophetic civic education: Churches must teach democratic values, truth-telling, and nonviolent resistance rooted in Scripture.

 

E)Justice for victims: The state must account for electoral violence, with truth commissions and reparations for victims’ families.

 

Conclusion: A Theology of Hope Amid Ruins

 

Despite the bleak state of democracy in Uganda, this paper ends on a note of theological hope. The story of Scripture is that even when kings fall and temples are destroyed, God raises remnant voices and rebuilds from ashes. As Isaiah 58:12 declares, “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations.” Uganda can be healed—not by political mechanics alone—but by moral renewal, civic discipleship, and a theology that sees the ballot as sacred and leadership as service. In the end, as Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). Uganda awaits such a liberation—not just from dictatorship, but from despair.