IRI Releases Poll in Kampala, Conducts Panel in D.C.

June 27, 2003

June 25, 2003 – IRI published the results of a nationwide poll that gauged public opinion in Uganda on issues such as governance, democracy, multi-party politics and constitutional reform. The poll, which was conducted by Strategic Public Relations & Research Ltd. is part of a comprehensive political assessment of Uganda aimed at guiding IRI in future democracy building program activities. This public opinion poll was conducted between May and June of this year, sampling approximately 3,000 Ugandans over the age of 18 in all major regions of Uganda. IRI Program officer Frances Muwonge led the press conference and her picture was featured on the front page of The New Vision, Uganda’s largest newspaper: Please click here

Among the findings were:

69 percent thought that political party competition leads to conflict, but 60 percent felt that the existence of political parties is necessary for real choice.
47 percent do not feel free to express political views
68 percent think that President Yoweri’s National Resistance Movement is a democracy

Uganda has had a "no-party system" since President Museveni seized power in 1986. The system allows political parties to exist but severely restricts their activities, particularly recruitment and fund-raising.

June 24, 2003 - IRI hosted a panel discussion with opposition members of Uganda's parliament and their supporters in the United States. The panelists - MP and Secretary General of the Reform Agenda Ekanya Geoffrey and Kagulire Ssebowa, Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources for the Reform Agenda - and members of the audience accused the incumbent Museveni government of corruption and human rights abuses. They also expressed fears that Uganda's current political situation, if allowed to continue, would result in renewed strife and violence. Among their concerns were:

Corruption and favoritism stifled investment in private businesses.
The donor community was not supportive of democratic reform.
The armed rebellion in northern Uganda would consume the rest of the country.

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