Politics of Uganda 56756 222349304 2008-06-28T21:40:45Z SpellingBot 6773085 Ministery → Ministry {{Politics of Uganda}} '''Politics of Uganda''' takes place within the framework of a [[presidential system|presidential]] [[republic]], whereby the [[President of Uganda]] is both [[head of state]] and [[head of government]], as well as of a [[multi-party system]]. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the government. [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the [[government]] and the [[National Assembly of Uganda|National Assembly]]. The system is based on a [[Democracy|democratic]] parliamentary system with universal [[suffrage]] for all citizens over 18 years of age. In a measure ostensibly designed to reduce sectarian violence, [[political party|political parties]] were restricted in their activities from 1986. In the [[non-partisan democracy|non-party]] "Movement" system instituted by Museveni, political parties continued to exist but could not campaign in elections or field candidates directly (although electoral candidates could belong to political parties). A [[Uganda multiparty referendum, 2005|constitutional referendum]] cancelled this 19-year ban on multi-party politics in July 2005. The presidential elections were held in February 2006. Museveni ran against several candidates, the most prominent of whom was exiled Dr. [[Kizza Besigye]]. Museveni was declared the winner in the elections which were predominantly free and fair according to international and national observers.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Despite technically democratic elections, harassment of opposition had started months earlier in the form of disturbing of opposition campaign, detention of activists, rape and other criminal allegations against Besigye and use of state funds for electoral campaigning.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} ==Executive== [[Image:Yoweri Museveni.jpg|thumb|[[Yoweri Museveni]], [[President of Uganda]]]] {{office-table}} |[[President of Uganda|President]] |[[Yoweri Museveni]] |[[National Resistance Movement|NRM]] |[[26 January]] [[1986]] |- |[[Vice President of Uganda|Vice President]] |[[Gilbert Bukenya]] |[[National Resistance Movement|NRM]] |[[23 March]] [[2003]] |- |[[Prime Minister of Uganda|Prime Minister]] |[[Apolo Nsibambi]] |[[National Resistance Movement|NRM]] |[[5 April]] [[1999]] |} The [[head of state]] in Uganda is the [[President of Uganda|President]], who is elected by a popular vote to a five-year term. This is currently [[Yoweri Museveni]], who is also the head of the [[Uganda People's Defense Force|armed forces]]. The last presidential elections were in February 2006. The cabinet is appointed by the president from among elected legislators. The [[prime minister]], currently [[Apolo Nsibambi]], assists the president in the supervision of the cabinet. ===Ministries of Uganda=== *[http://www.mofa.go.ug Ministry of Foreign Affairs] *[http://www.justice.go.ug Ministry of Justice & Constitutional Affairs] *Ministry of Public Service *[http://www.finance.go.ug Ministry of Finance. Planning, and Economic Development] *[http://www.education.go.ug Ministry of Education and Sports] *[http://www.molg.go.ug Ministry of Local Government] *[http://www.health.go.ug Ministry of Health] *Ministry of Works, Housing and Communications *Ministry of Internal Affairs *Ministry of Water and Environment *[http://www.mglsd.go.ug Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development] *[http://www.energyandminerals.go.ug Ministry of Energy and Minerals] *[http://www.defenceuganda.mil.ug Ministry of Defense] *[http://www.agriculture.go.ug Ministry of Agriculture, Animal, Husbandry and Fisheries] ==Legislature== {{update}} The [[National Assembly of Uganda|National Assembly]] has 332 members. 215 members are elected directly - via universal adult suffrage - in single-seat [[constituency|constituencies]]. In addition, each of Uganda's 79 (soon to be 80) [[Districts of Uganda|districts]] elects a Woman Representative via a direct vote, and 25 MPs are selected from so-called "special interest" groups via a complicated regional electoral college system. These special interest MPs include ten representatives of the [[UPDF]] (Uganda's Armed Forces), 5 youth representatives, 5 representatives of people with disabilities and 5 representing workers. Uganda's Parliamentary elections were held in March 2006, and the next will be contested in 2011. ==Political parties and elections== {{elect|List of political parties in Uganda|Elections in Uganda}} On [[4 May]] [[2005]], the Ugandan Parliament voted to conduct a [[referendum]] on the reintroduction of party politics in Uganda. The referendum was held on [[July 28]], [[2005]] and Ugandans voted for a return to multi-party politics. {{Ugandan presidential election, 2006}} {{Ugandan parliamentary election, 2006}} ==Judiciary== The Ugandan judiciary operates as an independent branch of government and consists of magistrate's courts, high courts, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court. Judges for the High Court are appointed by the president; Judges for the Court of Appeal are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature. ==Law== The Ugandan [[constitution]] was adopted on [[October 8]] [[1995]] by the interim, 284-member [[Constituent Assembly]], charged with debating the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993. Uganda's legal system since 1995 has been based on English [[common law]] and African [[customary law]] (customary law is in effect only when it does not conflict with [[statutory law]]). Law enforcement policy is decided by the Police Council, with a special force in charge of suppressing [[cattle theft]]. The system accepts compulsory [[International Court of Justice]] jurisdiction, with reservations. ==Foreign relations== A fight between [[Uganda]]n and [[Libya]]n presidential guards sparked chaos during a ceremony attended by the heads of state from 11 African nations on [[March 19]] [[2008]].[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/03/20/uganda.libya/index.html] ==International organization participation:== [[ACP (Lomé Convention)|ACP]], [[African Development Bank|AfDB]], [[Commonwealth of Nations|C]], [[East African Development Bank|EADB]], [[United Nations Economic Commission for Africa|ECA]], [[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]], [[Group of 77|G-77]], [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]], [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development|IBRD]], [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]], [[International Criminal Court|ICC]], [[International Confederation of Free Trade Unions|ICFTU]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|ICRM]], [[International Development Association|IDA]], [[Islamic Development Bank|IDB]], [[International Fund for Agricultural Development|IFAD]], [[International Finance Corporation|IFC]], [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|IFRCS]], [[Intergovernmental Authority on Development|IGAD]], [[International Labour Organization|ILO]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], [[Intelsat]], [[Interpol]], [[IOC]], [[International Organization for Migration|IOM]], [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] (correspondent), [[International Telecommunication Union|ITU]], [[Non-Aligned Movement|NAM]], [[Organisation of African Unity|OAU]], [[OIC]], [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons|OPCW]], [[Permanent Court of Arbitration|PCA]], [[United Nations|UN]], [[United Nations Conference on Trade and Development|UNCTAD]], [[UNESCO]], [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]], [[United Nations Industrial Development Organization|UNIDO]], [[Universal Postal Union|UPU]], [[World Customs Organization|WCO]], [[World Federation of Trade Unions|WFTU]], [[World Health Organization|WHO]], [[World Intellectual Property Organization|WIPO]], [[World Meteorological Organization|WMO]], [[World Tourism Organization|WToO]], [[World Trade Organization|WTrO]] ==External links== *[http://www.parliament.go.ug/ Parliament of Uganda] *[http://www.statehouse.go.ug/index.php State House of Uganda] *[http://www.parliament.go.ug/Constitute.htm Constitution of the Republic of Uganda] *[http://www.janda.org/ICPP/ICPP2000/Countries/9-CentralEastAfrica/98-Uganda/98-Uganda63-00.htm Party Politics in Uganda, 1963-2000], Christina Nyströmee ==References== <div class="references-small"> <references/> *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3493311.stm Uganda's opposition join forces] ([[BBC News]], [[16 February]] [[2004]]) *[http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs1217 "Uganda 'night commuters' flee rebel brutality"] ([[Yahoo!|Yahoo News]], [[October 17]], [[2005]]) </div> {{Africa topic|Politics of}} {{Uganda topics}} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Politics of Uganda| ]] <!--Other languages--> [[fr:Politique de l'Ouganda]] [[he:פוליטיקה של אוגנדה]]