The 2021 presidential election and the political situation in Uganda

Occupation: Leading Researcher, Head, Centre for Tropical Africa Studies, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, RAS
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Sergey Kostelyanets

Occupation: Leading Researcher, Head, Centre for Sociological and Political Sciences Studies, Institute for African Studies, RAS; Senior Researcher, HSE University
Affiliation:
Institute for African Studies, RAS
HSE University
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 5

Pages

44-51

Abstract

In January 2021, Uganda held a presidential election, which was won by the incumbent head of state Yoweri Museveni, who has begun his sixth term at the helm of the country. The present paper aims at assessing the results of the activity of the Ugandan leader, the peculiarities of his state administration, and the nature of his relations with the opposition. The authors also analyze the reasons for the growing dissatisfaction with Museveni's policies and the growing popularity of the young opposition leader Bobi Wine.

It is noted that unlike many African leaders, Museveni apparently very early understood that the conquest of power was only half the battle: it was much more important to preserve and consolidate it. Therefore, as soon as he received the reins of government, he immediately began to implement "fundamental political changes" and socio-economic reforms: benefits were introduced for women and other vulnerable groups of the population, access to primary education was expanded, measures were taken to combat AIDS, etc. Attention to these issues distinguishes Museveni from previous Ugandan leaders and prompts a significant part of the country's residents to consider him the only guarantor of stability and prosperity - despite the growth of corruption and the expansion of repressive tactics against the opposition.

Currently, there is no alternative in Uganda to Museveni, who has been in power for 34 years, but the escalating struggle with the opposition will certainly characterize his rule throughout the entire period until the next presidential elections in 2026.

The paper pays special attention to the measures taken by the government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, Bobi Wine, general elections, COVID-19, political situation, foreign policy, economic development

Acknowledgment

The article was prepared within the framework of the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 21-18-00123 "Analysis and modeling of African development in the context of Russia's foreign policy interests."

Received

10.02.2021

Publication date

28.05.2021

Number of characters

30776

Cite

GOST	Denisova T., Kostelyanets S. The 2021 presidential election and the political situation in Uganda // Asia and Africa Today – 2021. – Issue 5 C. 44-51 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750015023-7-1 (circulation date: 25.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750015023-7
MLA	Denisova, Tatyana, Kostelyanets, Sergey "The 2021 presidential election and the political situation in Uganda." Asia and Africa Today 5 (2021):44-51. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750015023-7
APA	Denisova T., Kostelyanets S. (2021). The 2021 presidential election and the political situation in Uganda. Asia and Africa Today (5), pp.44-51 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750015023-7

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