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Why is my car squeaking when I start it in the morning?
A car squeaking when you start it in the morning is usually caused by a worn or slipping serpentine belt , which is most likely due to the belt becoming slightly loose or experiencing increased friction from condensation overnight on the pulleys, causing it to slip when the engine first starts up; tRead more
A car squeaking when you start it in the morning is usually caused by a worn or slipping serpentine belt , which is most likely due to the belt becoming slightly loose or experiencing increased friction from condensation overnight on the pulleys, causing it to slip when the engine first starts up; this usually goes away as the engine warms up and dries the belt. Please let me know if my answer helped!
See lessWhat's the best fiber optic internet provider for a home in Kira, Uganda?
Savanna Fibre stands out as Uganda's premier internet service provider, renowned for its lightning-fast speeds and reliable connectivity. With cutting-edge technology and extensive network infrastructure, Savanna Fibre delivers unparalleled browsing, streaming, and gaming experiences, setting the paRead more
Savanna Fibre stands out as Uganda’s premier internet service provider, renowned for its lightning-fast speeds and reliable connectivity. With cutting-edge technology and extensive network infrastructure, Savanna Fibre delivers unparalleled browsing, streaming, and gaming experiences, setting the pace for digital innovation in the region. With cutting-edge technology and extensive network infrastructure, Savanna Fibre delivers unparalleled browsing, streaming, and gaming experiences, setting the pace for digital innovation in the region.
See lessWhat is the role of international organizations in promoting democracy in Africa?
International organizations play a significant role in promoting democracy in Africa by supporting democratic governance, human rights, conflict resolution, and sustainable development. Their involvement often includes advocacy, policy recommendations, funding, and technical assistance to encourageRead more
International organizations play a significant role in promoting democracy in Africa by supporting democratic governance, human rights, conflict resolution, and sustainable development. Their involvement often includes advocacy, policy recommendations, funding, and technical assistance to encourage democratic reforms, transparent elections, and accountable governance.
They also play play a multifaceted role in promoting democracy in Africa by providing electoral support, human rights advocacy, good governance programs, conflict resolution, and development assistance. They help establish frameworks for democratic accountability, support the rule of law, and encourage peaceful transitions of power. However, the effectiveness of these efforts often depends on the willingness of African governments to accept external support and the capacity of local civil society to drive change. International organizations are most successful when they work in collaboration with African states, regional organizations, and grassroots movements to create a conducive environment for sustainable democracy.
See lessWhat are the main political parties in Uganda?
Uganda has a multi-party political system, though it has been dominated by a few key political parties. Here are the main political parties in Uganda: National Resistance Movement (NRM) Leader: Yoweri Museveni (since 1986) Ideology: The NRM is a center-right party that advocates for nationalism, proRead more
Uganda has a multi-party political system, though it has been dominated by a few key political parties. Here are the main political parties in Uganda:
National Resistance Movement (NRM)
Leader: Yoweri Museveni (since 1986)
Ideology: The NRM is a center-right party that advocates for nationalism, pro-market economic policies, and regional integration. It is the party in power and has been since Yoweri Museveni came to power in 1986 following a five-year guerrilla war. The NRM, originally a revolutionary movement (the National Resistance Army, or NRA), has morphed into a dominant political party that controls most aspects of governance in Uganda.
Support Base: The NRM has significant support in various regions, particularly in the western and central parts of Uganda, but also enjoys a national presence. It is the dominant force in both the executive and legislative branches.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)
Leader: Patrick Oboi Amuriat (as of 2021, though leadership can change)
Ideology: The FDC is a center-left political party that advocates for democratic reforms, social justice, and human rights. It emerged as the leading opposition party after splitting from the Democratic Party in the 2000s. The FDC is critical of the NRM’s governance and has pushed for electoral reforms, transparency, and a more inclusive political system.
Support Base: The FDC draws significant support from urban areas, particularly Kampala, as well as from northern and eastern Uganda, where there is widespread dissatisfaction with the NRM’s long reign.
Democratic Party (DP)
Leader: Norbert Mao (as of 2021)
Ideology: The DP is one of Uganda’s oldest political parties, founded in 1954. It is generally seen as a centrist party with a focus on democracy, social welfare, and human rights. Historically, the DP has been a major player in Uganda’s politics but has been overshadowed in recent years by the NRM and FDC.
Support Base: The DP has strong roots in the Buganda region (central Uganda), although it has a presence across the country. It has traditionally been popular among educated urban elites.
People Power (now part of the National Unity Platform)
Leader: Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine)
Ideology: Originally a movement (People Power) led by popular musician and politician Bobi Wine, this group merged into the National Unity Platform (NUP) in 2020. NUP promotes social justice, youth empowerment, and opposition to the long-standing NRM government. It is also strongly anti-corruption and calls for significant political reforms in Uganda.
Support Base: NUP’s support primarily comes from young people, urban voters, and the marginalized, with a strong base in Kampala and other urban areas. The party’s grassroots appeal has made it popular among the youth who are frustrated with the current political status quo.
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC)
Leader: Jimmy Akena
Ideology: The UPC is a center-left party that was historically one of Uganda’s most powerful political organizations. Founded by Milton Obote, who served as Uganda’s president, the UPC advocates for a mixed economy, good governance, and social justice. After years of decline, the UPC remains a relevant player, though its influence has diminished in recent years.
Support Base: The UPC has strong historical support among some parts of central and northern Uganda, though it has lost significant ground to both the NRM and FDC in recent decades.
Conservative Party (CP)
Leader: Kenneth Paul Kakande (as of 2021)
Ideology: The CP is a smaller party with a conservative political agenda. It advocates for Christian values, social conservatism, and the protection of Uganda’s cultural heritage. Although it has not gained much traction in recent years, the party has been part of Uganda’s political history.
Support Base: The CP has some support in rural areas, particularly among religious groups, but it has struggled to compete with the larger, more established parties.
Socialist Party of Uganda (SPU)
Leader: Joseph Kabuleta (as of 2021)
Ideology: The SPU is a left-wing party that advocates for socialism, wealth redistribution, and state-led economic development. It promotes a more radical approach to transforming Uganda’s economy and governance. The SPU, like many smaller parties, faces significant challenges in establishing a broad support base.
Support Base: The party’s support is relatively limited, with some traction among intellectuals, activists, and those advocating for more systemic economic changes.
Alliance for National Transformation (ANT)
Leader: Gen. Mugisha Muntu (former FDC president)
Ideology: The ANT is a breakaway party from the FDC, founded by former army general and opposition leader Mugisha Muntu. It positions itself as a more moderate and pragmatic alternative to the FDC and NRM, promoting democratic reforms, national unity, and inclusivity in governance.
Support Base: The ANT has support primarily among moderates, those disillusioned with the FDC’s hardline stance, and individuals seeking a middle-ground approach to Uganda’s political problems.
See lessHow do political parties in Uganda influence the country's political landscape?
Overall, political parties in Uganda are key players in the country's political system, contributing to the shaping of policy, governance, and electoral outcomes. While the multi-party system allows for competition, the dominance of the NRM and the challenges faced by opposition parties in terms ofRead more
Overall, political parties in Uganda are key players in the country’s political system, contributing to the shaping of policy, governance, and electoral outcomes. While the multi-party system allows for competition, the dominance of the NRM and the challenges faced by opposition parties in terms of political space, resources, and fairness remain significant factors in Uganda’s political landscape. The effectiveness of political parties in Uganda often depends on how well they navigate these challenges and how effectively they can engage with the public and the international community.
See lessHow do political parties in Uganda select their leaders?
The process through which political parties select their leaders in Uganda varies depending on the structure and internal regulations of each party. While there are similarities in the approach to leadership selection, there are also key differences influenced by the party’s ideological stance, inteRead more
The process through which political parties select their leaders in Uganda varies depending on the structure and internal regulations of each party. While there are similarities in the approach to leadership selection, there are also key differences influenced by the party’s ideological stance, internal rules, and the political context within Uganda.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM), Uganda’s dominant party, has a unique leadership structure, which reflects its historical roots as the ruling party and its ideological framework. The NRM has a strong top-down structure, which means the leadership selection process is largely centralized, though it has evolved over time to incorporate more democratic elements.
The President of the NRM is the head of state and government (currently, President Yoweri Museveni). This position is typically filled by the incumbent president of Uganda, who is also the leader of the NRM. The party leadership has historically been heavily intertwined with the presidency, making the selection of the party leader largely a matter of political patronage and party loyalty to the president.
Although the NRM holds internal elections to choose other party positions, including vice presidents, regional chairpersons, and members of the central executive committee (CEC), these elections have often been overshadowed by the influence of the president. These positions are typically filled by delegates in a party congress or through votes at national conventions, with key positions often being heavily contested.
The NRM holds an annual delegates’ conference in which party leaders at various levels (e.g., local councils, national executive members) gather to elect leaders. However, since the NRM is the ruling party, these elections are generally viewed as a formal endorsement of the party’s leadership rather than a competitive process.
The influence of the sitting president is significant in NRM’s leadership selection, as the party’s structure, particularly at the national level, is highly aligned with the executive branch. The president can influence leadership positions through appointments or endorsements.
Opposition political parties in Uganda, while facing more challenges than the NRM, also have their own processes for selecting leaders. These processes can be more varied and may reflect the party’s commitment to democracy, internal accountability, or ideological focus.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) is one of the largest opposition parties in Uganda, and it has a relatively formal and democratic process for leadership selection.
The FDC typically holds internal elections at party congresses or conventions where members vote to elect key leaders, including the president of the party. The process is more democratic compared to the NRM, with party members having a more direct role in choosing their leadership.
The FDC holds a national delegates conference where leaders at various levels are elected. This includes the party president, vice presidents, and the national executive committee (NEC). Candidates for these positions are usually nominated by party members or delegates, and elections are held based on a secret ballot.
In FDC, there is a focus on internal democracy, where leadership contests are open and leaders are elected for fixed terms. This allows for accountability and the possibility of changing leadership through elections.
The Democratic Party (DP) is another significant opposition party in Uganda with a long history. It follows a similar internal process to the FDC for selecting its leadership.
DP holds an annual party congress in which leaders, including the party president, are elected. Delegates from different districts and regions of Uganda gather to vote on leadership positions.
The DP has a well-defined party constitution, which sets the rules for the selection of leaders. The process includes nominations, campaigning, and voting by delegates.
Other smaller parties, such as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) or the People Power Movement (which has evolved into the National Unity Platform, NUP), also have leadership selection processes, though they may be less institutionalized due to their smaller size and relatively young existence.
These parties often conduct internal elections to select their leaders, though the specifics vary. For example, the NUP, led by Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), holds a national delegates conference for leadership elections.
Many smaller opposition parties emphasize including youth and women in leadership positions, ensuring diversity in their selection processes.
Across most political parties, key leadership positions that are typically elected include:
President of the Party: This is the highest position in the party and often plays a significant role in national politics, particularly in the opposition. The party president is usually the candidate for president during national elections.
Vice Presidents: These positions help manage party affairs at regional or national levels. They may be elected at the national delegates’ conference.
Central Executive Committee (CEC): This is the body responsible for day-to-day party operations, strategic decisions, and policy formulation. Members of this body are elected by delegates during party congresses or conventions.
Members of Parliament: Parties select candidates to run for parliamentary seats, either through primaries or direct appointments by party leadership. These candidates often reflect the party’s values and policy positions.
See lessWhat are the challenges faced by political parties in Uganda?
In Uganda, multi-party democracy was opened up after over two decades of ban. This move towards pluralism was a first step towards a competitive party system in Uganda. Today, a number of challenges remain which are restricting parties’ potential to perform effectively and these can be divided intoRead more
In Uganda, multi-party democracy was opened up after over two decades of ban. This move towards pluralism was a first step towards a competitive party system in Uganda. Today, a number of challenges remain which are restricting parties’ potential to perform effectively and these can be divided into two broad categories.
First, there are the restrictions imposed by the external, legal and constitutional framework within which the parties operate. This uneven playing field is attributed to three main issues. First, parties complain of the limited funding available to them as a result of the Political Parties Organizations Act (PPOA). The PPOA sets strict limits on foreign party funding, and although it was amended to include public funding to parties in 2010, no funds have been released to date. This has led parties to see the PPOA as an NRM strategy geared to their containment and control not least because, as they claim it has access to state resources. Second, the mistrust towards the Electoral Commission (EC) has discredited the electoral process as a whole in the country. The opposition parties regard the EC as an NRM sponsored bulwark of the status quo and its composition and procedures continue to be highly contentious issues, particularly in the run up to elections. Third, parties complain of the repression opposition activists and party members endure on the streets.
Second, there are the internal party deficiencies, which further limit parties’ scope for action within this wider restrictive framework. Political parties are poorly institutionalized and remain disorganized, internally divided and with limited access to resources which prevents them from improving their capacities as credible and representative governing entities. Party prospects have been further compromised by the internal factions and leadership disputes, which characterise much of Ugandan party politics. The NRM, meanwhile, has its own share of problems. It is far from monolithic and suffers from some of the same issues in party organization and capacity as the opposition parties. The ruling party essentially functions on a part time basis, in the run up to elections when conventional party structures need to be reactivated to facilitate electoral campaigning. The rest of the time, the party exists as a diffuse network of individuals, held together by a deeply entrenched patronage system.
Both sets of factors mean that the party system is characterized by mistrust and antagonism between the NRM and the opposition parties on the one hand and, for different reasons, among opposition parties on the other. While competitive politics does, by definition, set parties against each other, the mistrust that pervades inter-party relations in Uganda is particularly acute, and may threaten the democratic process as a whole.
Uganda’s multi-party politics suffers domination of one party, the ruling party, that makes it more less a one-party state. Opposition political parties in Uganda are faced with the huge task of choosing whether to “cooperate” and be co-opted or “confront” the ruling party. For instance, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has chosen to “cooperate” and be co-opted by the National Resistance Movement (NRM), with their members being appointed to serve in the NRM led cabinet. President Museveni has also co-opted individual members from opposition parties even where there is no formal agreement at the party level and this weakens the multi-party arrangement in Uganda.
The relationship between opposition political parties and individual opposition politicians hasn’t been smooth as well. There have been accusations and counter accusations of “being in bed with the state” and talk of “who is genuine opposition” has surfaced. These accusations of genuine opposition exist at the level of political parties but also within parties.
The emergency of the National Unity Platform (NUP) seems to have rattled the status quo in the opposition rankings and there has been a silent cold war between the two leading opposition parties, the FDC and NUP. This cold war came to the fore in the recent past when NUP’s request for a meeting with FDC was turned down and the Speakership race where the FDC candidate, Ssemuju Nganda accused NUP of supporting an NRM leaning independent candidate, Rebecca Kadaga and left him in the cold. The same race exposed FDC since the party candidate managed only 15 votes yet the party has 32 members.
Political parties in Uganda suffer from low voter confidence. Although during elections, candidates contest on political party tickets and there is a fair voter turnout, these high voter turnout figures should not be strictly interpreted as an indicator of voter confidence in political parties per se. Rather, they indicate that voters trust the electoral process as a means of reconfiguring the way they are governed, for the better. Political parties seem to be merely a necessary tool for getting there that can be safely discarded once their use expires. Indeed, with few exceptions, voter confidence in political parties is not directed to the institution as such. It is based on the personality of the leadership of the party and can be transferred to any party this leadership may choose. The failure by political parties in Uganda to go beyond personalities is therefore a big concern.
See lessWhat role do political parties play in Uganda’s electoral process?
Political parties play a crucial role in Uganda’s electoral process, as they serve as the main vehicles through which political candidates are selected, campaigns are organized, and policy positions are articulated. While Uganda's electoral system has evolved over time, the role of political partiesRead more
Political parties play a crucial role in Uganda’s electoral process, as they serve as the main vehicles through which political candidates are selected, campaigns are organized, and policy positions are articulated. While Uganda’s electoral system has evolved over time, the role of political parties remains central to its functioning.
What are the historical origins of Uganda's political parties
Uganda developed from the nineteenth century kingdom of Buganda, based along the northern shore of Lake Victoria. In 1894 Buganda was declared a British protectorate, but the country was never fully colonised. Growing self-government through a Legislative and Executive Council led to full independenRead more
Uganda developed from the nineteenth century kingdom of Buganda, based along the northern shore of Lake Victoria. In 1894 Buganda was declared a British protectorate, but the country was never fully colonised. Growing self-government through a Legislative and Executive Council led to full independence on 9th October 1962. Milton Obote, leader of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), was elected Prime Minister. He was overthrown in 1971 by Army Chief of Staff, General Idi Amin, who established a brutal dictatorship. The Asian Community was expelled in 1972 and intellectuals persecuted. Border tension led to an invasion by Tanzania, with support from exiled members of the Ugandan National Liberation Front (UNLF). President Amin was over-thrown and ill-organised elections in 1980 returned Obote’s UPC to power.
President Obote’s government relied on the support of the army and soon became embroiled in a savage guerrilla war against Mr. Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Army (NRA), who regarded Obote and his supporters as criminals. Growing dissent between Acholi and the Langi factions within the army resulted in Obote’s overthrow by the Acholi, led by General Tito Okello Lutwa. Gen. Okello established a military council, but after a bitter battle in January 1986, the NRA occupied Kampala and Mr. Museveni was installed as President. In 1995, Uganda adopted a new constitution. The Constitution provided for Presidential, Parliamentary and local elections over the next two years, to be held under the existing restrictions on activity by political parties. The elections which followed in May and June 1996, for President and Parliament respectively, were generally free and fair, notwithstanding the ban on party activityA referendum was held in June 2000, which decided to maintain the restrictions. A second referendum was held in 2005 which decided the return to a multiparty system of Government and elections. Uganda’s first multi-party elections since 1980 were held on 23rd February 2006. Multiparty Elections have been held every five years since then. Considerable progress has been made in restoring peace across Uganda and in rebuilding infrastructure shattered by civil war.
See lessHow can inflation be better addressed on the African continent
Addressing inflation on the African continent is a complex challenge, as inflation can result from a variety of factors, including supply chain disruptions, currency depreciation, global commodity price volatility, and domestic fiscal policies. However, there are several strategies that African counRead more
Addressing inflation on the African continent is a complex challenge, as inflation can result from a variety of factors, including supply chain disruptions, currency depreciation, global commodity price volatility, and domestic fiscal policies. However, there are several strategies that African countries can pursue to mitigate the impact of inflation and promote more stable and sustainable economic growth.
Therefore It requires a multifaceted approach that includes monetary, fiscal, and structural reforms. It also involves strengthening institutions, promoting economic diversification, and fostering regional cooperation. Sustainable solutions will require long-term investments in education, infrastructure, and the business environment, with a focus on empowering individuals and communities to manage inflation effectively.
See less