IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Uganda

Republic of Uganda

45,711,874
Population (as of Feb. 8, 2019)

17,658,527
Registered Voters (as of None)

60.13%
Average Turnout

12
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.272
Regimes of the World Classification: Electoral Autocracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: July 30, 1980
Ratified Date: July 22, 1985

SIGI* Score: 27.4
Level of Discrimination: Low
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: March 30, 2007
Ratified Date: Sept. 25, 2008

HDI* Score: 0.582
Category: Medium
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Ugandan Presidency	None	Head of State & Government
Ugandan National Assembly	Parliament	Assembly

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI *
Head of Government: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI
Assembly: Uganda has a unicameral National Assembly with 418 seats.

* The president is both chief of state and head of government.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system to serve a 5-year term.
In the National Assembly, 281 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms, 112 members are reserved for women to serve 5-year terms and 25 members are reserved by legally established special interest groups.
- Of the special interest group members, there are 10 Uganda People's Defence Forces Representatives, 5 Representatives of the Youth, 5 Representatives of Persons with Disabilities, and 5 Representatives of Workers. Additional members may be appointed ex officio by the President. Currently, 13 members serve ex officio.

Elections

2021-01-14 | Status: Held
Ugandan Presidency
Votes 10,350,819
Registered 18,103,603
Turnout 57.18

2021-01-14 | Status: Held
Ugandan National Assembly
Votes 9,998,554
Registered 17,658,527
Turnout 56.62

2016-02-18 | Status: Held
Ugandan Presidency
Votes 9,701,738
Registered 15,277,198
Turnout 63.5

2016-02-18 | Status: Held
Ugandan National Assembly
Votes 10,329,131
Registered 15,277,198
Turnout 67.61

2011-02-18 | Status: Held
Ugandan Presidency
Votes 8,272,760
Registered 14,000,000
Turnout 59.09

2011-02-18 | Status: Held
Ugandan National Assembly
Votes 8,272,760
Registered 13,954,129
Turnout 59.29

2006-02-23 | Status: Held
Ugandan Presidency
Votes 7,230,456
Registered 10,450,788
Turnout 69.19

2006-02-23 | Status: Held
Ugandan National Assembly
Votes -
Registered 10,450,788
Turnout -

2005-07-28 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 4,034,232
Registered 8,524,230
Turnout 47.33

2001-06-26 | Status: Held
Ugandan National Assembly
Votes -
Registered 10,561,779
Turnout -

2001-03-12 | Status: Held
Ugandan Presidency
Votes 7,576,144
Registered 10,775,836
Turnout 70.31

2000-06-29 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 4,914,524
Registered 9,609,703
Turnout 51.14

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Ugandan Presidency	2021-01-14	Held	10,350,819	18,103,603	57.18
Ugandan National Assembly	2021-01-14	Held	9,998,554	17,658,527	56.62
Ugandan Presidency	2016-02-18	Held	9,701,738	15,277,198	63.5
Ugandan National Assembly	2016-02-18	Held	10,329,131	15,277,198	67.61
Ugandan Presidency	2011-02-18	Held	8,272,760	14,000,000	59.09
Ugandan National Assembly	2011-02-18	Held	8,272,760	13,954,129	59.29
Ugandan Presidency	2006-02-23	Held	7,230,456	10,450,788	69.19
Ugandan National Assembly	2006-02-23	Held	-	10,450,788	-
Referendum	2005-07-28	Held	4,034,232	8,524,230	47.33
Ugandan National Assembly	2001-06-26	Held	-	10,561,779	-
Ugandan Presidency	2001-03-12	Held	7,576,144	10,775,836	70.31
Referendum	2000-06-29	Held	4,914,524	9,609,703	51.14

Voter Turnout

Hover to view election details.