As the National Resistance Movement (NRM) wraps up its 38-year dominance in Ugandan politics, traditional political parties find themselves teetering on the edge of closure.
Once vibrant entities struggling to collaborate with the government they once criticised, these parties are grappling with an existential crisis, prompting a closer examination of the factors pushing them towards extinction.
In 1986, the National Resistance Army, propelled by principles of rule of law, democracy, and good governance, captivated Ugandans. At that time, traditional political parties were relegated to whispers, navigating a political landscape dictated by the events of the era.
For two decades, Uganda operated under a movement system, with multipartyism not prioritized until 2005. The resurgence of traditional political parties like the Democratic Party and Uganda People’s Congress followed, aiming to garner support across the nation.
After 38 years of NRM rule, these parties now find themselves living in their own shadow. Kennedy Mutenyo, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission for the Democratic Party, and Fred Ebil, Secretary-General of the Uganda People’s Congress, acknowledge the decline but attribute it to the actions of the NRM government.
Kennedy Mutenyo highlighted the challenges faced by traditional parties
“The NRM hoodwinked Ugandans by accepting the return of multipartyism while simultaneously suppressing its opponents.”
Fred Ebil echoes concerns about the decline and pointed fingers at the NRM government
“The decline of traditional parties is a result of the NRM’s tactics in accepting multipartyism while suppressing opponents.”
However, these claims where dismissed by the NRM, with Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister for ICT, criticizing opposition parties for their perceived failure to build strong ideologies.
“Opposition parties need to focus on building strong ideologies to sustain themselves.” stated Baryomunsi
Political analyst Prof. Sabiiti Makara placed responsibility on the traditional political parties themselves, questioning their engagement with their oppressors. He suggests that they backtrack to save themselves from complete dissolution.
“Traditional political parties need to reassess their engagement with oppressors to avoid complete dissolution.”
He warns that the NRM reintroduced multipartyism under pressure from democrats but lacked genuine commitment to its principles.
As the blame game intensifies between the government and the opposition, the fate of traditional political parties hangs in the balance.
“Traditional political party actors should brace for the worst if they intend to survive under the same NRM government.” stated Prof. Sabiti
As the spotlight remains on traditional political parties, the nation watches to see if they can navigate these challenging times and salvage themselves from ultimate dissolution.
