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Progress and Challenges of Liberal Democracy in Uganda
(National Democratic Reforms in Africa, 2015) Asiimwe , Godfrey B.
In 1986, the National Resistance Movement (NRM ) leadership took over power in Uganda and sought to entrench a no-party political system. Additionally, the NRM’s initial preferred electoral system was of individual merit and open competition through lining-up behind a chosen candidate. NRM’s stated rationale for the initiatives was to consolidate unity, peace and nationhood. This strategy was not new, but reminiscent of the one-party systems that were adopted by most post independence African countries, including Uganda. This was tantamount to the imposition of unity through authoritarian suppression of diversity and dissent. Competitive multi-party politics; the first past-the post and winner take-all which were the linchpins of liberal democracy were considered to have led to divergent out-comes, which were at variance with consolidating nationhood, peace and good governance. H