A Critical Analysis of Voters’ Right to Participation in Electoral Process in Uganda: The Distinction Between the Theory and Practice After the 1995 Constitution

ABSTRACT This research focused on a critical analysis of voters’ riqht to participation in electoral process in Uganda: The distinction between the theory and practice after the 1995 constitution. The major objective was to Critic the legal framework of Uganda electoral legislation standards to voter~ ri~qhts of participation in election process, to critic the legal system of institutions in ensuring voter’s riqhts of participation in elections periods fri Uganda, to draw the gap between the theory and practice of the election administration process in respect of voter~ riqhts of participation LI? election process in Uganda. Research used relevant tools to this study was a combination of desk research, primary research (through qualitative techniques and methods of data collection. Chapter two: looked at the legal framework of voter~c riqhts of partici7ation in election process. Chapter three: focused on the legal system of institutional management in ensuring voter~ ri~qhts of participation in elections in Uganda. Chapter four: examfried the respect of voters ri~qhts of participation: the theory and practice of election administration process in Uganda, it was revealed that Uganda ~ electoral laws do not inhibit the practice of free and fair elections, voters’ ri~qhts have increasingly violated in elections show that there is a shortfall of legal demand as a result of intimidation, fraud manioulationi that have continued to influence the gist of election outcome. Election Administration, in its preparations, have eventually succumbed to the excessive pressure of administering presidential and direct parliamentary elections. Chapter five looked at the summary. conclusion and recommendation of the findings, it was recommended that voters riqhts ofparticipation in election has not been fully realized and the problem of lack of trust in the Electoral Commission could be addressed by amending the law on the basis for the transparent appointment of Commissioners and other related laws for respecting voters niqhts ofparticipation in election process in Uganda.