Guaranteeing The Independence Of Electoral Management Bodies In East Africa: A Case Study Of The Electoral Commission Of Uganda

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION .... ......... .... ............. .... ........... .................... ..... ... .................... ........... ................. ... ......... ... iv

DEDICATION .............................................................................................. ............................................. v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .. ... ...... .. .. .... .. ...................................... ..................... .... .. ... .... .... .. .... .... ..... .... ........ vi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ......................................... ............................... .. ............................................. vii

CIIAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1

1.1 BACKGROUND OF TIIE STUDY ............................................................................................. 1

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM .. .. .......................................... .................................. ....... 3

1.3 JUSTIFICATION FOR TIIE STUDY ..................................................................................... 4

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 7

1.5 HYPOTHESIS .................................................... ................... ..... .. .................... ... ................................. 7

1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ................ ... .......................................................................................... 7

1.7 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................................................... 8

1.8 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................ 9

1.9 OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTERS ........................................................................................................... 9

CHAPTER TWO : THE NOTION OF INDEPENDENCE OF ELECTION MANAGEMENT BODIES .................... 10

2.11ntroduction .................................................................................................................................... 10

2.2 International foundation of election management.. ....................................................................... 10

2.3 Regional foundation of election management.. ............ .. .... .. ................ .. .... .. .................................. 11

2.4 Defining the concept of independence of EMBs ............................................................................. 12

2.5 From whom should EMBs be independent? ...... ........................................................................ ..... 13

2.6 Pillars of independence of election management bodies ................................................................ 14

2.6.1 Permanency ...... .... .................................................................. ................................................. 14

2.6.2 Appointment of commissioners and composition of EMBs .... .... .. ............................................ 14

2.6.3 Conditions of service .................................................................................. .. ............................ 15

2.6.4 Removal from office ................................................................................................................. 16

2.6.5 Hiring and firing of staff ........................................................................................................... 16

2.6.6 Operational autonomy ............................................................................................................. 16

2.6.7 Financial autonomy .................................................................................................................. 17

2.7 Were election management bodies designed to be independent? ................................................. 18

2.8 Accountability of election management bodies .............................................................................. 21

2.9 Justification for the independence of election management bodies ............................................... 22

2.10 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 23

CHAPTER 3: AN APPRAISAl OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE ................................................................. 25

3.1Historical background ...................................................................................................................... 25

3.2The legal framework of the ECI< ....................................................................................................... 28

3.3 Independence of the Electoral Commission ................................................................................... 28

3.3.1Appointment of commissioners ................................................................................................ 29

3.3.2Dismissals from the Electoral Commission ................................................................................ 30

3.3.3Funding ...................................................................................................................................... 30

CHAPTER 4: TOWARDS FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE INDEPENDENCE ........................... 31

4.llntroduction .................................................................................................................................... 31

4.2 Some of the challenges affecting the independence of the ECU ..................................................... 31

4.2.1lack of adequate resources ...................................................................................................... 32

4.2.2 Weak legal framework ............................................................................................................. 33

4.2.3 lack of clear line of accountability ........................................................................................... 33

4.2.4 Political mistrust ...................................................................................................................... 34

4.2.5 late enactment of enabling laws ................................................................................................. 34

4.3 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 34