Electoral Reforms — National Integration, Mobilization, New Blood — in Document No. 5 on the Move-to-the-Left Strategy in Uganda

Abstract

Document No. 5 on the Move-to-the-Left strategy in Uganda was presented by Presi dent Obote in July 1970, and contained proposals for new methods of electing mem bers to the National Assembly and the President of the Republic. In this article the description and analysis of these electoral proposals focus on their content as well as on their implications. It seems that the electoral reforms should be evaluated as regards their contribution towards national integration, legitimacy of the regime, and political mobilization. They were, however, never put to a real test because the military coup intervened. Only some tentative suggestions may be put forward. The contribution towards national integration across tribal differences seems to have been the foremost concern. The expectations of increased legitimacy of the regime were probably moderate. Stronger ideological commitment and wider mobilization were regarded as desirable by some groups. However, whether these would have ensued remains an open question.