MJAMR

The Impact of Multi-Party Politics on Democratic Governance in Uganda

Atugonza Robert, Freeman Crispus


Abstract

This study examined the impact of multi-party politics on democratic governance in Uganda. Since the restoration of multi-party competition in 2005, Uganda has operated a multi-party system whose contribution to the quality of democratic governance remains debated. The study investigated how political competition, citizen participation, accountability and oversight, and the rule of law relate to democratic governance. A cross-sectional survey design with a mixed-methods approach was adopted, and data were collected from 200 respondents comprising political party members, civil society actors, local leaders, and ordinary citizens using structured questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and structural (path) analysis were used. The results revealed a strong positive and significant relationship between multi-party politics and democratic governance (r = 0.66, p < 0.01), with the dimensions jointly explaining 63.0% of the variance in democratic governance (R² = 0.630). Accountability and oversight (β = 0.31) and citizen participation (β = 0.29) emerged as the strongest path predictors. The study concludes that multi-party politics contributes significantly to democratic governance, chiefly through accountability and participation, and recommends strengthening oversight institutions, civic participation, and the rule of law.

Keywords

multi-party politics democratic governance accountability citizen participation rule of law
Metropolitan Journal of Academic Multidisciplinary Research

Cite This Article

Atugonza Robert & Freeman Crispus (2026). The Impact of Multi-Party Politics on Democratic Governance in Uganda. Metropolitan Journal of Academic Multidisciplinary Research, 5(8). https://journals.miu.ac.ug/pages/article.php?article_id=771

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