An analysis of the effectiveness of the electoral college system in attaining electoral democracy in Uganda: a case of elections of representatives of persons with disabilities to parliament

Abstract

This study analysed the effectiveness of electoral colleges in the attainment of Electoral Democracy in Uganda. It specifically examined the election of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to Parliament. The study process was guided by specific objectives which sought to score the aim of research. A qualitative study design approach was employed involving sampling, interview and desktop research as the methodology. The study found that whereas voting by electoral colleges is more affordable and a convenient method of voting for both the organizers and participants, however, electoral colleges are grounded in discriminatory legal framework which infringes the enjoyment of the right to vote for the majority PWDs contrary to domestic and international legal frame work. The study further discovered that PWDs electoral colleges manipulate voters, create disability imbalance where persons with physical disability are favoured over other disabilities (psychosocial and intellectual disability), undermine the purpose of multipartism due to the eminent bias towards supporting ruling party candidates and discriminates against the illiterate and semiilliterate PWDs who are never consulted on the electoral processes. And the electoral college system has no proper accountability channels for the majority of PWDs since the representatives tend to only care for the delegates of the National Electoral College as their direct voters. The study concludes that these gaps cause contravention of a number of domestic and international legal frameworks thereby rendering the electoral college system ineffective in the attainment of Parliamentary electoral democracy for the PWDs. The study recommends that Parliament amends the electoral legal framework for PWDs elections to provide for Universal Adult Suffrage since it allows for inclusiveness of all PWDs and accommodates the different categories of disability. Electoral Commission should put in place reasonable accommodation measures such as ensuring effective communication with the PWDs (sign language interpreters), demarcating PWDs user friendly polling centres and availing the required assistive devices and technologies (braille ballot papers, hearing aids etc.). The institutional framework should streamline political party participation to facilitate the enjoyment of freedom of association and assembly. Government should increase funding to the Electoral Commission, MoGLSD, NCPD and other related institutions to enable them carry out their mandate including voter and civic education for the PWDs. Finally, Government should employ a multi-stakeholder approach in organising the elections of PWDs. The researcher is optimistic that if the recommendations proposed are adopted and implemented by government, the PWDs will enjoy their individual right to vote and Parliamentary Electoral Democracy