Many Ugandans mistrust the Electoral Commission, question its impartiality, Afrobarometer survey shows

Only about half of Ugandans think the country’s Electoral Commission (EC) is impartial, and fewer than half say they trust it, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows.

In its Round 8 survey conducted in October 2019, Afrobarometer found substantial doubts about the neutrality and trustworthiness of the body charged with managing Uganda’s 2021 elections.

Public trust in how elections are organized and superintended is a central element in the legitimacy of any electoral exercise. As Uganda approaches general elections, these findings invite a critical reflection on the independence of the Electoral Commission to avoid casting a shadow over electoral outcomes.