Uganda

Parliament

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
18.02.2016
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
11.05.2016
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.01.2026
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
427
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
1,747
Notes
1,343 candidates (including 88 women) for the 290 directly elected seats and 406 women candidates for the 112 seats reserved for women.
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
1,253
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
494
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
28.28%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
19

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
15,277,198
Votes Number of people who actually voted
10,329,131
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
67.61%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
President Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM) retained a two-thirds majority in the enlarged 447-member Parliament (up from 375 (see note). The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) led by Mr. Kizza Besigye came a distant second with 36 seats. The Democratic Alliance (TDA), led by former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, took 19 seats.

Mr. Museveni was re-elected President for a fifth term. Mr. Besigye (FDC), who came second, rejected the election results and called for a protest march. The Supreme Court rejected a petition by Mr. Mbabazi challenging President Museveni's victory, citing voter bribery and arrests.

During the election campaign, the major parties promised to provide better infrastructure, more jobs and affordable health care and to fight corruption. Observers from the European Union praised the peaceful voting but drew attention to a "lack of transparency and independence of the Electoral Commission" and "intimidation and harassment of opposition parties by security agencies".

Note:
The statutory number of directly elected members increased from 238 to 300, and that of women representatives from 112 to 122, due to an increase in the number of constituencies, approved by parliament in August 2015. However, the 2016 elections were held only for the 290 directly elected seats and 112 women representative seats, pending the creation of new districts. In addition, the President of the Republic may appoint as many ex officio members as he/she wishes, although the President has traditionally appointed 11 members to Parliament. The number of ex officio members (ministers who do not have voting rights), and thus the statutory number of members, may vary during the course of the legislature.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
5
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
26.32%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
69.79%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
National Resistance Movement (NRM)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total Constituency District Women Other Indirect Seats
National Resistance Movement (NRM) 298 200 88 10
Independents 66 44 17 5
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) 36 29 7 0
Democratic Party 15 13 2 0
Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) 10 0 0 10
Uganda People's Congress (UPC) 6 4 2 0
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
296
Number of women elected
153
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
35.83%
Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex
At the first session of the 10th Parliament, held on 17 May 2016, there were 143 women out of of 427 members as follows.
- Constituency representatives: 22 out of 290 members (with 10 vacancies)
- District Women representatives: 112 out of 122 women (with 10 vacancies)
- Youth representatives: 2 out of 5 members
- Representatives of disabled persons: 2 out of 5 members
- Workers' representatives: 2 out of 5 members
- Representatives of the Uganda People's Defence Forces: 3 out of 10 members
Between 12 and 14 July 2016, 18 Ex-Officio members (ministers who do not have voting rights), including 9 women, were sworn in. On 20 September, four more District Women representatives from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) were sworn in, giving a total of 298 seats to NRM (up from 294 previously). Meanwhile, three male constituency members replaced three female members.
Other notes
In accordance with the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2017, the term of Parliament was extended from five to seven years. Parliamentary elections were therefore expected in 2023 instead of 2021.
However, in July 2018, the Constitutional Court nullified the extension of the term. Therefore, the next elections will be held in January 2021.
Sources
Parliament (19.05.2016, 15.12.2016, 16.12.2016, 01.01.2017, 15.02.2018)
Electoral Commission (05.07.2016)
European Union, Election observation mission
AFP
BBC
Parliament Watch, Center for Policy Analysis
The Observer
New Vision Uganda
Women Directly Elected
153

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
296
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
153
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
17.05.2016
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Rebecca Kadaga (Female)
Political party
National Resistance Movement (NRM)
Date of election
19.05.2016