Uganda

Parliament

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes
»

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)
14 Jan 2021 to 18 Jan 2021
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
11 May 2021
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
31 Jan 2026
Number of seats at stake
499
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
14

Voter turnout

Registered voters
18,103,603
Voters
10,744,319
Voter turnout
59.3%

Results

About the election

President Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM) retained a two-thirds majority, taking 336 of the 499 seats at stake in the 529-member Parliament (see note 1). However, many outgoing NRM members of parliament, including several incumbent ministers and Vice President Edward Ssekandi, lost their seats. The opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), led by Mr. Bobi Wine (the outgoing MP officially known as Robert Kyagulanyi), became the second largest party with 57 seats. It won 25 more seats than the main opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC, which endorsed Mr. Patrick Oboi Amuriat as its presidential candidate in 2021). In the presidential elections held in parallel with the parliamentary polls, the incumbent President – Africa’s longest-serving leader who has been in power since 1986 – was re-elected for a sixth term (see note 2). Among others, he defeated Mr. Wine, who subsequently called for peaceful protests to oppose the results (see note 3).

On 24 May, the newly elected Parliament elected Mr. Jacob Oulanyah (NRM) as the new Speaker, replacing Ms. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga who had served in the post since 2011. On 8 June, President Museveni appointed Ms. Jessica Alupo – the former Education minister and retired army Major – as Vice President, and the outgoing junior State Minister for Health, Ms. Robinah Nabbanja, as the new Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament. Ms. Nabbanja thereby became the first woman in Uganda to assume the premiership. Both the new Vice President and Prime Minister are MPs elected from Women Districts.

The 2021 elections were held amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On 4 November 2020, the Election Commission officially announced the election date, urging candidates to promote safe participation in the electoral process by following the COVID-19 prevention measures. On 18 November, Mr. Wine was arrested for violating COVID-19 restrictions. His arrest triggered violent protests in the capital Kampala, killing 50 people. The opposition parties accused the government and security forces of using the COVID-19 restrictions as a cover to wage a brutal crackdown.

Note 1:

The statutory number of members of Parliament has increased from 447 to 529 as described below. In addition to the 529 members, the President of the Republic may appoint any person outside Parliament to the Cabinet. The person(s) appointed as ministers become ex officio members of Parliament without voting rights. The number of ex officio members, and thus the statutory number of members, may vary during the course of the legislature.

- 353 members from single-member constituencies (up from 300)

- 146 members elected from Women Districts (up from 122)

- 30 members indirectly elected (up from 25)*

* Previously, 25 indirectly elected seats were reserved for 10 representatives of the Uganda People's Defence Forces, with 5 representatives each for youth, disabled persons and workers. In addition, 5 more seats are now reserved for older people. The bill to add these five seats was adopted by Parliament in August 2020.

Note 2:

In December 2017, Parliament adopted the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2017. It extended the terms of office for the President, Parliament and local government from five to seven years and removed the presidential age limit of 75 years. In July 2018, the Constitutional Court approved the removal of the presidential age limit, thereby paving the way for the incumbent President, born in 1944, to run for the presidency in 2021. However, the Court nullified the extensions to the terms of office. The general elections, which were expected to be held in 2023, were thus held in 2021.

Note 3:

Mr. Wine is no longer a parliamentarian in the new legislature since the law does not allow a person to run for the presidency and a parliamentary seat at the same time.

Number of parties winning seats
7
Percentage of parties winning seats
50.0%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
67.3%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
1
Names of parties in government
National Resistance Movement (NRM)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
National Resistance Movement (NRM) 336
National Unity Platform (NUP) 57
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) 32
Democratic Party (DP) 9
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) 9
Justice Forum (JEMA) 1
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) 1
Independents 74
Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) 10
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
338
Number of women elected
161

Notes:

The number of women elected (161) under “Members elected, by sex” comprises:

- Constituency Representatives: 15

- District Women Representatives: 146*

*Of the 146 District Women Representatives, 135 are elected from the districts, 1 from the capital city and 10 others from the new cities (City Women Representatives).

In addition, 13 women were indirectly elected, as follows.

- Youth Representatives: 2

- Representatives of disabled persons: 3

- Workers' Representatives: 2

- Representatives of older people: 3

- Representatives of the Uganda People's Defence Forces: 3

As at 6 April 2021, there were a total of 174 women among 529 members.

The President subsequently appointed 27 ex officio members, including 15 women.

Meanwhile, the number of women among the Constituency Representatives decreased from 15 to 14.

As at 23 July 2021, there were a total of 188 women out of 556 members. These statistics are reflected under the “New legislature” section.

Percentage of women elected
32.3%
Women Directly Elected
161
Women Appointed
15
Women Indirectly Elected
13
Other notes on the elections

Note on the turnout figures:

The turnout figures above are for the presidential elections, which were held in parallel with the parliamentary polls.

Note on the timing of election

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 to the parliamentary term. Therefore, the next elections were held in January 2021.

Note on the parties or coalitions winning seats:

The statistics above do not include ex officio members (27 as at July 2021).

The President of the Republic may appoint any person outside Parliament to the Cabinet. The person(s) appointed (ministers who do not have voting rights) become ex officio members of Parliament. The number of ex officio members, and thus the statutory number of members, may vary during the course of the legislature.

Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
368
Total number of women after the election
188
Percentage of women after the election
33.8%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
21 May 2021

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Jacob L. Oulanyah (Male)
Date of birth: 1965
Political party
National Resistance Movement (NRM)
Date of election
24 May 2021

Historical data for IPU membership

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Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No