Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement party is yet to react to a new opinion poll that unanimously wants President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to quit office at the end of his 5th tern in 2021.
The new findings from a sample of 2,252 respondents were released on Tuesday by renowned researcher Dr. Patrick Wakida, the director of Research World International (RWI) and funded by Uganda National NGO Forum headed by Richard Ssewakiryange.
Main objective was to provide a picture of citizens’ perceptions on the state of governance in Uganda. The scope covered includes social, political, economic and cultural issues in Uganda.
Fieldwork for this study was conducted in October 2016 in 60 districts of Uganda and was a household survey.
The highest number of Ugandans who want Museveni to leave power in 2021 are from Kampala at 87%, 81% in central Uganda, 67% in the north and south and 73% in Eastern Uganda.
Only 18% of Ugandans think Museveni should stand again for the 6th term of office in the next election. 77% of Male Ugandans think Museveni shouldn’t contest again and 70% of women.
Majority of respondents were female Ugandans (52%) who were catholics (44%) aged 25 – 34 years (36%) from rural areas (72%).
A relatively low number were somewhat interested in public affairs (31%), while a slightly higher number engaged in political discussion with friends and family (33%). This is quite telling on the levels of civic competence and has implications for active citizenship and development.
39% of the respondents said Ugandans are not very free to hold peaceful demonstrations over issues that affect them, while only 2% felt completely free to do so. This could be attributed to the enactment of stringent laws such as the Public Order Management Act, and their subsequent mis-application.
“The government of Uganda needs to be compelled to allow Ugandans to freely hold peaceful demonstrations over issues that affect them,” the correspondents urged.
