Impact of Electoral Inconsistencies in Lc I and Lc II Local Government Administrative Units on Delivery of Justice in Busia District
Year: 2018
Author: BYAHAYA MOSES
Supervisor: Maximiano Ngabirano
Abstract
Elections at LC1 and LC2 levels in Uganda is by matter of fact not been conducted for the last 20 years since 1997 which has affected service delivery in communities according to various reports as sited. This study was therefore about examining the impact of electoral inconsistencies to justice delivery with specific objectives focused on the causes of these electoral inconsistencies, impact of this omission to rate of domestic violence, crime rate, and rate of mob justice in Busia District.
The study used mixed research approach which included both qualitative and quantitative methodologies though qualitative methodology was predominantly used. The study area was Busia District and the study population included people of Busia District both men and women of voting age. The case study was conducted in 10 villages chosen from 2 Subcounties of Masafu and Bulumbi and the sample size was of 120 respondents whom the study subjected to open group discussions and interview methods of data collections during the field study, in addition to records analysis. The causes of electoral inconsistencies at LC I and LC II levels were found out to be government‟s reluctance if not neglect to follow electoral schedule so as to retain power amidst pressure from the vibrant opposition to take over the grass-root popularity and Civil Society Organizations demanding for electoral reforms.
The elections at LC I and LCII which have taken much longer than the five years term of any political office according to the laws of Uganda as of this year 2017 has created public bias against the current LC I and LC II, inefficient LC I and LC II leadership as well as their illegal existence which has caused public loss of confidence in the village and parish leadership. Consequently high rate of crime, rampant cases of domestic violence, and common cases of mob justice today have been experienced among other aspects of poor administration of justice in the societies.
The study suggests possible solutions to the problem as being government‟s respect of democracy and democratic principles, respect of the constitution, conducting elections at LC I and LC II levels during this multi-party political dispensation as urgently as possible.
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