Election rigging goes beyond the ballot: Lessons from Uganda’s political landscape

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By Ass. Prof Sophie Nanyonga

When the term election rigging is mentioned, many people imagine stuffed ballot boxes, fraudulent tally sheets, or mysterious power blackouts on voting night. But political scientists increasingly emphasise that manipulation of an election rarely starts or ends on polling day. Instead, it is often a long process that can quietly unfold months or even years before citizens cast their vote.

Uganda’s political environment offers a clear example of how elections can be shaped by factors far beyond what happens in the voting booth. While voting-day irregularities receive the most attention, the broader electoral landscape of the campaign period, the legal framework, media access, security involvement, and the organisation of voting itself can be equally consequential.

Campaign Conditions: A Level Field or an Uphill Climb?

Campaigns form the foundation of electoral competition. When candidates cannot access venues, freely mobilise supporters, or convey their messages without fear, voter choice is distorted long before ballot papers are printed. Restrictions on public gatherings, unequal access to media, or intimidation of campaign teams can tilt the playing field in subtle but powerful ways.

In Uganda, opposition parties have long argued that campaign environments often work to the advantage of incumbents, an argument that, when raised in electoral petitions, has been proved true. Limitations on rallies and the selective enforcement of public-order regulations can restrict opposition visibility, while state officials and local structures may mobilise more easily for ruling-party candidates. Even when campaigns proceed legally, disparities in resources—state vehicles, security personnel, or local administration networks can influence public perception of who is “viable.” When the incumbent can freely access inaccessible constituents with a helicopter while his competitors are struggling to get through muddy, impassable roads, we can’t call that a leveled ground.

The Information Environment

A free and pluralistic information space is essential for democratic choice. When state-linked media enjoy greater reach or when critical voices face restrictions, citizens’ ability to make informed decisions is weakened. In contexts where media houses fear reprisals, self-censorship can be as influential as formal regulation.

Uganda’s media landscape is diverse, yet the balance of influence often favours outlets aligned with government positions. Opposition voices appear, but not with the consistency or depth needed to counter well-organised state messaging. In an era where social media plays an increasing role, disruptions or restrictions on digital platforms can also shape the informational environment.

We have seen instances where the police are given a platform to defend their brutality, which is often met with denial without any evidence of their claims. This is simply giving them airtime for propaganda.

Electoral Administration and the Rules of the Game

Rigging can take the form of how an election is organised, not just how ballots are counted. This includes the drawing of electoral boundaries, voter registration, deployment of polling materials, and accreditation of observers.

Uganda’s Electoral Commission has frequently faced scrutiny from civil society and opposition actors who question its independence. Concerns tend to centre on the appointment process of commissioners and the Commission’s ability to enforce electoral laws impartially. Even without direct manipulation, public distrust in the referee can erode confidence in the match.

Security and the Vote

Security agencies play a dual role: safeguarding the process and ensuring law and order. But when their presence becomes intimidating—or when enforcement is uneven—the voting environment ceases to be neutral. Reports over the years of heavy security deployment at rallies or on voting day raise questions about where the line lies between protection and pressure.

Voting Day Is Only the Final Chapter

Most electoral observers agree on one point: what happens before voting day often determines the outcome more than events at the polling station. A well-managed election-day process cannot erase months of unequal campaigning, restricted access, or administrative imbalance.

Uganda’s experience illustrates this broader reality. While ballots and counting procedures remain important, analysts argue that the true contest lies in the structural environment surrounding elections, the rules, resources, freedoms, and opportunities available to all candidates.

Why This Matters

Understanding election rigging as a process rather than a moment is crucial for strengthening democratic practice. It shifts attention from reacting to results toward improving the entire system that produces them. For Uganda, as for many countries grappling with competitive but uneven politics, electoral reform must therefore extend far beyond the polling station.

Fair elections begin long before voters queue up, and safeguarding them requires vigilance at every step. In Uganda’s current situation, it is safe to say that whatever the results of the forthcoming presidential elections, this is not a free and fair election and rigging is already prevalent even before the ballots are ticked.

The writer is an Ass. Prof of political science and public administration with extensive background in international law.