View source for 2005 Ugandan multi-party referendum

{{infobox referendum
|date=28 July 2005
|country=Uganda
|title=Do you agree to open up the political space to allow those who wish to join different organisations/parties to do so to compete for political power?
|yes=3,643,223
|no=297,865
|invalid=93,144
|electorate=8,524,230
}}{{Politics of Uganda}}

A referendum on restoring multi-party politics was held in [[Uganda]] on 28 July 2005. Political parties had been banned from competing in elections for nearly 20 years in order to curb sectarian tensions. President [[Yoweri Museveni]] instituted the [[non-partisan democracy|non-party]] "Movement" system of government when he came to power in 1986. A [[2000 Ugandan multi-party referendum|referendum]] was held in 2000, but the proposal was rejected by over 90% of voters. This time it was approved by over 90% of voters.

==Background==
The Ugandan Parliament voted to conduct the referendum on 4 May 2005. Enthusiasm for the poll was muted, however, as both the government and opposition supported a return to a [[multiparty]] system. Some political groupings, including the [[Forum for Democratic Change]], boycotted the poll, claiming that it would legitimise 19 years of rule by an effective one-party state. President Museveni castigated the [[boycott]]ers for "not contributing to the development of Uganda".<ref>[http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/447486 Museveni castigates opposition boycotters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927233948/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/447486 |date=2007-09-27 }} New Vision, 28 July 2005</ref> Other observers suggested the $12.5m spent on the referendum might have been put to better use elsewhere in Uganda, one of the poorest countries in the world.

The lengthy question presented to voters on their ballots was criticised for being confusing: "Do you agree to open up the political space to allow those who wish to join different organisations/parties to do so to compete for political power?" Symbols of a tree and a house accompanied the 'yes' and 'no' boxes, respectively, on the ballot.

More than 90% of voters backed the return to multi-party politics. Some observers expressed surprise at the official figures given for voter turnout. Initial estimates indicated that less than 30% of Uganda's 8.5 million voters had turned out for the poll. The Electoral Commission, however, released an official figure of 47%. A low turnout would have been embarrassing for Museveni.

==Results==
{{blockquote|Do you agree to open up the political space to allow those who wish to join different organisations/ parties to do so to compete for political power?}}

{{Referendum results
|for=3643223
|against=297865
|invalid=93144
|electorate=8524230
|source=[http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/14/ IFES]
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.monitor.co.ug/news/news07271.php Campaigns end, security on high alert]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[The Monitor (Uganda)|The Monitor]]'', 27 July 2005
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4722925.stm Uganda votes on electoral change], ''[[BBC News]]'', 28 July 2005
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4724109.stm  Multi-party poll divides Ugandan press], ''[[BBC News]]'', 28 July 2005
*[http://www.monitor.co.ug/news/news07291.php Multi-party leads in poll]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[The Monitor (Uganda)|The Monitor]]'', 29 July 2005
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4726419.stm  Uganda 'backs' multi-party return], ''[[BBC News]]'', 29 July 2005
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050620200549/http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews Uganda backs multiparty politics early results show], ''[[Reuters]]'', 29 July 2005
*[http://www.monitor.co.ug/news/news07292.php Poor voter turnout mars referendum]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[The Monitor (Uganda)|The Monitor]]'', 29 July 2005
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927234356/http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/447485 Turnup low in referendum], ''[[New Vision]]'', 29 July 2005

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160505203624/http://www.ec.or.ug/ Uganda Electoral Commission]

{{Ugandan elections}}

[[Category:2005 referendums|Uganda]]
[[Category:2005 in Uganda|Multi-party]]
[[Category:Referendums in Uganda]]