In Uganda, whenever a new idea about governance is proposed, it is often met with fear, misunderstanding, or outright rejection before it is even studied. This has been the fate of the proposal by Gen. Salim Saleh on Consociational Democracy.
Many have rushed to attack it without understanding it. Yet, when we study it deeply through the lenses of Comparative Politics, Political Science and African Governance, we realize a profound truth: Gen. Saleh’s proposal is not a move to kill multiparty democracy. It is a bold, visionary move to _save_ and _strengthen_ it.
Uganda needs this debate, and Gen. Saleh has opened it at the right time.
1. What Is Consociational Democracy?
Consociational Democracy is a theory developed by the great Dutch political scientist, Arend Lijphart. Lijphart studied deeply divided societies – countries divided by tribe, religion, language, ideology and history – like the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Lebanon and South Africa.
He discovered that in such societies, the Western model of “Winner-Takes-All” majoritarian democracy often fails. Why? Because when one group wins 51% and takes 100% of power, the 49% who lost feel excluded, marginalized and cheated. This breeds resentment, conflict, and eventually, instability.
Lijphart proposed a different model: Consociational Democracy. It is a democracy built on four pillars:
a) Grand Coalition: All major groups share power in government, not just the winner.
b) Mutual Veto: Minority groups have a veto to protect their vital interests.
c) Proportionality: Resources, jobs and representation are shared proportionally.
d) Segmental Autonomy:Each group is allowed to run its own cultural and social affairs.
In short, it is _democracy by consensus, not democracy by confrontation._
This is what Gen. Saleh is proposing for Uganda.
2. Why Uganda Needs It: Our History Proves It
Uganda is not a homogeneous society like Japan or Denmark. Uganda is a plural society. We have over 56 tribes, multiple religions, multiple regions, and a painful history of political exclusion.
Since 1962, our politics has been Winner-Takes-All. And what has it produced? Every election has produced winners who celebrate, and losers who claim they were rigged, who go to the streets, who boycott Parliament, and who call for defiance.
We have seen it in 1980, in 1996, in 2001, in 2006, in 2011, in 2016, and in 2021. The opposition always loses and always claims the system is unfair. The ruling party always wins and always claims the opposition is unpatriotic.
This cycle of confrontation is not sustainable. It is expensive. It kills investment. It divides our youth.
Gen. Saleh, as a historical revolutionary who has seen war, who has seen the bush war, who has seen the LRA war, and who understands Uganda more than most academics, is saying: _Let us stop this cycle. Let us create a system where even if you lose an election, you are not excluded from governance._
That is not dictatorship. That is maturity.
3. How Consociational Democracy Strengthens Multiparty Democracy
Critics have falsely claimed that Gen. Saleh wants to end multiparty politics. The opposite is true. His proposal strengthens multiparty democracy in five ways:
First: It Gives Opposition a Real Stake
In the current system, an opposition MP is in Parliament to oppose everything, even good things, just to survive politically. In a consociational system, opposition parties would be part of a grand coalition, or at least part of a structured power-sharing arrangement. They would have a say in national decisions. They would move from _opposition for the sake of opposition_ to _constructive participation._ This makes multiparty politics meaningful.
Second: It Ends Politics of Exclusion and Sectarianism
In Uganda, elections are too often fought on tribal lines: “Our man must win or we are finished.” Why? Because people fear that if their man loses, their tribe will be excluded from jobs, roads and services.
Consociational Democracy removes this fear. Through proportionality, every region – Buganda, Acholi, Ankole, Busoga, Teso, Karamoja – is guaranteed a share. No one is finished because they lost. This kills sectarian politics and promotes national unity.
Third: It Promotes National Dialogue Over Street Violence
Today, when opposition loses, the next step is riots in Kamwokya, Bwaise and Kawempe. In a consociational system, the next step is dialogue at the table. The system creates formal mechanisms for negotiation, consensus, and mutual veto. This is how Switzerland has lived in peace for 200 years with four languages and multiple religions. It is how South Africa avoided civil war after apartheid through the Government of National Unity.
Uganda can learn from this.
Fourth: It Focuses on Service Delivery, Not Power Struggle
When parties are in a grand coalition, they stop fighting for power and start competing on who delivers better services. Who has built more schools? Who has delivered PDM better? Who has ensured accountability? That is healthy multiparty competition. That is the kind of democracy President Museveni has always advocated for: democracy that delivers _kyakula_ (food), _amasomero_ (schools), _amalwaliro_ (hospitals), not just slogans.
Fifth: It Reflects Our African Culture of Consensus
Before colonialism, our African societies did not practice Winner-Takes-All. In Buganda, in Busoga, in Bunyoro, decisions were made by consensus in the Lukiko. Elders sat under the tree until everyone agreed. No one was left out. Consociational Democracy is actually more African than the British Westminster system we copied. Gen. Saleh is therefore calling us back to our roots: _Obuntubulamu, Ubuntu_ – I am because we are.
4. Addressing the Fears
Some people fear that consociational democracy will create a one-party state. This is a misunderstanding.
Consociational democracy does NOT abolish parties. It does NOT abolish elections. It does NOT make one leader permanent. In Belgium, Netherlands, and Switzerland, there are many parties, they hold elections, and they compete fiercely. But after elections, they form coalitions to govern together.
What Gen. Saleh is proposing is a Uganda where NRM, NUP, FDC, DP, UPC and others can compete in elections, but after elections, the country is governed inclusively, not exclusively. Is that a bad thing? No. It is the highest form of democracy.
Conclusion: A Visionary Move by a Revolutionary Thinker
Gen. Salim Saleh is not a theorist in a university. He is a practitioner. He is the architect of Operation Wealth Creation. He is the man who has been behind Uganda’s economic transformation in the villages. When he speaks, we must listen.
His proposal on Consociational Democracy should not be dismissed. It should be debated in Parliament, in universities, in Barazas, and in media. It is a good move to strengthen multiparty democracy, to end the politics of winner-takes-all, and to build a Uganda where everyone belongs.
Uganda is too beautiful, too diverse, too rich to be governed by division. We need a democracy of inclusion. We need a democracy of consensus. We need Consociational Democracy.
And for proposing this, Gen. Saleh deserves our respect and our serious attention, not ridicule.
For God and My Country.
Kagenyi Lukka is Deputy RCC Kampala -City Kawempe Division
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