Ugandan Parliament Votes to Hold Referendum on Return to Democracy
BBC News 5/6/05

The Ugandan Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of holding a referendum on a return to multi-party elections as a precursor to the establishment of full multi-party democracy. The political system that has been in place since President Yoweri Museveni came to power nineteen years ago is known as a “Movement” system, in which political parties are allowed to exist but not field candidates in the elections. Individuals who want to run for office have to run as individuals and not as representatives of any political party. Museveni supports the referendum as an appropriate means to letting the people decide their own fate. However, tensions in Uganda have increased as supporters of Museveni have made attempts to amend the constitution to allow the term-limited President to run for office again.