A recent survey reveals that Ugandans have more faith in religious leaders and politicians from the ruling party (NRM) than in opposition politicians.
According to a mobile phone survey conducted by Twaweza called “Sauti za Wananchi,” Ugandans consider religious leaders and NRM politicians to be more trustworthy than their opposition counterparts. Out of the participants, 41% trust information from NRM members of parliament, while only 20% have confidence in information from opposition legislators.
The survey collected data from 2,749 Ugandans between January 10, 2023, and February 3, 2023.
Key Findings:
- Eight out of ten citizens place their trust in information from religious leaders more than any other public figures.
- Seven out of ten have substantial trust in information from their village chairperson (LC1) and the president (68%).
- Participants expressed lower trust in information from government officials (38%), NRM supporters (36%), and opposition party MPs (20%). Only 14% trust information from opposition party supporters.
- The survey’s findings mirror those from similar surveys conducted in 2019 and 2020. Trust in NRM politicians increased from 26% in 2020 to 41% in 2023, while trust in religious leaders increased by 7%. Trust in opposition politicians increased only by 3% in 2023, rising from 17% in 2020.
Opposition Responds:
Michael Kabaziguruka, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) EC boss, expressed doubts about the survey’s methodology and participant selection. He argued that Twaweza did not include the right participants and questioned the credibility of the results.
Kabaziguruka pointed out that after 37 years in power, there is no reason for any Ugandan to trust the NRM, given their track record. He suggested that respondents might have answered out of fear, suspecting that the surveyors had ties to the NRM government.
In a telephone interview, Kabaziguruka raised concerns about the criteria used to select participants and the locations where they were surveyed. He suggested that participants may have been chosen from rural areas where their opinions might have been influenced.