2025 country profile

How democratic is
Uganda?

Uganda scores 41.3 out of 100 and ranks 120 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is free and fair elections. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

41.3out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank120 of 179

10-year change−9.8

25-year change−11.7

Source-bound range34.0–48.6

Weakest areaElections

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Uganda, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2025 context · Freedom House assessment

Attacks on journalists disrupted election coverage

Security forces attacked journalists covering a by-election, leading some outlets to suspend campaign reporting. Freedom House identifies this as a restriction on media freedom. The democratic effect extends to voters who lose independent information about candidates, campaign conduct, and the behavior of authorities.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2026

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for Uganda fell 9.8 points, from 51.1 to 41.3 between 2015 and 2025. All five areas declined. Participation contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Participation

The evidence rates opportunities to participate through civic organizations, direct democracy, and local or regional institutions less favorably.

Area score: 55.9 → 41.2
Approx. contribution to overall change: −2.8 points

Another important influence

Rights and checks

The evidence points toward weaker civil liberties, equality before the law, or constraints on executive power.

Area score: 56.7 → 43.9
Approx. contribution to overall change: −2.4 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2015–2016−2.7 points
The overall score fell from 51.1 to 48.4. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023−2.4 points
The overall score fell from 45.7 to 43.3. Participation supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2024–2025−2.7 points
The overall score fell from 44.0 to 41.3. Political equality supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 51.1 in 2015. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Participation	55.9	41.2	−14.7	−2.8
Rights and checks	56.7	43.9	−12.8	−2.4
Political equality	46.1	35.6	−10.5	−2.2
Elections	30.0	25.3	−4.7	−1.2
Public reasoning	71.9	65.2	−6.7	−1.1

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

25.3

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

43.9

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

41.2

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

65.2

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

35.6

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

Uganda score table

Download Uganda CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	41.3	34.0–48.6	25.3	43.9	41.2	65.2	35.6
2024	44.0	36.9–51.2	26.1	44.5	42.4	66.2	45.6
2023	43.3	36.1–50.5	25.9	47.9	39.2	69.3	39.7
2022	45.7	39.3–53.2	26.9	49.2	44.3	70.2	43.0
2021	44.2	37.2–51.3	27.4	46.7	43.9	69.9	38.4
2020	45.8	39.2–53.0	28.5	49.3	50.5	68.8	37.1
2019	47.9	41.3–55.0	28.4	49.8	54.2	70.0	42.1
2018	48.7	42.2–55.6	28.3	50.3	56.1	72.1	42.4
2017	49.4	43.0–56.4	29.1	51.3	55.2	72.6	44.2
2016	48.4	41.8–55.3	28.9	52.9	54.3	64.7	45.5
2015	51.1	44.3–57.6	30.0	56.7	55.9	71.9	46.1
2014	51.5	45.6–58.8	30.5	57.6	55.8	71.8	46.8
2013	51.8	45.8–58.9	31.2	57.8	56.5	70.1	47.7
2012	52.8	46.8–59.6	31.6	57.7	57.9	70.7	50.6
2011	53.3	47.1–60.2	31.7	58.1	59.4	70.7	51.0
2010	53.6	47.4–60.3	31.7	59.3	60.1	69.9	51.3
2009	53.9	48.0–60.8	31.8	59.9	60.6	70.6	51.4
2008	54.1	47.6–60.7	32.0	60.8	60.4	70.6	51.2
2007	54.4	47.7–60.9	32.3	61.1	60.7	70.6	52.0
2006	54.2	47.7–60.4	31.8	60.8	61.1	69.8	51.9
2005	53.3	46.8–59.4	29.4	60.6	60.6	69.8	51.4
2004	50.7	44.2–56.9	26.5	59.5	54.9	66.9	51.4
2003	50.1	43.3–56.1	25.7	59.5	53.2	66.9	51.4
2002	50.4	43.3–56.4	26.2	59.3	53.2	68.1	51.4
2001	51.7	45.7–58.7	27.0	60.5	55.8	69.5	51.6
2000	53.0	46.7–60.2	30.4	60.4	55.2	71.9	52.3
1999	52.8	46.0–59.6	30.5	61.7	51.3	71.9	53.8
1998	52.8	46.0–59.6	30.5	61.7	51.3	71.9	53.8
1997	53.2	46.6–60.1	30.5	61.7	51.3	74.0	53.8
1996	54.1	47.7–60.8	30.4	61.9	52.2	78.1	53.8
1995	52.3	46.2–59.3	29.3	58.9	47.3	76.7	55.6
1994	50.2	43.6–57.3	28.7	53.7	43.7	75.4	55.3
1993	49.1	42.5–56.1	26.5	52.6	42.5	75.4	55.3
1992	48.5	41.6–55.4	25.8	52.1	42.5	73.5	55.3
1991	48.4	41.7–55.4	25.5	52.0	42.5	73.5	55.3
1990	45.3	39.0–52.5	17.8	51.1	39.8	73.5	55.3
1989	43.4	37.0–50.9	17.1	47.7	39.8	69.6	53.3
1988	40.7	34.0–47.8	13.2	47.7	39.8	61.3	53.3
1987	37.2	30.4–43.9	12.4	47.7	29.7	56.1	52.0
1986	30.1	23.0–36.3	12.2	36.7	20.5	41.1	48.4
1985	22.4	15.4–28.0	18.2	18.2	14.4	19.3	47.4
1984	25.7	18.2–31.8	22.0	23.6	15.0	24.1	48.7
1983	25.7	18.2–31.8	22.0	23.6	15.0	24.1	48.7
1982	26.0	18.5–32.1	22.0	25.0	15.0	24.1	48.7
1981	25.8	18.1–31.7	22.1	25.4	15.0	24.1	47.0
1980	20.5	14.5–25.9	14.7	11.1	15.0	21.7	46.9
1979	7.9	3.9–10.2	8.4	4.7	5.3	0.5	34.5
1978	7.9	3.8–10.2	8.3	4.7	5.3	0.5	34.5
1977	7.9	3.8–10.2	8.3	4.7	5.3	0.5	34.5
1976	7.9	3.8–10.2	8.3	4.7	5.3	0.5	34.5
1975	7.9	3.8–10.2	8.3	4.7	5.3	0.5	34.5
1974	7.9	3.9–10.2	8.3	4.8	5.3	0.5	34.5
1973	7.9	3.9–10.2	8.3	4.8	5.3	0.5	34.5
1972	8.8	3.9–11.0	8.4	6.1	6.1	0.8	35.5
1971	13.5	8.1–17.0	12.0	9.5	12.2	2.4	44.5
1970	22.1	14.8–27.5	19.4	26.8	11.9	12.2	48.3
1969	24.5	17.1–30.2	20.1	26.8	14.0	17.0	51.3
1968	25.0	17.5–30.7	22.4	26.8	14.0	17.0	51.3
1967	26.2	18.8–32.0	22.4	26.1	17.9	17.0	54.1
1966	34.9	27.6–41.9	23.8	40.4	21.9	36.5	57.3
1965	46.0	38.5–54.6	38.6	47.1	28.4	63.3	57.3
1964	46.0	38.5–54.6	38.6	47.1	28.4	63.3	57.3
1963	45.8	38.6–54.6	39.1	46.8	28.4	61.4	57.3
1962	36.6	28.3–43.8	25.2	42.5	26.7	48.7	43.4
1961	27.1	19.0–33.4	18.3	42.0	20.1	26.7	31.7
1960	26.9	18.8–33.2	17.5	41.8	20.1	26.7	31.7
1959	25.0	17.3–31.2	16.3	41.8	20.1	23.8	26.3
1958	25.1	17.3–31.2	16.6	41.8	20.1	23.8	26.3
1957	21.8	14.8–27.7	8.7	40.9	17.7	23.8	24.5
1956	21.8	14.8–27.7	8.7	40.9	17.7	23.8	24.5
1955	20.6	14.0–26.5	7.6	39.9	17.7	20.3	24.5
1954	20.6	13.9–26.3	7.6	39.6	17.7	20.3	24.5
1953	20.0	13.2–25.6	7.6	39.3	17.7	18.2	23.9
1952	19.6	12.8–25.2	7.4	39.3	16.4	18.2	23.2
1951	19.3	12.4–24.6	7.3	37.9	16.4	18.2	23.2
1950	18.6	11.8–23.8	6.3	37.9	15.2	18.2	22.7
1949	18.6	11.9–23.9	6.1	37.9	16.8	18.2	21.4
1948	17.2	10.5–21.8	6.1	37.9	15.9	12.1	21.4
1947	17.2	10.5–21.8	6.1	37.9	15.9	12.1	21.4
1946	17.2	10.5–21.8	6.1	37.9	15.9	12.1	21.4
1945	16.6	10.4–21.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	10.2	20.9
1944	16.6	10.4–21.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	10.2	20.9
1943	16.3	10.2–20.9	6.1	37.3	15.9	9.1	20.9
1942	16.1	10.2–20.9	6.1	37.3	15.9	9.1	19.7
1941	16.1	10.2–20.9	6.1	37.3	15.9	9.1	19.7
1940	16.1	10.2–20.9	6.1	37.3	15.9	9.1	19.7
1939	15.8	9.6–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1938	15.8	9.6–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1937	15.8	9.6–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1936	15.8	9.6–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1935	15.8	9.6–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1934	15.8	9.6–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1933	15.8	9.6–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1932	15.8	9.7–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1931	15.8	9.7–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1930	15.8	9.7–20.1	6.1	37.3	15.9	8.3	19.3
1929	15.9	9.8–20.4	6.1	37.3	16.7	8.3	19.3
1928	15.9	9.8–20.4	6.1	37.3	16.7	8.3	19.3
1927	15.9	9.8–20.4	6.1	37.3	16.7	8.3	19.3
1926	15.9	9.8–20.4	6.1	37.3	16.7	8.3	19.3
1925	15.9	9.8–20.4	6.1	37.3	16.7	8.3	19.3
1924	15.9	9.8–20.4	6.1	37.3	16.7	8.3	19.3
1923	15.9	9.8–20.4	6.1	37.3	16.7	8.3	19.3
1922	15.9	9.8–20.4	6.1	37.3	16.7	8.3	19.3
1921	15.9	9.8–20.4	6.1	37.3	16.7	8.3	19.3
1920	12.5	7.3–16.4	6.2	20.8	16.7	5.8	17.4
1919	11.8	6.8–15.6	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1918	11.8	6.8–15.6	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1917	11.8	6.8–15.6	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1916	11.8	6.8–15.6	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1915	11.8	6.8–15.6	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1914	11.8	6.8–15.6	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1913	11.8	6.8–15.6	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1912	11.8	6.9–15.7	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1911	11.8	6.9–15.7	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1910	11.8	6.9–15.7	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1909	11.8	6.9–15.7	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1908	11.8	6.9–15.7	6.2	20.8	12.7	5.8	17.4
1907	11.8	6.8–15.7	6.2	20.9	12.7	5.8	17.4
1906	11.8	6.8–15.7	6.2	20.9	12.7	5.8	17.4
1905	11.8	6.7–15.6	6.2	20.9	12.7	5.8	17.4
1904	11.8	6.7–15.6	6.2	20.9	12.7	5.8	17.4
1903	11.8	6.7–15.6	6.2	20.9	12.7	5.8	17.4
1902	11.8	6.7–15.6	6.2	20.9	12.7	5.8	17.4
1901	11.8	6.7–15.6	6.2	20.9	12.7	5.8	17.4
1900	11.8	6.7–15.6	6.2	20.9	12.7	5.8	17.4

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Uganda Democracy Score, 1900–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

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