Judicial independence and the judicialisation of electoral politics in Malawi and Uganda

One of the most significant features of the development of accountable government in Africa in the past two decades has been the growing relevance and importance of the judiciary in setting and enforcing norms of accountability. However, the accountability performance of African judiciaries is uneven, between countries as well as within countries over time, raising the question of what explains this variability. This chapter seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the courts’ accountability role, by exploring the performance of courts in the context of Ugandan and Malawian elections. It focuses on the independence of the judiciary as an important condition for the effective discharge of its accountability role.

Related Subject(s): Democracy and Governance

Countries: Malawi ; Uganda