Overview

Uganda is often described as one of the most stable countries in East Africa. It has held regular elections for decades, maintains strong regional security partnerships, and reports steady economic growth. But stability in Ugandan politics requires closer examination. In The Myth of Stability, Kriss Namakola delivers a detailed analysis of state power, governance, and institutional change in Uganda since independence. This book examines how long-term executive dominance and one-man rule have shaped the civil service, the military, electoral systems, and the political economy of the modern Ugandan state. Grounded in African political history and post-colonial state formation, the study traces Uganda's trajectory from colonial engineering in 1900 through independence, military regimes, and prolonged centralized leadership. It situates Uganda within broader debates about authoritarianism in Africa, democratic backsliding, civil-military relations, patronage politics, and regime durability. The core argument is direct: when political authority becomes highly personalized, institutions reorganize around loyalty rather than accountability. Over time, this affects economic incentives, industrial development, public trust, and the resilience of democratic institutions. This book analyzes: Executive power and institutional design Civil-military relations in Uganda Electoral legitimacy and democratic erosion Patronage networks and state spending Industrial policy and economic structure International alliances and regime stability Leadership succession and transition risk For readers of African politics, governance, comparative authoritarian systems, and development policy, The Myth of Stability offers a structured examination of Uganda's political order and its long-term institutional consequences. As Uganda approaches an eventual leadership transition, the question is whether its institutions are durable enough to withstand systemic change.

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