Civic governance, engagement, and protest in quest of democracy in Uganda

Over the past decade, a rich body of research has considered the civil society to be increasingly important in political organization, social mobilization, and economic empowerment, perhaps more so in developing countries. However, most studies in sub-Saharan Africa have tended to associate civil society with associations and foundations, and the act of joining organizations as members or volunteers. Consequently, the role of the citizen is narrowed down to civic participation which is often used to imply voting and philanthropy. Issues such as informal groups and networks, local spontaneous activism, and citizens’ protests often escape the researchers’ scope for political, methodological, and sometimes conceptual reasons. This chapter explores the various forms of collective action, civic activism, and engagement as they have played out in postcolonial Uganda. The chapter aims to provide a menu for citizens’ engagement and participation as well as new models of civic inclusion and democratic governance in the current era.