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Paper short abstract

Using 2024 Afrobarometer data, this paper examines Ugandans’ views on inequality, governance, and colonial legacy. It finds concerns over public services, higher trust in the president, less favour for the UK than China or India, and economic dissatisfaction mixed with hope.

Paper long abstract

Decades after independence, many African countries continue to grapple with economic inequality, raising questions about the weight of colonial legacies. In this paper, I investigate how Ugandans themselves view inequality, governance, and foreign influence in the shadow of the country’s colonial past. Using nationally representative Afrobarometer data from 2024, I find that people consistently highlight shortages in healthcare, education, water, and infrastructure; place greater trust in the president than in parliament or local councils; and view the United Kingdom, the former colonial power, less favorably than China, India, the United States, and African-led organizations. I also find that many Ugandans are dissatisfied with current economic conditions, yet remain hopeful about the future, with a sizeable minority considering emigration in search of better opportunities. These results show that while the legacies of colonialism continue to weigh heavily, the choices made by today’s policymakers will be crucial in shaping whether those inequalities are reinforced or overcome.