Third Time’s a Charm? Reflections on the First and Second APRM Reports of Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda

This special report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the first and second African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) reports for Kenya, Mozambique, and Uganda. It examines patterns of progress and regression in democracy, political governance, and socio-economic development, noting that while legislative improvements are evident, practical implementation often lags, particularly regarding corruption, poverty, and gender inequality.

• Kenya, Mozambique, and Uganda are the only three of 41 African countries to have completed the full APRM review process twice as of September 2021.
• Kenya's 2010 constitution, which emphasized the rule of law and separation of powers, was largely based on recommendations from its first APRM review in 2006.
• Despite the establishment of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in 2011, corruption remains a persistent obstacle in Kenya, with low public trust and a lack of convictions for high-ranking officials.
• Kenya has made progress in gender representation, with women's seats in the National Assembly increasing from 4.1% in 2000 to 23% by 2017, though it still falls short of the constitutional one-third requirement.
• Mozambique has demonstrated success in post-conflict reconstruction and democratic consolidation, including adhering to presidential term limits and holding regular elections since 1994.
• Mozambique faces significant risks to stability, including a decline in voter turnout and a resurgence of political-military conflict between Frelimo and Renamo factions after 2009.
• The conflict in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province is linked to socio-economic asymmetries, high youth unemployment, and the discovery of natural gas, posing a threat to stability in the SADC region.
• Mozambique's heroin trade is a major cross-cutting issue, contributing approximately $100 million annually to the economy and involving high-level Frelimo officials through bribery.
• Uganda has seen significant improvements in public health and education, including a reduction in HIV/AIDS prevalence from 18.5% in the 1990s to 5.8% by 2019.
• Uganda's democracy is threatened by a power imbalance favoring the executive and a lack of a level playing field for political competition, evidenced by the ruling party receiving roughly 80% of government funds.
• Uganda's efforts toward gender equality are hindered by discriminatory laws, such as the Land Act of 1998, and the 2021 criminalization of LGBTQI relationships.
• All three countries remain vulnerable to regression due to ethnic polarization, suggesting that the APRM should be utilized as an early warning system for potential conflict.

APA

BOSMAN, I., & CLIFFORD, C. (2021). Third Time’s a Charm? Reflections on the First and Second APRM Reports of Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Special-Report-bosman-clifford.pdf

Chicago

BOSMAN, ISABEL, and CAYLEY CLIFFORD. Third Time’s a Charm? Reflections on the First and Second APRM Reports of Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2021. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Special-Report-bosman-clifford.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=BOSMAN |first1=ISABEL |last2=CLIFFORD |first2=CAYLEY |title=Third Time’s a Charm? Reflections on the First and Second APRM Reports of Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=October 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Special-Report-bosman-clifford.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bosman2021third, author = {BOSMAN, ISABEL and CLIFFORD, CAYLEY}, title = {{Third Time’s a Charm? Reflections on the First and Second APRM Reports of Kenya, Mozambique and Uganda}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Special-Report-bosman-clifford.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }