According to many scholars, democracy and development coexist in unison, and in many cases, democracy promotes progress and growth. It may not necessarily be the same type of democracy used by the West; however, in many ways, democracy is based on several fundamental principles that enable development. Therefore, if African nations are to achieve high rates of development, a certain level of democracy is necessary. African nations, due to factors such as diversity and disparity between countries, will vary from country to country. This essay will focus on the impact of political systems on Uganda's development and the role that democracy has played in its recent progress. Elections were used as the first step in democratization. However, many citizens were deeply disappointed by the individuals' rise to power. As we have seen throughout history, these individuals have used public funds, government assets and natural resource revenues for personal gain, harming the process of independence and nation building. 'State. Uganda has faced many of these similar problems. However, after these recent elections, it is clear that there is a correlation between the role democracy plays in development today and that of Uganda's previous undemocratic governments. Besides the relationship between democracy and development, there are also other indicators that can contribute to economic growth and development. In these terms, geography can play a major role. This is best illustrated by Paul Collier and Jan Willem Gunning, in Why has Africa Grown Slowly. According to Collier and Gunning, most African states that are located "further from coasts or navigable rivers than in other regions and therefore face inherently higher transport costs...... middle of paper. ..... and development. Cité Gunning, Jan Willem and Paul Collier. “Why Africa grew slowly.” The Journal of Economic Perspectives 13.No. 3 (1999): 3-22. PrinAmbrose, Kibuuka Wassaaka. “DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT IN UGANDA.” Ontario International Development Agency. Internet. .Nachega, Jean-Claude. “Financial Liberalization, Money Demand and Inflation in Uganda.” September 2001. Harris, John. "Reconstruction and Poverty Reduction in Uganda 1987-2001." http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADK699.pdf. USAID, 2005. Web. Reeve, Simon. "Ugandan Asians repair ruins left by Amin - News - The Independent." The Independent. June 1, 1997. Web. .