Union for National Progress

The Union for National Progress (French: Union pour le Progrès national, UPRONA) is a nationalist political party in Burundi. It initially emerged as a nationalist united front in opposition to Belgian colonial rule but subsequently became an integral part of the one-party state established by Michel Micombero after 1966. Dominated by members of the Tutsi ethnic group and increasingly intolerant to their Hutu counterparts, UPRONA remained the dominant force in Burundian politics until the latter stages of the Burundian Civil War in 2003. It is currently a minor opposition party.

Union for National Progress

Union pour le Progrès national
PresidentAbel Gashatsi
FounderLouis Rwagasore
FoundedJanuary 1960
IdeologyBurundian nationalism
Tutsi interests
Colors     Red and      white
Anthem"UPRONA Ni wewe duhanze Amaso"
Senate
2 / 43
National Assembly
2 / 123
Party flag

History

UPRONA's most famous Prime Minister and Burundian National Hero is Louis Rwagasore (assassinated in 1961). From that time until 1965, the party also had some Hutu support, and three of its Hutu members, including Pierre Ngendandumwe, became Prime Minister of Burundi. The party was taken over by President Michel Micombero in a coup d'état and became a pillar of the military dictatorship that ruled the country from 1966 to 1993. In 1993, UPRONA placed second in contested elections to Melchior Ndadaye's FRODEBU. Since 1993, in the case of failure to be elected, UPRONA has always made sure to secure the position of Vice President or Prime Minister and some of the top positions in the government.

UPRONA President Pierre Buyoya handed over power to Hutu leader Domitien Ndayizeye of the Front for Democracy in Burundi (a Hutu-based party) on 30 April 2003. At the legislative elections in 2005, the party won 7.2% and 15 out of 118 seats.

During the 2010 elections, UPRONA boycotted councillors' and presidential elections, but decided to participate in the legislative elections claiming the need to form an opposition bloc in Parliament and to better compete in the 2015 elections.

Electoral history

Presidential elections
Election Party candidate Votes % Result
1984 Jean-Baptiste Bagaza 1,752,579 99.6% Elected Y
1993 Pierre Buyoya 742,360 32.86% Lost N
2015 Gerard Nduwayo 60,380 2.14% Lost N
2020 Gaston Sindimwo 73,353 1.70% Lost N

National Assembly elections
Election Votes % Seats +/– Position
1961 627,453 81.23%
58 / 64
 58 1st
1965
21 / 33
 37 1st
1982
52 / 65
 31 1st
1993 461,691 21.87%
16 / 81
 36 2nd
2005 174,575 7.21%
15 / 118
 15 3rd
2010 251,759 11.06%
17 / 106
 2 2nd
2015 71,189 2.49%
2 / 121
 15 3rd
2020 108,865 2.54%
2 / 123
 3rd

Senate elections
Election Seats +/– Position
2005
2 / 49
 2 4th
2010
2 / 41
 2nd
2015
2 / 43
 2nd
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