Religious Leaders Rally Uganda Against Electoral Violence

Archbishop of Church of Uganda launching a peaceful cmpaign

BY D SEBUNYA: As Uganda prepares for its 2026 general elections, faith leaders under the Interreligious Council of Uganda (IRCU) have sounded the alarm on the early signs of political violence already emerging from recent youth and party primary elections. In a rare multi-faith intervention, they are urging all Ugandans, from political actors, media, security forces, and civil society to rally behind peace, dialogue, and responsible conduct in the run-up to the polls.

The IRCU, a coalition of senior religious figures from various denominations, has launched a nationwide initiative dubbed the National Mobilization for a Peaceful, Credible 2026 Election, Stability and Social Cohesion, aimed at fostering unity and defusing tensions before they escalate. Speaking during the launch at IRCU headquarters in Kampala, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, Chairperson of the IRCU and head of the Church of Uganda, emphasized the power of language and values in shaping national direction.
“Elections will come and go, but Uganda will remain,” Kaziimba said. “Let us use words that heal, not hurt. Let us debate ideas, not attack personalities.”
The Archbishop also urged the media to verify information and avoid sensational headlines that may inflame tensions, highlighting the media’s powerful role in promoting hope and national cohesion.

Uganda’s past elections have frequently been marred by violence, contested results, and heavy-handed security crackdowns events that have eroded public trust in democratic institutions. The IRCU’s peace campaign, which will cover all 17 sub-regions of the country, seeks to reverse that trend through a homegrown, values-based engagement model.

Joshua Kitakule, the IRCU Secretary General, outlined an ambitious roadmap that blends spiritual guidance with civic education and dialogue.
“We’re adopting a three-day regional engagement model,” Kitakule said. “Each region will host youth, women, religious and business leaders, civil society, security, academia, and media to reflect on violence prevention, electoral preparedness, governance, and economic empowerment.”

This cross-sectoral approach marks a significant departure from the conventional top-down civic education efforts, instead emphasizing inclusive dialogue and moral accountability as key pillars of peaceful elections. The campaign has received the backing of the Electoral Commission (EC), whose Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama attended the launch alongside five commissioners. Byabakama acknowledged Uganda’s troubling history of election-related violence and welcomed the IRCU’s proactive intervention.

“The task of delivering peaceful, free, and fair elections cannot rest on the Electoral Commission alone,” he said. “It’s a collective responsibility of all Ugandans. The IRCU initiative is timely and needed.”
Justice Byabakama also revealed that the EC is actively engaging with security agencies, including the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), to ensure they operate within legal bounds during the electoral period.
“There is no alternative to peace,” he said. “And we are ready to work with anyone committed to this cause.”

Bishop Joshua Lwere, National Overseer of the Association of Pentecostals and Evangelical Churches in Uganda, stressed the importance of trusted community voices in preventing and de-escalating conflict. He emphasized the role of elder forums, professional groups, and religious leaders in resolving disputes before they spiral into court battles or street clashes.

“We need respected leaders who may not be directly involved in politics but can mediate when tensions arise,” Lwere explained. “Our role is not to take sides, but to be the moral compass.” His remarks come amid growing recognition of the influence of non-state actors in dispute resolution particularly in post-election periods when legal systems are overstretched and often viewed as partisan.

The IRCU’s campaign aligns with a broader continental movement toward multi-stakeholder electoral integrity an approach advocated by the African Union and international development partners. By anchoring electoral peace in spiritual, civic, and cultural values, Uganda’s faith leaders may be offering a replicable model for other democracies facing similar challenges.

In a country where religion deeply shapes public life, the involvement of clerics in election peacebuilding is both strategic and impactful. As Uganda inches closer to 2026, the true test will be whether words of peace translate into actions on the ground and whether all sectors, from politicians to security agencies, rise to the occasion.

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