MBARARA, July 2, 2024 – Civil Society Organisations [ CSOs ] under the umbrella of All in One Women’s Association [ALOWA] have launched a campaign dubbed “Civic education committees for peaceful elections in Uganda” to sensitise the public as the country moves towards holding 2026 general elections.
According to Faith Nimusiima, ALOWA’s Project Coordinator, they will sensitise the voters on issues that lead to disputes during the electoral processes.
“Through this action, ALOWA will create civic education committees for peaceful elections at the district, sub-region, regions, and national levels to provide alternative means of resolving political conflicts,” said Nimusiima.
She said the 2021 general elections were marred by political violence, arrests, and kidnaps, thus calling upon Ugandans to embrace a peaceful electoral process in 2026.
“General elections have in the past generated disputes with different actors a reason we are engaging the public early enough to provide a levelled ground for all political actors in the electoral processes,” she noted.
She further appealed to the Electoral Commission [EC] to strictly enforce the law and provide a level ground for all actors to participate in free and fair elections.
“We challenge the commission to reclaim the lost confidence of Ugandans that it cannot organise free, fair and peaceful elections,” noted Nimusiima.
Grace Ninsiima, Coordinator Indigenous Women Network [IWN], challenged the youth to desist from violence associated with electioneering during forthcoming 2026 general election.
“There is a way how candidates use the youths in causing chaos and you find most of them losing lives and others getting injured as a result of violence during the elections. So we are rallying all Ugandans mostly the youth that let’s have a peaceful election,” she noted.
“The youth population in Uganda cannot be underscored. They are the majority that holds the future of this country. Let them desist from being used as political tools for violence and hate speeches in social media to disrupt the elections. It is the time for us to make the difference by participating in elections that are peaceful and free from violence and political disputes,” she added.
Macbeth Komujuni Gaaju, Coordinator Sexual Rights Defenders Network [SERIDNET], challenged the security operatives especially the police and the army to provide security to the people as they exercise their democratic rights.
“We urge security forces to maintain law and order and ensure that citizens are able to exercise their civic freedoms and participate in the political and electoral process without being provoked, intimidated, harassed and attacked as it been in the past,” noted Gaaju.
“This will create a levelled ground for all political actors to ensure a peaceful electoral process free from electoral disputes and violence,” she added.
ALOWA is also partnering with the Germany Federal Foreign Office to build the capacity of women groups in Uganda for peaceful conflict resolution.
They have encouraged other organisations to join the campaign to have free and fair elections in 2026.
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