In an innovative move, the Uganda Law Society, government, and media have formed a historic alliance to fight electoral violence in Uganda.
The development comes on the heels of security operatives’ ostensible targeted attacks on journalists during the recently concluded Kawempe North by-elections in Kampala’s outskirts.
The alliance was formalized through a declaration signed by representatives from various organizations, including the Uganda Law Society, government, civil society, media, and human rights organizations.
The declaration condemns electoral violence in all forms and pledges collective efforts to prevent and mitigate its occurrence in Uganda.
“We the undersigned representatives of the Uganda Law Society, Government, civil society, media, and human rights organizations, come together to condemn electoral violence in all its forms and to pledge our collective efforts towards preventing and mitigating its occurrence in Uganda,” the declaration reads.
The alliance members recognized citizens’ fundamental right to participate in peaceful and free elections and the importance of upholding the rule of law and democratic principles.
They also acknowledged Uganda’s history of electoral violence, which has marred the country’s electoral processes and undermined the need for targeted measures to protect vulnerable groups.
To address this issue, the alliance committed to promoting peaceful elections through advocacy, education, and community engagement.
They also pledged to support victims of electoral violence through legal aid, counseling, and other forms of assistance.
Moreover, the alliance vowed to hold perpetrators accountable through robust investigations, prosecution, and sanctions. They also committed to strengthening institutional capacity to prevent and respond to electoral violence, including through training and capacity building for law enforcement, judiciary, and electoral officials.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Nobert Mao, signed the declaration on behalf of the government, while SSP Donald Muhwezi represented the Uganda Police.
Dr. Nahabwe Innocent, chairperson of the National Association of Broadcasters Uganda, and Abubker Lubowa, a journalist with National Media Group, also signed the declaration.
Other signatories included Dr. Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), Robert Ssempala, Executive Director of the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ-Uganda), Pius Katunzi, Managing Editor of The Observer, and Asiimwe Anthony, Vice President of the Uganda Law Society.
The Uganda Law Society convened the meeting that led to the declaration, marking a weighty step towards combating electoral violence in Uganda.
The alliance urged all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, and citizens, to join efforts to build a culture of peace, tolerance, and respect for human rights in Uganda’s electoral processes.
As the country prepares for future elections, this alliance will be crucial in promoting peaceful and free elections.
Declaration of the Alliance Against Electoral Violence
“We the undersigned representatives of the Uganda Law Society, Government, civil society, media, and human rights organizations, come together to condemn electoral violence in all its forms and to pledge our collective efforts towards preventing and mitigating its occurrence in Uganda,” the declaration read its opening paragraph.
The members of the alliance recognized the fundamental right of citizens to participate in peaceful and free elections and the importance of upholding the rule of law and democratic principles.
They acknowledged the history of electoral violence in Uganda, which has marred the country’s electoral processes and undermined the need for targeted measures to protect these groups.
The members of the alliance therefore committed to;
- Promote peaceful elections through advocacy, education, and community engagement
- Support victims of electoral violence through legal aid, counseling, and other forms of assistance
- Holding perpetrators accountable through robust investigations, prosecution, and sanctions
- Strengthening institutional capacity to prevent and respond to electoral violence, including through training and capacity building for law enforcement, judiciary, and electoral officials
We call upon all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, and citizens, to join us in this effort to build a culture of peace, tolerance, and respect for human rights in Uganda’s electoral processes, signed at Uganda Law Society House Kampala, this 21st day of March 2025.
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Nobert Mao, signed on behalf of the Government, SSP Donald Muhwezi, on behalf of Uganda Police, Dr. Nahabwe Innocent, chairman of National Association of Broadcasters Uganda, and Abubker Lubowa, signed as a journalist with National Media Group.
Dr. Sarah Bireete, Executive Director signed on behalf of the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), Robert Ssempala, the Executive Director signed on behalf of the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ-Uganda), Pius Katunzi, Managing Editor of The Observer, signed on behalf of Editors’ Guild, and Asiimwe Anthony, Vice President, signed on behalf of Uganda Law Society.
The Uganda Law Society convened the meeting in which, a declaration was made.
Uganda Law Society, Government, and Media form the Alliance to Fight Electoral Violence in Uganda.
