The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) has sounded the alarm over escalating electoral violence, warning that continued brutality threatens the credibility of Uganda’s 2025 elections.
In a statement dated December 8, the Council expressed “deep concern” over recurring violent incidents during presidential, parliamentary, and local government campaigns, citing multiple cases in which civilians—particularly supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP)—have been assaulted, sometimes allegedly by individuals in security force uniforms.
According to the statement, the most recent incident occurred on Saturday, December 6, in Gulu City, where people in plain clothes and others wearing Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Uganda Police uniforms were filmed beating opposition supporters.
Disturbing footage has also emerged from Sembabule District, where men in plain clothes violently assaulted a man and a woman before forcing them into a pickup truck, while individuals in UPDF uniform reportedly watched without intervening.
IRCU notes that similar incidents have been reported in Kawempe, Mukono, Buikwe, and other regions, some involving tear gas, batons, sniffer dogs, and even live ammunition to disperse campaign gatherings.
These clashes have resulted in several injuries, multiple arrests, and at least one death in Iganga.
“These acts of violence are unacceptable, undermine the integrity of the electoral process, and erode public trust in institutions mandated to protect citizens,” the statement reads. “Elections are a civic exercise that must be conducted in a peaceful environment.”
The Council emphasized that the Anti-Torture Act unequivocally prohibits the beating or mistreatment of any Ugandan, stressing that officers who engage in torture must be held individually accountable.
Describing violence against citizens for political reasons as “primitive and unacceptable,” IRCU leaders echoed President Museveni’s earlier declaration that no officer who tortures Ugandans is worthy of wearing the national uniform.
Declaring that “our country has bled enough,” the religious leaders urged all sides to remember that elections are about the competition of ideas, not physical confrontation.
They warned that continued disruptions of campaign events risk rendering the entire electoral exercise meaningless.
The Electoral Commission was called upon to take decisive action to ensure a safe environment for campaigning, while security forces—particularly the police—were reminded of their obligation to act with professionalism, restraint, and respect for human dignity.
“We believe that the peaceful elections we all desire must be translated into our daily actions and choices,” the Council noted.
IRCU further appealed to all candidates, political parties, and their supporters to adhere strictly to electoral guidelines and commit themselves genuinely to nonviolence throughout the season.
“Uganda’s democracy can only thrive when all citizens—regardless of political affiliation—are treated with fairness, dignity, and equality before the law,” said IRCU Secretary General Joshua Kitakule, who signed the statement on behalf of the Council.
The religious umbrella organization urged all stakeholders, particularly security agencies, to uphold the principles of peace, justice, and integrity as the country moves toward the crucial 2025 polls.
