State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, has appealed to all Ugandans, civil society organisations, and relevant stakeholders to support the government in organizing peaceful and inclusive 2026 general elections.
Speaking during a national dialogue held in commemoration of the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Muhoozi acknowledged concerns raised by human rights defenders regarding the shrinking civic space and increasing incidents of human rights violations in the lead-up to the elections.
“Many times, whenever torture is discussed, the government is pointed at as the perpetrator. But in many cases, these incidents are the actions of individuals within communities, not state-sanctioned acts,” Muhoozi said.
He further noted that some security officers implicated in human rights violations are often dealing with untreated mental health issues, which can compromise their professional conduct. “Frustrations from personal life sometimes spill into their official duties. We must begin prioritising mental health in the security sector,” he added.
Dr. Kabumba Busingye, Director of the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), delivered the keynote address and condemned what he described as the growing normalization of rights violations by government officials and segments of the elite class.
“Given our past and present, to imagine elections without violence in Uganda seems almost illusory,” Kabumba said, referencing the findings of the commission of inquiry into the human rights abuses committed between 1962 and 1986. He cited this history as a foundation for Article 24 of the 1995 Constitution, which categorically prohibits torture.
He also pointed out the presence of several laws—including the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act and the Human Rights Enforcement Act—that were designed to foster a rights-respecting society, but criticized the weak implementation of these frameworks.
Lady Justice Mariam Wangadya, Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, whose message was delivered by Lamex Omara Apitta, vowed that the commission would work closely with all actors to ensure the 2026 elections uphold citizens’ rights.
“To the media and CSOs, you have the mandate to expose the rot. To the security agencies, use your powers to protect the powerless, not to sow fear. And to the Electoral Commission, the credibility of our democracy depends on your ability to deliver violence-free elections,” she said.
Julius Mucunguzi, spokesperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, emphasised the shared responsibility of every Ugandan in ensuring peaceful elections. “Free, transparent, and fair elections are not the responsibility of the Electoral Commission alone—they belong to all of us,” he said. “Elections should not be treated as a do-or-die affair or a season of war.”
He called on politicians to focus on unity and peace-building rather than division and conflict.
Samuel Herbert Nsubuga, Chairperson of the Coalition Against Torture, also urged Ugandans to work together in promoting a violence-free electoral environment.
The dialogue, held at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala under the theme “A Torture and Violence-Free Election for All, by All”, attracted a cross-section of stakeholders including government officials, the African Centre for Treatment of Torture Victims (ACTV), Chapter Four, the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, academia, lawyers, and members of the general public.