The “Let’s Talk Peace Caravan” swept through Mbale with a lively mix of music, art and community engagement, drawing hundreds of residents as organisers intensified a national drive for peaceful, informed and non-violent elections in 2026.
The campaign, led by the Netherlands Institute of Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) in partnership with the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), the Electoral Commission, the Media Challenge Initiative, the National Consultative Forum and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, seeks to curb election-related tensions by promoting dialogue and civic awareness.
Stakeholders used the platform to renew calls for a violence-free election season, warning that chaos threatens business stability, public safety and community cohesion.
“We are here to have a conversation about peace before, during and after the election. Our main goal is to mobilise people to listen to the message of peace and to tell the people that a peaceful election is the heartbeat of our democracy,” said Lynette Nanyonjo, the IPOD representative.
Amos Desmond Wambi of the Media Challenge Initiative highlighted the dangers of misinformation and disinformation, linking them directly to electoral violence.
“At the centre of political conflicts there are stories told by journalists and stories told through social media. Social media and the use of AI are at the core of disinformation. We joined this campaign to appeal to journalists and social media influencers to report factually and avoid igniting violence,” Wambi said.
Cultural and religious leaders urged voters to embrace dialogue, forgiveness and restraint as campaigns intensify.
“Remain peaceful and forgive each other,” said Dr. Ahmad Hamid Wandega, Assistant Mufti for the Eastern Region.
To demonstrate their shared commitment, stakeholders signed a symbolic peace board, affirming their pledge to support a calm, credible and peaceful electoral process ahead of 2026.