President Museveni, who also chairs the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), has called on Uganda’s religious leaders to take on a stronger oversight role during the 2026 elections.
The directive has sparked debate over whether the clergy can effectively balance spiritual leadership with political accountability.
While on his campaign drive in Amolatar and Dokolo, Museveni urged bishops, sheikhs, and pastors to act as moral guardians during the campaign season, arguing that their influence among communities positioned them to “ensure discipline, fairness, and peaceful engagement” as political competition intensifies.
“The church and the mosque are not neutral in matters of truth and justice,” Museveni said. “We expect religious leaders to guide their flock, to hold us accountable, and to speak out when leaders go astray.”
The President’s appeal has drawn mixed reactions from the clergy. Apostle Joseph Sserwadda, a member of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), noted that as clergy, they are constitutionally prohibited from making partisan statements during election seasons.
Although the IRCU is non-partisan in nature, it has historically been vocal on issues of integrity and accountability, rallying those in positions of responsibility to exercise their power rightly.
“Religious leaders have a moral obligation to promote peace, fairness, and integrity in elections,” one cleric said.
Some faith leaders, however, worry that the President’s directive could blur the line between religion and politics, holding that oversight must not compromise the independence of faith institutions.
“We can advise, we can pray, and we can call for justice. But we cannot become referees in political contests,” one clergy member said.
Uganda’s religious institutions have long played an active role in shaping public life. During past elections, clerics have mediated disputes, condemned violence, and at times clashed with the government over issues of governance and human rights.
In 2021, several outspoken priests and pastors criticized security agencies for brutality against opposition candidates and supporters.
Some were accused of bias, while others faced threats and restrictions. Political analysts note that this history makes Museveni’s appeal both significant and complicated.
“On one hand, faith leaders have immense moral authority and grassroots networks that can promote peace. On the other, the government has previously been uneasy when these same leaders question electoral integrity,” analysts said.
The question of legitimacy remains a central concern. Opposition parties have expressed skepticism about the president’s call, arguing that genuine oversight must come from independent electoral bodies and civil society, not clergy who may be pressured into silence.
But there was something else, too. During the 2021 Ugandan general election period, religious leaders released doves as a symbolic gesture of peace.
However, the event gained attention when the doves refused to fly away, remaining grounded instead.
As the campaign season unfolds, Uganda faces a test of whether faith leaders can navigate political sensitivities while promoting peaceful elections.
For many Ugandans, their voices still carry weight in communities where trust in political institutions is limited. For now, religious leaders appear determined to play a role—but on their own terms.
“Our duty is to call for peace and justice,” said another clergy member who preferred anonymity. “We cannot be partisan referees, but we will not remain silent in the face of wrongdoing.”
Whether this delicate balance holds may determine not only the credibility of the 2026 elections but also the unity of Uganda’s faith communities.
Yet, in some areas of the country, religious leaders have historically engaged in partisan politics, further complicating the prospects of impartial oversight.
The coming months will reveal whether they can maintain moral guidance without crossing the constitutional boundary that separates faith from political contestation.