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In a groundbreaking move, the Uganda Law Society has brought together the government, media, civil society, and human rights organizations to form a powerful alliance aimed at ending electoral violence in Uganda. This historic partnership comes shortly after recent incidents where journalists were allegedly targeted by security forces during the Kawempe North by-elections on the outskirts of Kampala.
The alliance was officially formed through a signed declaration by representatives from various sectors. This declaration firmly condemns all forms of electoral violence and shows a united front in the effort to prevent and address it.
The declaration states:
“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.”
All members of the alliance acknowledged the rights of every Ugandan to take part in peaceful and fair elections. They emphasized the need to uphold democratic values and the rule of law.
The signatories also admitted that Uganda has a troubling history of election-related violence. This violence has often discouraged public participation, especially among vulnerable groups, and has hurt the credibility of the country’s elections.
To change this narrative, the alliance committed to working together in the following ways:
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Promoting peaceful elections through awareness campaigns, education programs, and engagement with communities.
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Helping victims of electoral violence by offering legal support, counseling, and other forms of care.
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Holding those responsible for violence accountable through proper investigations, prosecutions, and appropriate punishments.
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Strengthening institutions by building the capacity of law enforcement, judiciary, and election officials through training and support.
The official signing of the declaration took place at the Uganda Law Society House in Kampala on March 21, 2025. Key figures from different sectors signed the document on behalf of their organizations.
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Nobert Mao, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, signed for the Government.
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SSP Donald Muhwezi represented the Uganda Police.
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Dr. Nahabwe Innocent, the Chairperson of the National Association of Broadcasters Uganda, and Abubker Lubowa, a journalist from the Nation Media Group, signed on behalf of the media.
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Dr. Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Centre for Constitutional Governance, and Robert Ssempala, Executive Director of the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ-Uganda), signed on behalf of civil society and human rights defenders.
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Pius Katunzi, Managing Editor of The Observer, signed for the Editors’ Guild.
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Asiimwe Anthony, Vice President of the Uganda Law Society, signed on behalf of the legal community.
The Uganda Law Society took the lead in organizing the meeting and initiating the declaration. The goal of this alliance is to ensure that future elections in Uganda are peaceful, fair, and inclusive.
The alliance is now calling on everyone—political parties, election candidates, and ordinary citizens—to play their part in promoting peace, tolerance, and respect for human rights throughout the electoral process.
As Uganda looks ahead to future elections, this alliance will play a key role in supporting a democratic environment where every citizen can vote freely and without fear.
This united effort shows that real change is possible when different sectors of society come together for a common cause. By working as one, the Uganda Law Society, government, media, and civil society are sending a strong message: electoral violence has no place in Uganda’s democracy.