EC warns against hate speech, violence during campaigns

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The Electoral Commission (EC) of Uganda has sternly warned all parliamentary, divisional mayor and local government aspirants against hate speech and violence during the 2025/2026 General Election campaigns.

EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi made the warning during a media briefing at EC headquarters in Kampala on November 7, 2025.

"Candidates and supporters must maintain peace throughout the electoral process, from nominations to polling day on January 15, 2026.” 

He stressed that hate speech undermines election integrity, incites public disorder and violates EC guidelines.

Mucunguzi cautioned candidates against using divisive rhetoric or harmful materials, urging them to conduct campaigns with dignity and within the law. 

“We have received complaints of hate speech. Building campaigns around hatred, incitement, or sectarian language is dangerous, unacceptable, and violates the EC’s directives,” he said, adding that campaigns must be peaceful.

EC also directed candidates to prevent their supporters from engaging in hooliganism, fights, or hate speech. 

“Elections are a constitutional process under Article One of the 1995 Constitution—not a do-or-die affair,” Mucunguzi said.

The electoral body also instructed district and regional officials to ensure compliance with campaign laws, which explicitly prohibit chaos, violence and divisive language and said non-compliance could lead to disqualification or legal action.

Mucunguzi urged the Police to enforce campaign peace and called on all stakeholders to follow police directives, EC guidelines, and electoral laws.

Election Timeline

Parliamentary and local government campaigns, including those for Special Interest Groups (SIGs), are running from November 10, 2025, to January 13, 2026. Polling for presidential and parliamentary elections is set for January 15, 2026.

Candidate Statistics

Last month, 2,000 directly nominated parliamentary candidates were approved by the EC to contest in and for 353 constituencies. Of these: 946 are independent.

• National Resistance Movement: 348
• National Unity Platform: 216
• Forum for Democratic Change: 159

Among other political parties.

The EC has registered 312 counties and 353 constituencies with directly elected MPs, 146 district women MPs and 30 SIG representatives (5 youth, 5 PWDs, 5 workers, 5 older persons, and 10 UPDF).

A total of 71,214 polling stations, covering 50,711 villages, 10,717 parishes, and 2,191 sub-counties.

Mucunguzi concluded: “We urge all actors to respect one another, follow the law, and use digital platforms responsibly. Uganda’s peace and stability must remain intact.”