Uganda to have peaceful election, says IGP Byakagaba

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Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba has said Uganda will hold the most peaceful elections the country has ever experienced.

Byakagaba said the country will conduct presidential and parliamentary elections on January 15, 2026, and urged the public to adhere to guidelines that have been put in place to protect all Ugandans during the electoral process.

Stephen Kazimba (right), Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, wishing Uganda a peaceful election after a meeting. (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)

He made the remarks during a dialogue on the forthcoming elections with members of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), Electoral Commission staff and representatives of political parties at the IRCU headquarters in Kampala on January 10, 2026.

“Keeping law and order is entrusted to me, and I will make sure this role is fulfilled to have peaceful elections in the country. This mandate is a Constitutional right,” Byakagaba said.

He said the role of the police is to enforce existing guidelines aimed at maintaining peace, adding that everyone must accept and follow the measures in place.

Byakagaba noted that the law allows the police to work with other sister security agencies to maintain order.

He cited traffic management as an example, explaining that although roads are used by everyone, motorists must follow traffic diversions, failure of which affects other road users.

“Since the commission assured us of transparency in the election process, and how they failed to count votes during the 2016 and 2021 elections. This time they are not prepared for this to happen,” he explained.

Byakagaba urged members of the public to report cases of mistreatment to the police instead of resorting to violence.

Electoral Commission chairperson Simon Byabakama said it had been resolved that voters will not be allowed to regroup within 20 metres of polling stations.

Byabakama said he was confident the elections would be peaceful if the public adhered to the guidelines.

R-L; Dr Lina Zeddrika, the Vice President of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Alfred Kasozi, the CP Secretary General, Sebina Grace, the CP founder, during the meeting. (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)

He explained that security personnel are mandated to maintain peace at polling stations and warned that regrouping could allow bad elements to infiltrate and disrupt the electoral process.

“We all need to work with security to perform its role as mandated by law. As a commission, we are mandated to come up with measures that offer peace for everybody,” Byabakama said.

He added that on voting day, campaign materials used by candidates will not be allowed near polling stations.

“The Items affiliated to political parties, emblems, and national flag that have been used by political parties like National Unity Platform (NUP) will not be allowed on the voting day; such materials cease to be used after the campaigns have closed”.

Dr Lina Zeddrika, the vice president of the National Unity Platform in charge of Northern Uganda, said the party had its own interpretation of a protest vote.

She explained that the slogan was not intended to incite violence but to encourage voter solidarity during the exercise.

Dr Zeddrika welcomed the dialogue and appealed to the Electoral Commission to conduct continuous civic education rather than limiting it to election periods.

She said several issues could still be resolved through engagement with other political parties ahead of polling day to ensure a peaceful, win-win outcome.