Key national stakeholders have jointly committed to promoting peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections ahead of Uganda’s 2026 General Elections, following a National Peace Conference held in Kampala on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
The conference, convened under the theme “Dialogue, Trust, and Transparency: Keys to Peaceful Elections,” brought together a broad spectrum of actors, including political parties, the Electoral Commission, security agencies, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, religious and cultural leaders, youth and women representatives, the media, and development partners.
In a communiqué issued at the close of the conference, participants acknowledged the progress Uganda has made in strengthening democratic processes while expressing concern over persistent risks such as electoral violence, political intolerance, misinformation, and public mistrust. The stakeholders emphasized that peaceful elections are a shared national responsibility requiring restraint, dialogue, accountability, and collective action by all actors throughout the electoral cycle.
Among the key resolutions adopted was a commitment by political actors to uphold peaceful political conduct, reject violence, respect the law, and adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct. Participants also pledged to tolerate diverse political views and promote dialogue through sustained national and community-level platforms aimed at addressing grievances early and preventing escalation.
Below is a picture of the communique as it appeared.
Security agencies reaffirmed their obligation to act professionally, impartially, and in line with the Constitution and international human rights standards in managing electoral processes. Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission committed to ensuring integrity, transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in electoral administration to strengthen public trust in election outcomes.
The media and digital platforms were called upon to play a responsible role by adhering to ethical journalism standards, countering misinformation and hate speech, and promoting peace-focused messaging, particularly during sensitive electoral periods.
The conference further recognized youth and women as critical agents of peace and committed to their meaningful inclusion in electoral processes, dialogue initiatives, and conflict prevention efforts. Cultural, religious, and community leaders also pledged to use their moral authority to foster tolerance, unity, and peaceful coexistence before, during, and after the elections.
To ensure sustained impact, participants agreed to support mechanisms for monitoring the commitments made under the communiqué and to maintain collaborative engagement beyond the conference.
In a joint call to action, the stakeholders urged all Ugandans to reject violence, uphold democratic values, and participate peacefully in the electoral process. They also appealed to state and non-state actors, including development partners, to support peace-building initiatives throughout the entire electoral cycle.
The communiqué was formally adopted in Kampala at the close of the National Peace Conference on December 11, 2025, reaffirming a collective commitment to peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections in Uganda.
