Agency
As Uganda braces for its high-stakes general elections on January 15, 2026, the Uganda Police Force has issued a stern warning that flouting electoral guidelines and engaging in hate speech could ignite widespread clashes.
Assistant Inspector of Police (AIGP) Frank Mwesigwa, the Force’s Operations Commander, delivered the tough message at the National Peace Conference held at Mestil Hotel on Thursday, emphasizing that law enforcement will not hesitate to intervene to maintain order, even if it draws accusations of bias or brutality.
He pointed to past incidents where candidates defied approved campaign venues, such as one who campaigned in the middle of a road, leading to security interventions that were later portrayed as excessive force.
This plea for compliance comes against a backdrop of Uganda’s turbulent electoral history.
Mwesigwa attributed the relative calm in the first six weeks of the electoral process to proactive engagements with candidates, agents, and stakeholders.
To bolster security, the police have zoned the country into 10 regions, each overseen by a high-ranking officer, with deployments based on hotspot mapping.
