By Gad Masereka
The Uganda Peoples Congress has raised fresh concerns over the rising tension surrounding the 2026 campaign season, warning that the country is drifting into a troubling cycle where violence is becoming a familiar feature of political competition.
While addressing the media at the UPC headquarters In Kampala, the party President Hon. Jimmy Akena said the recent clashes in several parts of the country reflect a deeper failure to protect the multiparty system that many Ugandans fought hard to restore.
He urged political actors and security agencies to reflect on how far the country has come and how easily hard-won progress can be reversed when the lines between security enforcement and political interference become blurred.
Akena noted that the effort to rebuild a multiparty democracy after nearly two decades of no party governance involved long legal battles and difficult negotiations, and he said those sacrifices risk being undermined by the conduct of security agencies.
He pointed out that recurring confrontations during the 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections created an environment of fear that has never been properly addressed. He described the persistence of violence as a sign that electoral reforms proposed by the Supreme Court, political parties and civil society have not received the attention they deserve.
In his words, the country needs a system where people can exercise their political choices without feeling threatened or intimidated.
The UPC leader expressed particular concern about the role of security agencies in the current campaign season, saying the presence of armed personnel at political events has created an atmosphere that is difficult to distinguish from a security operation.
He added that reports of the Internal Security Organisation scrutinising signatures collected for presidential nominations raise questions about how state institutions are interpreting their mandate.
According to Akena, such actions create unease among voters who may fear that supporting a candidate could be treated as misconduct.
The party cited the experience of National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi and his supporters, who have faced repeated clashes while campaigning in several regions.
Akena described the scenes witnessed in Gulu on 6 December as deeply troubling and said no citizen should be subjected to violence for participating in political activities.
He called on authorities to conduct a credible investigation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. He also urged government to consider compensation for those who suffered injuries or lost property in the incident.
UPC reiterated its long standing position that the army should not take part in managing elections and insisted that the police should play a clearly defined role under the guidance of the Electoral Commission.
Akena also voiced concern about the emergence of groups commonly referred to as ghetto youths, saying their actions have contributed to tension during campaign events. He suggested that young people should be guided toward constructive civic engagement rather than recruited into confrontational politics that increases fear among the public.
Despite the rising tension, Akena said the UPC remains committed to peaceful and issue centred campaigning. He explained that he has already begun touring regions to support party candidates, starting with Teso at the end of November.
He thanked supporters who have contributed to the party’s fundraising drive to help candidates meet campaign costs and encouraged more members to take part.
In his view, the tone of the 2026 campaign should reflect a commitment to national stability, fairness and respect for all political actors.
Akena concluded by calling on Ugandans to safeguard the values of constitutionalism and peaceful competition, saying the strength of the country’s democracy will depend on how its citizens respond to moments of heightened political strain.