The Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, has urged the government to stop the ongoing political violence against Opposition figures ahead of the 2026 General Election.
In his Christmas message issued on December 22, Kabaka Mutebi said it was deeply troubling to witness security agencies brutalising members of the Opposition, a situation he warned undermines the credibility of the electoral process and renders elections a waste of public resources.
‘Many of our people have been harmed, including beatings, preventing candidates from reaching venues where they plan to address voters, and other illegal acts and human rights violations,’ he said.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions, particularly involving members of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who have reported increased security interference during ongoing campaigns.
One of the most notable incidents occurred earlier this month when security officers blocked NUP presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi from accessing his scheduled campaign venue in Gulu and allegedly assaulted him and his supporters. This incident followed another in Kayunga District, where police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse his rally. A day earlier, security forces had blocked his campaign in Buikwe District.
Similar disruptions were reported in Kampala during Kyagulanyi’s November 24 campaign in Kawempe Division, while police also used tear gas against his supporters in Nakawa Division. Related incidents were reported last week in the Teso sub-region.
Addressing the Electoral Commission, Kabaka Mutebi called for impartiality and action.
‘Our colleagues in the National Electoral Commission, we ask you not only to condemn this issue but also to help impartially, every candidate to convey his message to the voters, without obstruction and harassment of people in any way.We condemn these actions because they do not reflect the integrity or development of the country,’ he said.
The Kabaka also criticised excessive campaign spending, warning that it fuels corruption and undermines national development.
‘The politics and elections we are witnessing now are full of wasteful spending, and we wonder, where does so much money come from? Elections through such circumstances cause people who do not have the ability to reach leadership positions and first pay for the money they spent in the election. This is the source of corruption and undermines the development of our country. Therefore, we encourage you to choose carefully,’ he said.
On climate and food security, Kabaka Mutebi noted that although rainfall has been moderate in November and December, heavy rains are expected across the country.
‘This means that food crops, especially corn and bananas, have been severely affected by the sun. We urge you to re-take the issue of food storage, especially dry food, as a priority in our lives,’ he noted, calling on the government to support irrigation, especially for communities near water sources, and proposed tax reductions on irrigation equipment to make it affordable for ordinary citizens.
Additionally, the Kabaka expressed concern over the rising cases of child disappearances and violent crimes.
‘We hear more and more about people who have children who disappear and are never seen again. Later, we read in the newspapers that some children were brutally murdered and mutilated. We thought such acts were gone, but they are back again,’ he said, urging parents to protect their children, especially during the holiday season, and called on law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to safeguard lives and property, particularly in light of recent nighttime attacks by armed criminals.