Bruised bodies. Torn sleeves. Armed and plain-clothed officers gripping sticks; tension rising in the air long before the ballots are even cast. What we are witnessing is a worrying escalation of election related violence-violence that disproportionately affects those already most vulnerable. As we brace ourselves for the weeks ahead, we must recognise that women and children face some of the gravest risks during periods of political contestation. Political violence is often discussed in terms of clashes between rival supporters or confrontations with security forces, but its hidden victims are too often overlooked. Protecting women and children must be treated not as an afterthought, but as a central obligation of all actors involved in the electoral process.
For children, election-related violence takes multiple and deeply harmful forms. Some suffer direct physical injury when caught in political clashes or violent crowd dispersals. Others experience psychological trauma simply from witnessing unrest-shouting, intimidation, beatings, or the presence of armed security personnel in their communities. Even when children are not physically harmed, exposure to such environments can leave lasting emotional scars. Disturbingly, we have also witnessed children transported from schools to attend political rallies or mobilised for campaign activities.
This is a clear violation of their rights to education, safety, and protection from exploitation. In some cases, children have been transported to rallies and later abandoned, left without adult supervision or a safe way to return home. These practices are not only unlawful; they are profoundly unethical. The effects of election violence on children often linger long after the headlines fade. Exposure to gunshots, threats, and violent confrontations can result in long-term emotional and behavioural challenges, including anxiety, heightened aggression, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating in school.
Such impacts can follow children into adulthood, shaping how they perceive safety, trust, and civic participation. Evidence from the region is sobering: a survey conducted in Kenya following post-election unrest found that 95 percent of children had heard gunshots, with many later displaying increased aggression and other behavioural problems. Women, too, face distinct and often underreported forms of election-related violence. While physical attacks do occur, violence against women during election periods frequently manifests in less visible but equally damaging ways.
Psychological intimidation, threats of sexual violence, harassment at rallies, and coercion linked to political allegiance are common experiences. Increasingly, online spaces have become new battlegrounds, with women-particularly those active in politics, civil society, or journalism-subjected to targeted abuse, misogynistic attacks, and sexualised threats aimed at silencing them. Preventing this violence requires collective and urgent action. Political leaders must publicly denounce violence and hold their supporters accountable. Security forces must act professionally and impartially, prioritising the protection of civilians rather than escalating tensions.
Schools should be declared and respected as safe zones, free from political mobilisation. Social media platforms and authorities must take online abuse seriously, recognising it as a real form of harm with real-world consequences. Most importantly, the safety and rights of women and children must be placed at the centre of the electoral process. A credible election is not measured only by the counting of votes, but by whether citizens-especially the most vulnerable-can participate without fear. As Uganda moves closer to Election Day, the question is not whether violence can be condemned after it happens, but whether it can be prevented before it claims more victims. The answer will define not only this election, but the kind of democracy we are building for the next generation.