A call to fellow GenZs to elect peace

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OPINION

By Samrah Kasozi

As Uganda approaches the 2026 general elections, our nation stands at a critical crossroads.

Elections are a crucial pillar of democracy, providing citizens with the opportunity to choose their leaders and influence the country's direction. Yet they are also moments that test our unity, patience, and commitment to peaceful coexistence. As a young religious leader and a member of Generation Z, I write with a sincere appeal: let us choose peace—before, during, and after the elections.

Uganda is home to diverse political views, ethnic identities, religious beliefs, and social backgrounds. This diversity is not our weakness; it is our strength. Irrespective of political party, tribe, religion, or social status, we remain one people with a shared destiny. A united and peaceful Uganda is essential not only for our own well-being today, but for nurturing the opportunities and stability that future generations will depend on tomorrow.

Gen Zs are a powerful force in this election. We are energetic, expressive, and digitally connected. Our voices matter. Our participation matters. But our actions matter even more. In moments of heightened political competition, emotions can run high, and misinformation can spread quickly. If we are not careful, our passion can be misdirected into confrontation, destruction, or violent outcomes that harm communities and dim our collective future.

As the election season intensifies, there have been reports of heightened tensions, including arrests, confrontations at campaign events, and isolated cases of violence in different parts of the country. While elections naturally generate strong emotions, these moments serve as a sober reminder of the need for calm, professionalism, and restraint by all stakeholders—political leaders, security agencies, supporters, and citizens alike. Violence, in any form, undermines trust and shifts focus away from the real issues affecting Ugandans.

Young people are often the most affected when instability occurs. It is usually the youth who are on the frontlines, arrested, injured, or drawn into situations that permanently alter their lives. Too often, young people are lured into confrontations by individuals with ill intentions, while those who incite chaos ensure their own children remain far from harm. We must refuse to be used. No political interest is worth your freedom, your education, or your future.

Our faith traditions, whether Islam, Christianity, or other beliefs, clearly call us to uphold peace, protect life, and promote justice. Peace is not silence, and it is not surrender. Peace is wisdom. Peace is self-control. Peace is choosing dialogue over destruction and unity over division. True strength is shown when we restrain ourselves even when provoked.

As Gen Zs, we must lead by example. Engage in peaceful civic participation. Verify information before sharing it. Speak respectfully, even when you disagree. Encourage your peers to remain calm. Participate lawfully in the electoral process. Vote, and stay calm. Let us show that political engagement and peace can coexist.

Uganda’s future will be shaped by the choices we make today. Long after the campaigns end and the ballots are counted, we will continue to live together as neighbours, colleagues, and fellow citizens. Let us ensure that when history looks back at the 2026 elections, it remembers a generation that chose responsibility over recklessness and peace over provocation.

A peaceful Uganda is not just a political ideal but it is a moral obligation. And that obligation belongs to all of us.

The writer is a Peace Loving Ugandan, Foreign Policy analyst and the Director of Al Kashf –Services.