Kawempe north polls: EC rallies religious leaders to champion peace

KAMPALA - The Electoral Commission (EC) of Uganda has intensified its engagement with key stakeholders to promote peaceful elections, holding a high-level meeting yesterday with the leadership of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU).

The discussions primarily focused on deepening collaborations between the EC and religious institutions to ensure a smooth electoral process, particularly for the upcoming Kawempe North by-election scheduled for March 13, 2025.

Julius Mucunguzi, the Head of Public Relations at the EC, underscored the importance of the IRCU in fostering national unity and peace during electoral periods.

“The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda is a key forum that unites all religious groups in the country. It holds significant influence over its membership and plays a crucial role in championing peaceful elections,” Mucunguzi stated.

He revealed that this meeting was part of an ongoing series of engagements aimed at preventing electoral violence and ensuring that religious leaders play an active role in mobilizing their followers for peace.

Bishop Lwere and colleagues at the Electoral Commission (EC) of Uganda headquarters on Tuesday. (Courtesy Photo)

“In the last eight months alone, this was our fourth meeting with the council. However, yesterday's discussions focused specifically on Kawempe North. We urged religious leaders to continue using their positions and influence to call on Ugandans to uphold peace during elections,” Mucunguzi added.

When contacted for a comment, Dr. Joseph Serwadda, the Senior Minister of Victory Christian Centre Church, said the IRC is expected to meet at 4:00pm today to discuss the outcomes of the meeting before he could give New Vision a comment.

As the country approaches a pivotal electoral season, the EC has, beyond religious institutions, also been engaging political parties and various stakeholders to discuss ways to uphold peace during elections.

“The commission has met with African Youth Development Link, Makerere, University leaders, Kabale University leaders, Kampala University leaders and secondary school like Gayaza High School and Ndege Secondary School,” the commission said.

Additionally, Mucunguzi said they have met Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) and Uganda Rural Development Trust in Kagadi. 

“We have met all political parties, police, groups of eminent women leaders with a global network, members of the elder's forum, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), among others.”