The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has urged security agencies to refrain from entering polling stations with firearms, warning that the presence of guns could intimidate voters and negatively affect the credibility and outcome of the electoral process.
The call was made on Tuesday morning by Pauline Nansamba Mutumba, the Director of Complaints, Investigations and Legal Services at UHRC, during a joint engagement with Ushahidi Foundation, where the commission was facilitating a training session for local election observers at Cardinal Nsubuga in Nsambya.
Mutumba said the UHRC’s role in the training was to ensure that election observation fully incorporates human rights concerns, responsibilities and duties, while emphasizing how local observers can play a meaningful role in delivering a free and fair election.
“Our role as the Uganda Human Rights Commission is to see that the training encompasses human rights concerns, responsibilities and duties, and to emphasize the role of observers, especially local observers, in ensuring that we achieve the goal of a free and fair election,” Mutumba said.
She noted that the right to vote and to participate in a free and fair election is a fundamental human right enjoyed by all Ugandans, adding that election observers are critical in giving credibility to the electoral process.
“As we head into the election, observers play a critical role in ensuring that the process is free and fair and that any human rights concerns are identified and documented,” she said.
Mutumba explained that observers are expected to monitor and report incidents where voters are impeded from voting, cases of violence that may inhibit participation, or any other violations that could undermine the electoral process.
She also highlighted the need to safeguard the rights of vulnerable groups during voting, including the elderly and women, noting that some voters come to polling stations with their children.
“As we go into voting, we are different kinds of people. We have vulnerable people, we have the elderly, we have women, and even though children do not vote, some people come with their children. We want to ensure an environment that upholds the rights of all Ugandans,” Mutumba said.
Addressing the ongoing debate on the role of security during elections, Mutumba acknowledged that security forces have a duty to maintain law and order and ensure a secure environment. However, she stressed that elections are primarily a civic activity where citizens peacefully express their will.
“Our request to the security agencies is to do their work but to allow the processes to go ahead unhindered,” she said.
Mutumba emphasized that firearms should not be present inside polling stations, noting that their presence could influence or interfere with the voting process.
“It is important that within the polling station there are no arms because that can affect the outcome or the process of voting,” she said.
She explained that polling stations are already supported by polling constables who operate under the guidance of the Electoral Commission, working together with the police, and therefore called on security agencies to exercise restraint to allow the electoral process to proceed smoothly.
In addition to urging restraint by security agencies, the UHRC also called on citizens to act responsibly during the elections.
“We enjoy our rights within a responsible environment,” Mutumba said, urging voters to conduct themselves peacefully.
Commenting on the recently concluded campaign period, Mutumba said the commission was pleased that candidates for presidential and parliamentary seats were winding up their campaigns. She described the campaign season as vibrant, noting that it started calmly but became more heated toward the end.
“We’ve seen quite a vibrant period. The campaign season started quite calmly, and as we moved towards the end, we noted some heated exchanges between security agencies and some candidates and their supporters,” she said, adding that the commission had flagged those incidents as areas of concern.
However, Mutumba said that when viewed in its entirety, the campaign period, which lasted about 65 days at different levels—was generally fair.
“When we look at the entire period, generally speaking, we think that this has been quite a fair campaign period,” she said.
The UHRC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting human rights, peaceful participation, and credible elections as the country prepares to head to the polls.
