Uganda’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, has urged civil society organisations (CSOs) to respect the law as the country prepares for the 2026 general elections.
The Minister made the remarks during a high-level dialogue with CSO leaders and development partners, aimed at improving cooperation between NGOs and government.
In a statement made at the quarterly dialogue on Tuesday June 17, 2025, Minister Otafiire reassured participants that ‘the 2026 general elections will be conducted in accordance with the law.’
He emphasized that while citizens have the right to take part in elections, they must do so peacefully and with responsibility.
Constitutional Governance
The meeting, chaired by Minister Otafiire, was attended by officials from the Electoral Commission, Uganda’s NGO Bureau, civil society leaders, and diplomats, including Ireland’s Ambassador to Uganda, Kevin Colgan. The discussion focused on the role of CSOs in supporting peaceful and transparent elections.
Stephen Okello, Secretary of the NGO Bureau, said the dialogue was an opportunity to build trust between government and CSOs.
“This dialogue will encourage open communication, mutual understanding, and respect,” he noted.
Ambassador Colgan also praised the meeting, saying CSOs are important because they connect citizens to public institutions.
“It is an honour to join you today for this important high-level dialogue focused on Uganda’s electoral process and the critical role that CSOs play in strengthening democracy, transparency, and citizen participation,” he said.
Despite the commitment from government, some CSO leaders raised concerns.
Sarah Bireete, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Governance, criticized the Electoral Commission for not responding to voter education applications sent in since October 2024.
“There has been no formal response in over eight months. This has discouraged CSOs from applying for election observation,” she said.
As Uganda heads toward the 2026 polls, the dialogue between government and civil society is seen as a step toward building trust. However, many participants agreed that more needs to be done to ensure transparency, fairness, and respect for democratic rights.
