Acholi Elders Petition Museveni and EC over Escalating Electoral Violence
In a solemn appeal that echoes the region’s traumatic history of conflict, the cultural and religious leaders of Acholiland—the revered Acholi elders—have collectively penned an urgent letter to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Electoral Commission (EC), expressing deep concern over the escalating violence, intimidation, and suppression marring the electoral landscape in Uganda.
The elders, who possess moral authority built on years of peace-building efforts following the devastating LRA insurgency, highlighted a troubling pattern of targeted violence, particularly against supporters of the political opposition. Their petition serves as a grave warning that the current trajectory of the political environment poses a severe threat to the democratic process, national unity, and the hard-won peace in their region.
Militarization, Bias, and Intolerance
The core concerns raised by the Acholi elders reflect a widespread national anxiety about the integrity of Uganda’s electoral democracy. The elders’ letter specifically points to what they perceive as an unholy trinity undermining free and fair competition:
- Militarization of the Electoral Process: The elders note the increased and often heavy-handed deployment of specialized, non-uniformed security personnel and military units, rather than the conventional, civilian-focused Police, to manage political gatherings. This presence, they argue, instills an atmosphere of fear that discourages participation, particularly among opposition voters. The involvement of masked, military-like operatives in civilian policing duties contravenes the spirit of the Constitution, which assigns the primary duty of maintaining law and order to the Uganda Police Force.
- Uneven Application of the Law: A central grievance is the perceived bias and lack of independence among key electoral institutions, including sections of the security forces. The elders report instances where opposition rallies and consultative meetings are brutally dispersed, arrested, and their organizers detained, even when conducted in full compliance with the law. Conversely, similar gatherings or infractions by the ruling party’s supporters appear to be met with tolerance or impunity. This unequal enforcement is seen as designed to constrict the civic space of the opposition, fundamentally eroding the concept of a “level playing field.”
- Culture of Intolerance and Polarization: The elders warn that the political landscape is becoming dangerously defined by an “us versus them” mentality, where association with opposing political views is increasingly treated as enmity or even treason. This deepening intolerance risks fueling hostility and turning political competition into a ‘do-or-die’ affair, which is highly detrimental to a country still grappling with historical divisions.
A Plea Rooted in History
For the Acholi elders, the specter of electoral violence carries a weight far heavier than mere political rivalry. The people of Northern Uganda bore the brunt of one of Africa’s most protracted conflicts. The decades of war under the LRA insurgency, which stemmed partly from historical grievances and political marginalization, taught the region the catastrophic cost of violence.
The elders are not just protecting democracy; they are protecting their community from a relapse into the politics of the gun. Their use of the written word and appeal to the highest office and the constitutional body responsible for elections is a deliberately non-violent intervention, seeking a restorative approach to political contestation. They are leveraging their cultural and moral authority to ask the President, who himself came to power through military means but champions the rule of law, to honor the constitutional guarantee of peaceful political participation.
Their message is clear: the legitimacy of an election does not only depend on the final count, but on the freedom and safety with which citizens exercise their rights before the ballot is cast. When security agencies are deployed as partisan political tools, the integrity of the entire electoral process is compromised.
Demands for Accountability and Transparency
The letter to President Museveni urges a direct intervention to de-escalate the political temperature. Specifically, the elders demanded:
- Immediate De-militarization: A withdrawal of specialized military and intelligence units from crowd control and election management roles, leaving these duties to the constitutionally mandated police, appropriately trained for civilian engagement.
- Impartiality from the EC: A firm declaration and demonstrable action from the Electoral Commission to ensure impartiality, even-handed enforcement of electoral laws, and protection for all political parties and candidates, regardless of affiliation.
- Accountability for Perpetrators: A clear commitment to holding security personnel and political actors accountable for human rights abuses, arbitrary arrests, and the use of excessive force against citizens, particularly opposition supporters, journalists, and civic activists. The elders stress that impunity fuels further violence.
The elders’ warning comes at a time when several international human rights organizations and observers have raised similar alarms. Reports from specific by-elections have detailed brutal crackdowns on opposition gatherings, use of military-grade tactics in civilian areas, and the violent targeting of journalists covering opposition events.
The Role of the President and the EC
The ball is now in the court of the Executive and the Electoral Commission.
For President Museveni, the letter is a test of his administration’s commitment to institutionalizing peace and democracy. He is asked to demonstrate that his power is exercised within the constraints of the law, not above it, and that political dissent is a legitimate expression of democracy, not a threat to national security.
For the Electoral Commission, the petition is a renewed challenge to its perceived lack of independence. The EC must reassure the public that it is an impartial umpire, capable of creating a secure and intimidation-free environment for all actors. Failure to address the concerns of such respected cultural custodians could further erode public trust in the electoral system, potentially leading to widespread voter apathy or, worse, a resort to extra-constitutional means of expressing grievances.
The Acholi elders’ appeal is a poignant reminder that peace in Uganda is a shared responsibility, and that electoral violence, if unchecked, can rapidly undermine the foundations of stability built over decades. Their letter is not just a request; it is a profound ethical challenge to the country’s leadership to prioritize democratic principles over partisan political gain.
