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As Uganda prepares for the 2026 General Elections slated for January 15, 2025, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) says it has launched an Election Watch and Rapid Response Mechanism to monitor human rights abuses and safeguard democratic processes.
The move comes amid growing concerns over potential violations during the upcoming polls.
Speaking to the media at Fairway Hotel in Nakasero, Kampala city, ULS treasurer Arthur Isiko warned that Uganda’s electoral history has been marred by “persistent and grave human rights violations”, including arbitrary arrests and suppression of dissent.
According to Isiko, such actions undermine constitutionalism, democratic governance and the rule of law.
The society said on Monday, January 12, that under the newly established mechanism, they will deploy observers and legal monitors across the country, armed with a standardised reporting template to document incidents and submit real-time data on human rights abuses.
ULS vice-president Anthony Asiimwe emphasised the importance of a free, fair and credible election, urging all stakeholders to respect human rights and ensure a peaceful, transparent, and inclusive electoral process.
The society cited past electoral violence as a key motivator for the initiative, recalling the 2021 elections, which witnessed widespread arbitrary arrests, abductions, and excessive use of force by security agencies.
The public has also been advised to report any cases of abductions, violence, or other human rights violations via toll-free line: 0800 355 355