Prominent elders from the Acholi sub-region have written to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Electoral Commission (EC) regarding the violence inflicted on presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and his supporters.
In a letter dated December 10, authored under Wangoo Heritage Ltd, the elders denounce the violent incidents during a campaign visit in which youthful gangs attacked Kyagulanyi and his campaign agents, sparking chaos in parts of Nwoya, Amuru, and Gulu city.
The group accused some senior members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of “instrumentalising” young people to commit “criminal acts” against citizens exercising their political rights. They stressed that such violence is inconsistent with Acholi values.
“The Acholi are a peace-loving and tolerant people slowly recovering from a long period of armed conflict, whose consequences continue to undermine the development of the sub-region. We, therefore, detest all forms of violence, planned and orchestrated by whomever,” the elders wrote.
They also raised concern about the manipulation of vulnerable youth into political hooliganism, saying the behavior is rooted in the psychological scars left by decades of conflict.
“The delinquent children are a manifestation of the legacy of the long war. They need help from the government in the form of psychosocial support and sustainable livelihoods, rather than being used as instruments of violence,” they added.
The petition bears the signatures of some of the region’s most prominent leaders, including Rt. Rev. Macleod Baker Ochola, retired Bishop of the Northern Uganda Diocese; Rtd. Justice Galdino Okello, vice chairperson of the Board; Prof. Okello Otto; and Betty Aol Ocan, Gulu City Woman MP and former Leader of the Opposition. Copies were also sent to the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC).
They stressed that the violence witnessed in Gulu was not representative of Acholi culture, urging the authorities to investigate and hold accountable those behind the attacks. Addressing the President directly, the elders reminded him of the state’s duty to protect its citizens.
“Mr President, the cardinal responsibility of the state and its forces of coercion is to protect the lives and property of citizens. Is it not ironic that the state security apparatus is instead harming the very citizens they are supposed to protect?” they stated.
The elders demanded a full investigation into the violence, accountability for the masterminds, and compensation for deaths, injuries, and property damage suffered during what they termed “these unfortunate incidents.”
They further urged both President Museveni and the Electoral Commission to ensure equal opportunity and safety for all candidates during the 2026 presidential campaigns, warning that continued violence undermines public trust in the electoral process.
They also called on EC chairperson Simon Byabakama to take responsibility for the escalating violence, or resign. Their petition adds to a growing chorus of voices condemning last week’s clashes between security forces and Kyagulanyi’s campaign team in Gulu.
Ahead of Kyagulanyi’s visit, security had mounted heavy roadblocks at major entry and exit points around the city, backed by large deployments of UPDF soldiers and anti-riot police. Several groups of youths, some wearing NRM yellow, roamed the streets wielding sticks, attacking traders and vandalizing NUP campaign equipment at Awere playground.
Earlier, the Acholi Cultural Institution also issued a statement condemning the violence, warning that the government risks tarnishing its reputation. The institution’s minister of Information, Okello Okuna, urged affected business owners in Gulu to register their losses for onward submission to government. Uganda is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on January 15, 2026.
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