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The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has launched an Election Watch and Rapid Response Mechanism aimed at confronting the pattern of human rights violations and electoral malpractice that marred previous polls, particularly in 2021. The initiative positions the legal profession as an active guarantor of civic space, seeking not only to observe but to intervene when abuses occur.

How the rapid response mechanism works
At the core of the mechanism is a nationwide lawyer‑based monitoring and response system. ULS is deploying more than 600 advocates as election observers across the country, embedded in the communities where they live and vote, to document incidents ranging from arbitrary arrests and torture to excessive use of force and procedural irregularities. Their reports feed into a standardised incident‑logging tool, enabling real‑time transmission of information to a central election monitoring unit in Kampala, which aggregates, verifies, and analyses cases. When violations are reported, either by observers or directly by the public via a toll‑free hotline (0800 355 5355), regional legal aid teams and a central rapid response group move to secure remedies, including legal representation for detainees, applications for court orders, and formal complaints to oversight bodies.newvision.

Political context and stakes
The mechanism emerges in an environment marked by unresolved abuses from the 2021 elections, including killings of protesters, mass arrests of opposition supporters, and attacks on journalists, for which accountability has been minimal. UN experts and human rights organisations warn that ongoing repression and impunity threaten the credibility of the 2026 polls and the right of Ugandans to participate freely in public affairs. While the initiative is framed as non‑partisan, it operates in a highly polarised field where both ruling and opposition actors have strong incentives to contest narratives around violence, legality, and legitimacy.

Where to follow the findings
Updates and outputs from the mechanism can be tracked through ULS’s official channels, including its social media accounts and public statements, as well as coverage by outlets such as Nile Post, New Vision, NBS Television, and partner human rights organisations reporting on election‑related violations.

The Uganda Law Society’s Election Watch

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Efforts