As Uganda heads into the January 15, 2026 general election, Justice Esther Kitimbo has issued a detailed call to action, urging citizens to actively safeguard their voting rights and closely monitor the entire electoral process.
In a statement shared on X, the judge framed the election as a defining moment for the country’s future, saying the choices made at the ballot will shape Uganda’s political and social direction for generations.
She emphasized that registered voters hold direct power through casting their votes, while all Ugandans, including those in the diaspora or living in exile, retain the right to observe and comment on the election.
Justice Kitimbo warned against silence in the face of voting irregularities.
She said voters who are denied the right to vote due to missing names on the register, biometric failures, or interference with ballot papers should remain at their polling stations until the matter is resolved.
If election officials fail to act, she advised affected voters to report the incident to local council leaders and independent witnesses.
She further clarified that election observation is not limited to registered voters. According to her, the Constitution does not create different classes of citizens when it comes to observing elections.
Ugandans, she said, are entitled to remain at polling stations from opening to close, as long as they do not obstruct voters and respect the legally required distance of 20 metres.
Justice Kitimbo criticised claims circulating online suggesting that ordinary citizens have no right to observe polling stations, describing such assertions as misleading and unconstitutional.
She stressed that political beliefs do not amount to criminality and that Ugandans should not be labeled as “non-peaceful” for exercising their civic rights.
Beyond voting, she highlighted the broader responsibility citizens carry before, during, and after polling day.
This includes ensuring ballots are not stuffed, votes are properly counted, and results declared at polling stations are not altered during transmission to district and national tally centres.
The judge placed particular responsibility on the Uganda Electoral Commission, led by Justice Simon Byabakama, reminding commissioners of their constitutional mandate to conduct free and fair elections.
She urged them to honour their oaths of office and rely strictly on polling station results when declaring outcomes.
Justice Kitimbo concluded by calling on voters to choose leaders who prioritise economic wellbeing, healthcare, education, and the protection of constitutional rights, stressing that Uganda’s future depends not only on who wins, but on how the election is conducted and defended by its citizens.