Kabaka’s New Year Message Issues Stark Warning on Elections, Security, and Social Decay
KAMPALA, UGANDA – In a powerful and wide-ranging address that has resonated across the nation, His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, has delivered a formidable critique of Uganda’s current trajectory, condemning electoral violence, political corruption, and a rising tide of gruesome crime as the country enters a pivotal election season.
Released on December 22, 2025, from the Mengo Palace, the Kabaka’s annual message for Christmas and the New Year 2026 transcended traditional holiday goodwill to offer a sobering assessment of national crises.
A Direct Challenge to Electoral Authorities
The monarch expressed “profound distress” over violence targeting the democratic process, detailing acts of “beating” and “torture” intended to prevent candidates from reaching voters. In a pointed directive, he called upon the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to move beyond “mere rhetoric” and “condemning this issue.”
“We ask them… to help without bias, so that every candidate can deliver their message to the voters, without being prevented or people being intimidated in any way,” the Kabaka stated. He framed impartial oversight as non-negotiable, insisting the commission must “ensure that all candidates, regardless of their political affiliation, can reach their voters without fear of state-led or partisan interference.”
Vote-Buying Decried as “Father of Theft and Stagnation”
In one of his most scathing indictments, the Kabaka attacked the corrosive influence of money in politics. “The politics and election of leaders we see today are full of giving money in a corrupt way,” he said, questioning the origin of vast campaign funds. He argued that expensive elections elevate unqualified leaders who then seek to recoup their investments through theft, a cycle he termed “the father of theft and the stagnation of our nation’s development.” He appealed for a return to elections based on “integrity and good conduct.”
Warnings on Food Security and Plea on Child Safety
Shifting to humanitarian concerns, the Kabaka highlighted erratic weather threatening staple crops and urged a revival of food preservation practices. He called on the government to “speak forcefully” in supporting farmers with irrigation and tax breaks on equipment.
The message then took a deeply somber turn, addressing horrific social crimes. The Kabaka voiced anguish over reports of children being “murdered in excessive cruelty and having parts of their bodies cut off,” acts once thought eradicated but now “returning little by little.” Linking this to kidnappings, he issued a heartfelt plea for vigilance and called on security organs to “increase their efforts in protecting our people.”
A Significant Moral Intervention
As a traditional leader who remains above partisan politics, the Kabaka’s messages carry substantial moral authority. This direct, multi-faceted critique of state institutions and social decay is seen as a significant intervention during a highly sensitive political period. It underscores growing national anxiety about the integrity of the upcoming electoral process and the government’s ability to guarantee security and justice.
The message concludes with wishes for a peaceful New Year, but its content serves as a clear agenda for action, placing immense pressure on the Electoral Commission, security agencies, and political actors to uphold the rule of law and protect the nation’s citizens and democratic foundations.
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