The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have issued a strong caution against what they describe as incendiary and divisive political rhetoric that could trigger violence ahead of the 2026 General Election.

In a press statement issued by Col Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, security agencies expressed concern over remarks attributed to the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, who is accused of calling on supporters to mob polling centres on Election Day and subsequently march to the capital, Kampala.

According to the UPDF, the opposition leader has further encouraged his supporters to prepare to confront security forces, claiming that the police and the UPDF would be outnumbered on the ground.

The military described such language as ill-advised, toxic, shallow in logic and dangerous, warning that it risks misleading young people into violent confrontation with the state. Security agencies strongly condemned the spirit and message behind the calls, insisting that such conduct must stop immediately.

“In the worst-case scenario, those who incite violence and promote anarchy by misleading the youth of Uganda to violently confront security forces will themselves not escape the outcome,” the statement warned, adding that the result would be a futile, zero-sum situation with no winners.

The UPDF further cautioned that attempts by any aspiring national leader to undermine the credibility of the country’s security institutions are unacceptable, particularly given Uganda’s history of instability and the central role of the armed forces in safeguarding peace and national cohesion.

Addressing doubts about the capability of the armed forces, the UPDF pointed to armed groups in the region that have previously confronted state authority.

“If the NUP leader is in doubt about the capabilities of our armed forces, he should consult al-Shabaab in Somalia, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and CODECO in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or Joseph Kony and his defunct Lord’s Resistance Army in the Central African Republic,” the statement read.

The military also warned against what it termed the emergence of “modern-day Alice Lakwena’s” and figures likened to Kirumira Mutima of the Ruwenzori region, accusing them of confusing and misleading young people into reckless and destructive misadventures that undermine national progress.

Such actors, the UPDF said, “have no place in Uganda’s progress and transformational journey.”

Stating its readiness, the UPDF stated that Uganda’s armed forces are highly capable, organised and proficient, warning that any attempt to challenge state security would be met decisively.

The statement concluded with an appeal to all political leaders to seek votes peacefully, in strict accordance with Electoral Commission guidelines, and within the confines and spirit of Uganda’s laws.