Pastor Sserwadda Sparks Election Storm as Leaders Clash Over Voters Staying at Polling Stations

A fresh political storm is brewing ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections after Pastor Joseph Sserwadda, a well-known Born-Again Christian leader, spoke out strongly against calls for voters to leave polling stations immediately after voting.

Pastor Sserwadda, the Lead Pastor at Victory Church in Ndeeba, was recently seen in a viral TikTok video preaching using Luganda in a church-like setting. In the video, he passionately addressed election matters, and his message quickly spread across social media, setting off a heated national debate.

Speaking as a voter, Pastor Sserwadda questioned why voters should be forced to rush home after voting. He said Election Day is a public holiday, meaning government offices are closed, and people should be free to stay near their polling areas. He urged voters to return to their home villages and areas where they are registered so they can fully take part in the election.

The outspoken pastor went further, saying that after voting, he would personally sit on a small stool under a coffee tree about 20 metres from the polling station just to monitor his ballot. He insisted this is allowed by law and said he often proudly shows his inked thumb after voting, making it clear that he voted for himself and not for anyone else.

His remarks come at a time when pressure is mounting from religious leaders, election officials, and security agencies.

Recently, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) advised the Electoral Commission not to force voters away from polling stations after voting. Speaking on behalf of the council’s presidents, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Dr. Stephen Samuel Kazimba Mugalu, reminded the country that existing laws already allow voters to remain at least 20 metres away from polling stations, a distance he said is enough to maintain peace and order.

However, the Electoral Commission has taken a tougher stance. EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi warned presidential candidates to stop mobilizing supporters to stay at polling stations under slogans like “protecting the vote.” In his December 18, 2025 statement, he said the law only allows candidates or their officially appointed polling agents to remain during voting and counting.

Justice Byabakama warned that encouraging large groups of voters or non-voters to camp near polling stations could lead to arguments, congestion especially in urban areas and even violence. He also cautioned that such actions risk exposing the secrecy of the ballot if the legal 20-metre distance is not respected.

Security chiefs have also added their voices. Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, issued a strong warning while speaking at the decoration ceremony of newly promoted UPDF officers at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs headquarters in Mbuya. He cautioned voters against camping around polling stations after casting their votes.

Gen Muhoozi said maintaining peace during the election period is a core duty of the armed forces and warned that security agencies will act decisively against anyone trying to cause unrest. He specifically cautioned political actors and voters who may be mobilized to linger at polling stations in ways that could spark chaos.

This warning directly touches on the National Unity Platform’s campaign strategy, where the party has been mobilizing supporters to stay at polling centres to “protect their votes” under its so-called Protest Vote Campaign. While NUP says the move is meant to ensure transparency during counting, authorities argue it could threaten security and order.

Despite repeated warnings, the Electoral Commission has insisted that voters must cast their ballots and leave immediately. Legal experts say this order bends the law and risks undermining transparency in the vote-counting process.