Kabale-The South Western Regional Electoral Commission Officer (REO), Mr. Beine Robert, has cautioned religious leaders against politicizing their pulpits, warning that the growing fusion of religion and politics in Uganda threatens both electoral integrity and the sanctity of faith institutions.
Beine made the remarks at White Horse Inn, Kabale, during a voter education dialogue held to mark **International Democracy Day**, organized by Kigezi Media Services in collaboration with the Electoral Commission.Drawing an analogy, Beine compared the role of the EC to that of a midwife. “Our role as the Electoral Commission is like that of midwives — we deliver elections,”* he said, urging clerics to remain neutral and focus on spiritual guidance rather than partisan politics. He added that no one should claim to love religion more than those who originally brought it to Uganda.
The dialogue brought together religious leaders, politicians, journalists, media practitioners, security agencies, and members of the public.
Kabale Municipality MP hopeful, Dan Nabaasa Musinguzi, also weighed in, warning that the mixing of politics and religion often results in voters electing leaders based on their faith identity rather than competence. “When politics is driven by religion, people end up choosing leaders who may not be capable of delivering services,”he cautioned, stressing the importance of merit-based leadership.
Meanwhile, Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, Elly Maate, emphasized that religious sectarianism not only undermines electoral credibility but also poses a serious risk to community peace and security. “Religious-based divisions can spark disputes and insecurity within communities,” Maate said, urging citizens to report cases of religious influence in politics to relevant authorities.
The dialogue served as a civic platform to raise awareness on the dangers of religious manipulation in politics, with stakeholders calling on Ugandans to safeguard democracy by promoting tolerance, unity, and competence-based leadership
