North and West Nile SACCO Communities Urged to Safeguard Peace During and After Elections

Members of North and West Nile community SACCOs living in Kampala have been urged to uphold peace, unity and active civic participation during and after the forthcoming elections, as elders warned against a return to Uganda’s turbulent past.

The call was made during a colourful evening gathering held at Parasave Gardens in Kyebando–Kisalosalo, which drew close to 500 participants drawn from 20 SACCO groups representing the Alur, Madi, Acholi, Lango and Kumam communities.

The event was presided over by the Kumam King, Papa Ateker Ottaya Raphael, and featured key exhortations from respected elders, including Retired Lieutenant General Emilio Mondo and Hon. Akum Catherine Mavengina, the Woman Member of Parliament representing the elderly in Northern Uganda.

Addressing the gathering, elders took participants through Uganda’s political history, recalling that the period before the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came to power in 1986 was marked by prolonged instability, violence and economic collapse.

Retired Lt. Gen. Emilio Mondo shared personal reflections from his long military career, which began in 1964, highlighting his involvement in the 1979 war that devastated the West Nile region. He recounted how the conflict forced thousands of residents into exile in then Zaire (DR Congo) and Sudan, underscoring the high cost of political instability.

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Hon. Akum Catherine Mavengina urged community members to turn out in large numbers to participate in the electoral process, calling on them to vote for the NRM government in order to safeguard the gains of peace, security, patriotism and economic development achieved over the years.

In his keynote address, the Kumam King, Papa Ateker Ottaya Raphael, appealed to his subjects to remain law-abiding and respectful of governing authorities, citing biblical teachings on submission to leadership. He made the remarks in reference to the current administration under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, emphasizing stability and continuity.

Despite a heavy evening downpour, the event proceeded uninterrupted, reflecting the strong commitment of attendees to the message of peace and unity.

Event coordinator Charles Odongtho, a political observer, encouraged the SACCO members to fully engage in the democratic process, stressing that voting is both a civic duty and a powerful tool for shaping the country’s future.

The gathering concluded with renewed calls for calm, tolerance and collective responsibility as Uganda approaches another critical electoral cycle.

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