By KT Reporter
Presidential rivals in the 2026 polls could face off in a presidential candidates’ debate being considered by the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue.
If it takes place, the presidential candidates’ debate could be the third to be held in Uganda since Uganda returned to multiparty politics.
The last debate took place in 2016, bringing the candidates in the race to one podium. Some described that event as a small victory for democracy. As the candidates traverse the country for votes, the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) is considering hosting another, saying it can act as a forum for promoting issue-based politics, accountability, and a level playing field among candidates.
The debate, whose schedule is yet to be confirmed ahead of the January 2026 general polls, will mark Uganda’s third attempt to institutionalize presidential debates, a democratic practice that has struggled to gain traction since its introduction in 2016.
Debates between presidential candidates have become an important part of the election process in countries like the United States of America.
Dr. Lawrence Sserwambala Kabagabe, the IPOD Executive Director, said the initiative aligns with the organization’s Memorandum of Understanding under which member parties, including the NRM, FDC, DP, UPC, and JEEMA, committed to supporting political dialogue and structured public engagement as a cornerstone of democracy.
“Presidential debates are critical in shaping informed choice and promoting tolerance among political competitors,” Dr. Kabagabe said, adding that the forum seeks to ensure citizens evaluate leaders based on policies rather than personalities.
He acknowledged that the success of the event will depend on factors such as candidate participation, neutrality of moderators, media coverage, and public confidence in the debate’s fairness.
IPOD previously coordinated the 2016 and 2021 presidential debates in partnership with the Elders’ Forum and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), a faith-based coalition of major religious institutions.
While the 2016 debate was praised for providing voters with rare insights into candidates’ visions, it was overshadowed by President Yoweri Museveni’s absence, citing scheduling conflicts.
The 2021 debate faced further setbacks due to COVID-19 restrictions and limited participation from key contenders, which undermined its national impact.
In July 2025, the IRCU’s Team Leader for Legal and Policy Advocacy, John Osapiri, said the Council had launched a National Mobilization Strategy and issued a pastoral letter calling on all political actors to commit to peace and act as advocates for unity in their respective spaces.
The Council reaffirmed its support for initiatives promoting harmony and coexistence.
Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, Head of the National Consultative Forum (NCF), a platform for dialogue and mediation among political parties, welcomed IPOD’s move, describing it as “a crucial step toward fostering national unity and cooperation.
In September 2025, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), in partnership with the European Union, launched the “Let’s Talk Peace Campaign” to complement efforts promoting peaceful and informed electoral participation.
Former External Security Organization (ESO) Director General, David Pulkol, also endorsed the planned debate, calling it “a crucial opportunity to promote peaceful elections, not just the absence of violence, but the presence of informed, engaged, and responsible citizens.”
Pulkol noted that election-related violence remains a systemic challenge in Uganda’s political history and governance structures, posing a recurring threat to democracy, political stability, and human security.
The Electoral Commission has so far nominated eight presidential candidates for the 2026 race. They include: Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Kaguta Museveni – National Resistance Movement (NRM), Robert Kasibante – National Peasants’ Party, Elton Joseph Mabirizi – Conservative Party, James Nathan Nandala Mafabi – Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and Gregory Mugisha Muntu – Alliance for National Transformation (ANT)
Others are Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert (Bobi Wine) – National Unity Platform (NUP), Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga – Common Man’s Party (CMP), and Frank Burira Kavinga – Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP)
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