By Jumah Kakomo
The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in Uganda has issued a strong warning to politicians ahead of the 2026 general elections, urging them to avoid selfishness and greed, particularly in the form of vote rigging. The church’s message, delivered by Pr. Dr. Moses Ndimukika Maka, President of the Uganda Union Mission of Seventh-Day Adventists, came during the end-of-year 2024 sermon at the SDA Church in Kireka Nakawa division, Kampala.
Pr. Maka recalled the turbulent 1980 general election, which was marred by allegations of electoral fraud, sparking the Ugandan Bush War. He cautioned that the country should not return to such violence, stressing the importance of a peaceful, fair, and free electoral process.
“Let us compete fairly, and with sanity, let us set a platform for free and fair political activities,” Maka urged, emphasizing the role of the ruling party in ensuring a fair electoral environment.
The SDA leader also called on the government to create a space for fair competition and mutual respect, and appealed to the security forces, especially the Uganda Police and Army, to remain neutral and avoid political activism. He stressed that building a better Uganda requires collaboration and fairness in politics.
Pr. Maka, who highlighted the Adventist Church’s core values of peace, justice, and transparency, expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of corruption in the country. He urged the government to go beyond slogans and take concrete action to address the rampant embezzlement and theft of taxpayer money, which he likened to “pouring water into a leaking container.”
Furthermore, Pr. Maka addressed the collapse of the African Family Institution, suggesting that the decay of moral values and the rise of corruption, especially among the youth, were rooted in the breakdown of traditional family structures.
He called for greater collaboration between religious leaders, the government, and cultural institutions to preserve and strengthen the family unit, which he believes is vital for addressing societal issues such as crime, greed, and declining civility.
While acknowledging the government’s progress in socio-economic transformation, Maka pointed out that the country’s potential for development was being undermined by corruption and moral decline. He concluded with a call for tangible efforts to create a more just and prosperous Uganda, one that aligns with the values of fairness and transparency.
