Uganda Rejects Kenya Poll Interference Claims, Warns Over South Sudan Businesses

By Evans Najuna

KAMPALA — Uganda has rejected allegations that its nationals living along the Uganda-Kenya border are being registered to vote in Kenya’s 2027 General Election, insisting that it has neither a role in nor an intention to interfere with the electoral processes of its neighbour.

The position was communicated on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, during a press conference at her offices at Kingdom Kampala House.

Kadaga said determining voter eligibility, registering voters and safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s electoral system are responsibilities of Kenyan institutions operating under Kenyan law.

“Uganda has no role in, and does not interfere with, the electoral processes of the Republic of Kenya,” she said.

She stressed that Uganda respects Kenya’s sovereignty and democratic processes and expects neighbouring countries to extend the same respect to Uganda.

Kadaga said the government would also distance itself from any unlawful conduct that may have been undertaken by individuals acting on their own, while expressing readiness to cooperate with Kenyan authorities through diplomatic, immigration, security and electoral channels to establish the facts.

She called for restraint as investigations into the allegations continue, warning against turning claims involving particular individuals into collective suspicion against Ugandans living or working in Kenya.

Uganda, she added, rejects threats, intimidation or violence against its nationals based on allegations that have not been legally established.

Kadaga noted that communities along the Uganda-Kenya border have longstanding family, cultural and commercial ties, arguing that political disagreements should not be allowed to threaten their peaceful coexistence.

She said electoral integrity and the protection of human life should be treated as equally important responsibilities.

SOUTH SUDAN BUSINESS ROW

Meanwhile, the government has raised concern over reports of Ugandan-owned small and medium enterprises operating in South Sudan being closed, restricted or subjected to other operational difficulties.

Kadaga said the reports were being taken seriously, but cautioned that the circumstances surrounding each affected business must first be verified before government draws definitive conclusions.

She said Ugandan businesspeople in South Sudan make an important contribution to employment, trade, revenue generation and regional economic integration, stressing that their lawful investments should be protected.

At the same time, she acknowledged South Sudan’s sovereign right to regulate businesses operating within its territory.

Kadaga, however, said such regulation should be transparent, fair and non-discriminatory, while respecting applicable laws, bilateral commitments and the broader principles of the East African Community.

She urged affected Ugandan traders to document the circumstances surrounding the closure or restriction of their businesses and report the cases through relevant Ugandan diplomatic missions and competent authorities.

Such documentation, she said, would enable the Ugandan government to engage South Sudanese authorities on the basis of verified information rather than unsubstantiated claims.

Kadaga said Uganda remains committed to peaceful coexistence, lawful cross-border trade, regional integration and mutual respect among East African Community Partner States.

She emphasised that Uganda does not seek confrontation with either Kenya or South Sudan, but would firmly and responsibly defend the legitimate interests of Ugandan citizens through established diplomatic and legal channels.

The minister also called on institutions in the affected countries to investigate the matters objectively and communicate responsibly, warning that threats, speculation and collective blame would not resolve regional challenges.

She said Uganda’s longstanding relationships with Kenya and South Sudan remain important and should be protected through responsible leadership and institutional cooperation.