CID, DPP make joint plan ahead of 2026 election

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Law enforcement agencies, specifically the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), have joined forces to combat election-related crimes ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Addressing a joint press conference at CID Headquarters in Kibuli on Tuesday, the Director of Criminal Investigations (CID), AIGP Major Tom Magambo, and DPP Jane Frances Abodo warned individuals planning to disrupt the 2026 elections that they will face the full force of the law.

Magambo emphasized that his team, in collaboration with the DPP’s office, is working to ensure a peaceful electoral process. He made it clear that they will not tolerate any attempts to cause chaos or anarchy in the city.

Magambo also stated that their approach is not political but purely legal, emphasizing that they will pursue anyone who commits a crime, regardless of their political affiliation.

“We will not sit down and smile as they burn the city. If you are planning anarchy, then prepare yourself. You don’t expect the Director CID to turn into a pastor. There are people who are meant to do spiritual work. But we are going to operate within the Constitution. That’s why the DPP is here, and she is going to guide me. And I don’t think anarchy is okay,” he said.

Abodo and Magambo highlighted the importance of coordination between investigators and prosecutors at all levels to effectively combat complex crimes like corruption, land issues, and electoral offenses such as malpractice, election fraud, violence, and intimidation.

Magambo noted that the current nature of crime requires a collaborative approach to ensure effective measures are in place. Abodo added that her office is committed to handling all criminal matters, regardless of political affiliation, and emphasized the need to distinguish between civil and criminal land matters.

The press conference was called in preparation for a two-day inaugural meeting between the CID and DPP, where President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to attend as the Chief Guest. The meeting aims to strengthen coordination, collaboration, and cooperation for successful prosecutions in sophisticated high-profile cases.

It will be held under the theme, “The Contribution of ODPP/CID in the Social Economic Transformation of Uganda,” and will involve 620 participants, including investigators, prosecutors, and key stakeholders in the criminal justice system.

Abodo stated that the meeting will equip participants with knowledge and skills in the investigation and prosecution of complex criminal cases and enhance coordination, cooperation, and communication to combat crime, particularly in preparation for the 2026 elections.

In previous elections, opposition politicians have faced significant challenges with law enforcement, including the teargassing of supporters, dispersing of meetings, and reports of brutality. In the recently concluded 2021 elections, at least 154 cases were filed in courts of law, alleging that the elections were not free and fair.

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