The contribution of religious leadership in promoting free and fair elections in central Uganda, a case of selected divisions in Kampala

Abstract

This study investigated the contribution of to the promotion of free and fair elections in Central Uganda, using selected divisions in Kampala as a case study. The study was guided by three specific objectives: (1) to examine the effect of religious leadership in advocacy and public engagement towards the promotion of free and fair elections; (2) to assess the contribution of religious leadership in conflict mediation and peace building in the same regard; and (3) to evaluate the impact of religious leadership in voter education and civic awareness on the promotion of free and fair elections in Kampala. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques within a correlational research design. A total sample of 400 respondents was selected from a population of 369,784, using stratified and purposive sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The response rate was 87% (n = 348). Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and linear regression, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation between religious leadership and the promotion of free and fair elections. Advocacy and public engagement had a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.643 (p < 0.001) and a regression R² of 0.413, indicating that these activities accounted for 41.3% of the variance in electoral fairness. Conflict mediation and peace building had a coefficient of 0.521 (p < 0.001), with R² = 0.271, while voter education and civic awareness recorded r = 0.468 (p < 0.001) and R² = 0.219. These findings led to the rejection of the null hypotheses and the affirmation that religious leadership significantly affects electoral participation, inclusiveness, and public trust in democratic processes. Nonetheless, the study identified key limitations, including the politicization of some religious leaders, a lack of formalized collaboration between religious and electoral institutions, and insufficient training for religious-affiliated civic educators. It concluded that religious leadership, when impartial, credible, and strategically engaged, can serve as a trans-formative force for electoral integrity in Uganda. The study recommended that religious institutions formalize their role in electoral governance through policy inclusion, capacity-building, and interfaith coordination, thereby reinforcing Uganda’s democratic trajectory.