The Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) boss Justice Simon Byabakama has announced that the presidential and parliamentary elections will now be held on January 15, 2026.
While addressing the media at the EC offices in Kampala Byabakama, also reminded the public that nominations for the parliamentary aspirants will be held tomorrow October 22nd and October -23rd 2025. There will be no extensions beyond the two gazette days .
The EC chairman stressed that nominations for the Directly Elected Members of Parliament and District Woman Representatives will be carried out of the same set dates of October 22nd and 23rd ,2025. at the offices of District/City Returning Officers beginning at 9:00am and ending at 5:00pm on each of the appointed dates across the country .
” Nomination of candidates for election of Member of Parliament representing the Special Interest Groups (Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Workers, and Youths) shall take place on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd October 2025, at the Electoral Commission Headquarters, located at Plot 1-3/5 Seventh Street, Industrial Area, Kampala, and shall begin at 9:00am and end at 5:00pm on each of the appointed dates,” Justice Byabakama said.
EC Chairman warned that those who will be nominated as candidates for parliamentary seats should not commence campaigns until the set date of 10th November 2025.
Byabakama further stated that the Local Government, Presidential and Parliamentary Campaigns will end on 13th January 2026- two days to the polls set for 15, 2026.
The are eight presidential candidates contesting the 2026 general elections and these including the incumbent General (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni , second time contenders Robert Kyagulanyi aka bobi Wine -National Unity Platform (NUP) and Mugisha Muntu of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT).
The newcomers are Nathan Nandala Mafabi of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Robert Kasibante of Peasant Party (PP), Mubarak Munyagwa of Common Man’s Party ( CMP), Frank Kabinga Bulira of Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) and Joseph Mabirizi of Conservative Party (CP).
Byabakama noted that so far the presidential candidates are following the set rules and guidelines and called upon the parliamentary candidates to do the same to ensure a peaceful elections season .
For ease of reference :
The nominated candidates will contest for the following elective positions:
1. Directly-elected Member of Parliament – 353 Constituencies
2. District Woman Representatives to Parliament – 146 Cities/Districts
3. Representatives of Older Persons to Parliament – 5 positions
4. Representatives of Persons with Disabilities to Parliament – 5 positions
5. Representatives of Workers to Parliament 5 positions
6. Representatives of Youths to Parliament – 5 positions
An aspirant for Member of Parliament shall be a citizen of Uganda and a registered voter.
The nomination of a candidate shall be made by two registered voters appearing in person, who shall tender the following documents to the Returning Officer:A nomination paper in triplicate containing a statement under oath by the person seeking nomination specifying:
The name, age, address and occupation of the person seeking nomination;
The address designated by the person seeking nomination for service of process and papers; and,
The name and address of a person appointed official agent by the person seeking nomination;
A statement signed by the person named as official agent, stating that he/she has accepted the appointment as agent for the candidate;
The names and signatures of a minimum of ten (10) persons who are registered voters in the constituency where the person seeks nomination as a candidate supporting the nomination; each supporter shall state in the nomination paper his or her village, occupation and personal voter registration number;
A statement under oath stating that:
The person seeking nomination is a citizen of Uganda, and is eighteen years of age or above; and,
The person named in the nomination paper as seeking nomination consents to the nomination and is not disqualified to stand as a candidate under any law in force.
Where a person is sponsored by a political party or political organisation, the nomination paper shall indicate that he/she is so sponsored stating the name and address of the political organisation or political party;
The nomination paper shall be accompanied by proof of payment of a nomination fee of 3,000,000/= (three million) shillings only, which shall be paid to the Uganda Administration, through any bank which collects Non Tax Revenue.
