As Uganda prepares for the 2025/2026 General Elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has made important changes to the election schedule. Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, the Chairperson of the Commission, announced the updates during a press conference held at their headquarters in Kampala. He explained that these adjustments are meant to improve how the nomination process is handled and to allow smoother coordination between different election stakeholders.
One of the major changes affects the nomination dates for Local Government Council elections. These were originally set to run from 3rd to 12th September 2025. However, the Commission has now decided to divide the nomination process into phases based on different levels of leadership. For example, nominations for District and City Chairpersons, the Lord Mayor, and Councillors will take place from 3rd to 5th September 2025. This will be done at each District or City Returning Officer’s office.
After that, nominations for Municipality and City Division Chairpersons and their Councillors will be held from 8th to 10th September 2025. These will also take place at District and City Returning Officer’s offices. Finally, nominations for Sub County, Town, and Municipal Division Chairpersons and Councillors will happen from 11th to 24th September 2025, excluding weekends. These will be handled at the respective County Headquarters.
To help those interested in contesting, nomination forms and election guidelines will be available starting from Monday 11th August 2025. These can be collected from Electoral Commission offices in the districts and cities. Forms for District Chairpersons will also be available for download on the Commission’s official website: www.ec.or.ug.
There is also a change in the nomination dates for Members of Parliament, including Special Interest Groups like Youths, Persons with Disabilities, and Older Persons. These were previously scheduled for 16th to 17th September 2025, but they have now been moved to 15th and 16th October 2025. The forms for these nominations will also be available online from 11th August 2025.
Another key update involves presidential aspirants. From 11th August to 24th September 2025, those who want to run for president will be able to collect nomination forms, supporter forms, and campaign guidelines. These supporter forms require at least 100 signatures from registered voters in at least two-thirds of Uganda’s districts. Collection will take place physically at the Electoral Commission Head Office in Kampala, from Monday to Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
To ensure security and transparency, political party representatives must bring written permission from their party’s Secretary General. Independent candidates must show that they are registered voters. Justice Byabakama stressed that physical collection helps the Commission keep track of serious candidates and plan better for field operations.
In his closing remarks, Justice Byabakama thanked all Ugandans, political parties, and other stakeholders for their continued support in implementing the election roadmap. He especially appreciated the active involvement of Special Interest Groups. He also encouraged every Ugandan to remain peaceful, follow the rules, and take part in the election process responsibly.
A soft copy of the updated election roadmap is available on the Electoral Commission’s website. All citizens are encouraged to read it and stay informed as Uganda prepares for one of its most important democratic events.
