EC Chairperson Details Progress, Sets Tone for Peaceful and Credible 2026 Elections

Kampala, Uganda — The Electoral Commission has affirmed that preparations for the 2025/2026 General Elections are progressing steadily, with major milestones already achieved in line with the national electoral roadmap. The update was delivered by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, during a detailed briefing to the media at the Commission headquarters.

Justice Byabakama commended journalists for consistently informing citizens about electoral developments, emphasizing that access to accurate information empowers Ugandans to make informed choices as guaranteed under Article 1(4) of the Constitution.

Key Milestones Achieved in the Roadmap

Since the launch of the initial roadmap in August 2023—and its subsequent revision in July 2024—the Commission has implemented several core activities essential for the 2026 elections. These include:

1. Demarcation of Electoral Areas and Polling Station Reorganisation

The EC successfully demarcated local government electoral areas and reorganized polling stations ahead of the upcoming elections. This ensures proper representation and efficient management during polling.

2. General Update of the Voters Register

The nationwide update of the National Voters Register and compilation of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) registers have been completed, bolstering the accuracy of the electoral roll.

3. Public Display of the Voters Register

The register was displayed across all polling stations, providing voters and stakeholders an opportunity to verify details and raise objections where necessary.

4. SIGs Elections from Village to National Level

Special Interest Groups—youths, older persons, and persons with disabilities—completed their elections from village to national tiers.

5. Nominations for All Elective Positions

The nomination of candidates for presidential, parliamentary, and local government positions has been concluded.

According to Justice Byabakama, a total of 83,597 candidates have been duly nominated to contest for 45,505 elective positions, ranging from the presidency to sub-county councillor.

Updated National Electoral Statistics 

As of 13 November 2025, the country’s electoral statistics stand as follows:

Districts: 146

Constituencies: 353

Polling Stations: 50,739

Registered Voters: 21,681,491

Females: 11,347,129 (53%)

Males: 10,334,362 (47%)

The EC has urged all registered voters to turn up and exercise their right to vote. To facilitate easier identification of polling stations, the Commission will soon begin issuing Voter Location Slips (VLS) across the country.

Fresh Nominations After Deaths of Candidates

Following the unfortunate deaths of seven candidates in various electoral areas, the EC has scheduled fresh nominations on 27th and 28th November 2025. These will apply only to aspiring candidates seeking to replace the deceased nominees. Previously nominated candidates for these positions will not undergo fresh nomination.

Polling Dates Confirmed

Justice Byabakama reiterated the dates for the 2026 General Elections. Key polling events include:

Presidential & Parliamentary Elections: 15 January 2026

District/City Local Government Elections: 22 January 2026

Municipality/City Division Elections: 27 January 2026

Sub-county/ Town/Municipal Division Elections: 4 February 2026

Various conferences for SIGs, Workers, PWDs, Youth, and the Army are slated between 19 January and 6 February 2026.

Stakeholders—including political parties, candidates, observers, and security agencies—were urged to prepare adequately.

Handling of Nomination Petitions

The EC received approximately 300 petitions and complaints stemming from the nomination exercise. Justice Byabakama noted that while the figure may appear large, it represents a small fraction of the more than 83,000 nominations processed nationwide.

He assured the public that each petition has been evaluated professionally based on the law, the Commission’s mandate, and the evidence submitted.

Ballot Paper Production in Progress

Ballot paper printing for various elective positions is underway, handled by a mix of international and local firms such as:

Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing (Dubai) — Presidential, MPs, District Chairpersons

UniPrint (South Africa) — Sub-county Chairpersons

Inform Lykos (Greece) — Local Councillors

Sintel Security (Kenya) — SIG Councillors

Picfare Industries & Graphics Systems (Uganda) — Municipal and City Division ballots

Political parties have been advised to submit names of accredited agents to witness the receipt and handling of printed ballot papers, reinforcing transparency.

Deployment of Upgraded Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs)

For the 2026 elections, the EC has procured 109,142 Biometric Voter Verification Kits, of which 60,000 have already been delivered. The remaining units are expected by the end of November 2025.

The upgraded BVVKs—first used in 2016 and improved for 2021—use fingerprint and facial recognition technologies to authenticate voters and uphold the One-person, One-vote principle.

To support this deployment:

50,739 operators (one per polling station) will be recruited.

1,050 trainers are being selected. 

Training of technical staff and trainers is already underway.

Public demonstrations of the BVVKs will soon be conducted for political parties, observers, the media, and other stakeholders.

Accreditation of Observers and Media

The Commission has opened accreditation for both national and international election observers as well as media houses. Observers working in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono will be accredited at EC headquarters, while those deployed elsewhere will be accredited at district offices.

Accreditation will cover all phases—from pre-polling to post-election processes—and is essential for maintaining transparency and professionalism.

Campaign Conduct and Compliance

Justice Byabakama expressed appreciation to candidates who have adhered to campaign guidelines but raised concerns over violations observed in some areas, including:

Processions disrupting traffic and business

Unscheduled campaign stops

Use of defamatory or inflammatory language

Defacement of campaign materials

He warned that the EC will not hesitate to sanction individuals or political parties that violate guidelines or jeopardize the integrity of the elections.

The Commission has already held two meetings with agents of presidential candidates and security agencies to address concerns arising from campaigns and plans another meeting soon.

A Call for Peaceful, Lawful Participation

In his concluding remarks, Justice Byabakama reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering free, fair, and transparent elections, in fulfillment of the mandate under Articles 60 and 61 of the Constitution.

He appealed to all stakeholders—political parties, candidates, security agencies, civil society, religious leaders, business communities, and the media—to uphold peace, respect the law, and support the integrity of the electoral process as the country moves toward polling.https://www.youtube.com/live/Gd8RIF2ANos?si=ZStwHP17LqbrhQMC

“A credible electoral process is a shared responsibility,” he emphasized.