EC Opens Ajumani West MP By-Election Nominations Ahead of September 17 Poll

The Electoral Commission (EC) has set Monday, September 7, and Tuesday, September 8, 2026, as the official nomination dates for candidates seeking to contest for the position of directly elected Member of Parliament for Ajumani West Constituency.

The two-day nomination exercise will be conducted at the Electoral Commission offices in Ajumani, located along Moyo Road, and will run from 9:00am to 5:00pm on each of the two days.

Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi said all eligible Ugandans intending to contest in the forthcoming Ajumani West parliamentary by-election are expected to present themselves before the Returning Officer within the stipulated nomination period.

The by-election will be held to fill the position of directly elected Member of Parliament representing the people of Ajumani West Constituency.

Mucunguzi said the nomination of parliamentary candidates is conducted in accordance with the Parliamentary Elections Act, which provides the legal framework governing the nomination and election of Members of Parliament.

He outlined several key requirements that prospective candidates must meet before they can be nominated.

According to the Electoral Commission, an aspiring candidate for the position of directly elected Member of Parliament must be a citizen of Uganda, must be at least 18 years old and must be a registered voter whose name appears on the National Voters Register.

The candidate must also possess a minimum educational qualification equivalent to Advanced Level, commonly known as Senior Six.

In addition, every candidate seeking nomination must pay a non-refundable nomination fee of Shs3 million.

Mucunguzi urged all prospective candidates to carefully study and comply with all the guidelines issued by the Electoral Commission ahead of the nomination exercise.

The Commission has also issued guidelines regulating the movement of candidates and their supporters to the nomination venue, particularly concerning the use of vehicles and processions.

Under the guidelines, a candidate travelling to the nomination venue is allowed to use a maximum of two vehicles. Each of the vehicles must not carry more than 10 people.

The Electoral Commission has appealed to candidates and their supporters to avoid holding lengthy processions or engaging in activities that could disrupt normal business and public activities in Ajumani.

Mucunguzi said the nomination exercise should not inconvenience residents and business operators who have no involvement in the electoral process.

He urged all those participating in the exercise to maintain peace, law and order and to follow instructions issued by the Returning Officer responsible for conducting the Ajumani West parliamentary by-election.

The Commission also called upon candidates and their supporters to ensure that the nomination exercise is conducted peacefully and strictly in accordance with the country's electoral laws and regulations.

The two-day nomination exercise marks a major step in the roadmap for the Ajumani West parliamentary by-election, which will culminate in polling scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2026.

The Electoral Commission has urged voters, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders to cooperate with election officials and security agencies to ensure a peaceful, orderly and credible electoral process.

As nominations get underway, attention will now turn to the candidates who will successfully secure nomination to contest for the Ajumani West parliamentary seat ahead of the September 17 by-election.

“The Electoral Commission wishes to appeal to all those coming out today and tomorrow and approaching the offices of the Electoral Commission in Ajumani to make sure that they do not have long processions and do not disrupt the normal businesses of people who have nothing to do with the nomination exercise,” Mucunguzi said.

He further appealed to all participants to read and follow the guidelines issued by the Commission and the Returning Officer, emphasising the importance of maintaining peace and order throughout the electoral process.