Justice Byabakama Details Arrangements for National Women’s Executive Committee Polls

KAMPALA — The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that the National Conference for the election of Uganda’s National Women’s Executive Committee will take place on Thursday, September 3, and Friday, September 4, 2026, marking the final stage in the nationwide electoral process for the composition of Women’s Councils and Committees from the village to the national level.

Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi said the elections will bring to a conclusion a process that has been conducted progressively across the country, beginning with elections at the village level and moving through parish, sub-county, town council, municipal division and district levels.

Speaking about the upcoming National Conference, Justice Byabakama said the national elections represent the apex of the Women’s Councils and Committees electoral programme.

“As you are well aware, the Electoral Commission has been conducting administrative units elections together with the Women Committees and Councils elections across the entire country,” Justice Byabakama said.

“We started with the Village Women Committee elections, followed by parish, sub-county, town council or division and district Women Committee elections. Now we are coming to the apex of those elections for the National Women’s Executive Committee elections.”

147 Delegates to Form Electoral College

According to the Electoral Commission, the National Women’s Executive Committee will be elected by an electoral college comprising members of the National Women’s Council.

The electoral college will consist of the chairpersons of the City and District Women’s Councils from across the country, making up 146 delegates, as well as one woman representative of persons with disabilities nominated by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.

This brings the total number of delegates expected to constitute the electoral college to 147.

Justice Byabakama explained that the delegates will serve as the voters in the election of the four elective positions on the National Women’s Executive Committee.

“Therefore, the electoral college will comprise one chairperson of the City or District Women’s Councils, which in total are 146 persons or delegates. Secondly, one woman representing persons with disabilities will be nominated by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities,” he said.

“So in total, we are going to have 147 delegates who will constitute the electoral college for electing the four members of the National Women’s Executive Committee.”

Delegates to Convene at Kyambogo College School

The delegates will convene at Kyambogo College School in Nakawa Division, Kampala Capital City, on Thursday, September 3, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The first day of the National Conference will primarily focus on the accreditation of delegates before the nomination of candidates later in the afternoon.

According to the Electoral Commission programme, accreditation will commence at 10:00 a.m., while the nomination of candidates will begin at 2:00 p.m.

The elections will be held for four elective positions on the National Women’s Executive Committee.

The positions are:

Chairperson;

Vice Chairperson;

Publicity Secretary;

and Secretary for Finance.

Justice Byabakama noted that while the National Women’s Executive Committee has other members, only four positions are subject to election during the National Conference.

The other members serve on the committee in an ex-officio capacity, representing institutions and organs established under the National Women’s Council structure and related bodies.

These include the Secretary for Female Youth on the National Youth Council, the representative of women with disabilities, a representative of the ministry responsible for gender and women advancement, and the Executive Secretary of the National Women’s Council.

Nomination Forms Available in Ntinda

All eligible delegates interested in contesting for any of the four elective positions have been advised to obtain nomination forms from the Office of the Returning Officer for Kampala Capital City.

The office is located in Ministers Village, Ntinda, Nakawa, Kampala.

The Returning Officer for Kampala Capital City has also been designated as the Returning Officer for the National Women’s Executive Committee elections.

Justice Byabakama urged eligible delegates intending to contest to follow the stipulated nomination procedures and timelines.

Campaigns and Polling Set for Friday

Following the nomination exercise on Thursday, September 3, the nominated candidates will conduct their campaigns on Friday, September 4, 2026.

Campaigns will begin at 8:00 a.m., allowing the candidates to present their programmes and priorities directly to members of the electoral college.

Polling will then commence at 12:00 noon.

The Electoral Commission has emphasized that voting for the National Women’s Executive Committee will be conducted by secret ballot.

Justice Byabakama clarified that, unlike some elections at lower administrative levels where voters may use other voting methods, the national election will strictly be conducted through secret ballot.

“This one is by secret ballot. It is not by lining up,” Justice Byabakama said.

The 147 delegates will listen to the candidates and their respective programmes before making their choices through the ballot.

The EC Chairperson said the process is intended to allow delegates to make informed decisions after hearing directly from the candidates seeking the various leadership positions.

Final Stage of Women’s Councils Electoral Process

The National Women’s Executive Committee elections will formally conclude the Electoral Commission’s programme for the composition of Women’s Councils and Committees across Uganda.

The process has moved through several levels of administration, starting from village structures and progressing through parishes, sub-counties, town councils, divisions and districts before reaching the national level.

Justice Byabakama described the National Conference as the culmination of the entire electoral process.

The newly elected leaders are expected to play an important role in guiding the activities and representation of women through the National Women’s Council structure.

The Electoral Commission has called upon all delegates and aspiring candidates to take note of the dates, venues, timelines and procedures for the National Conference and ensure full compliance with the established electoral guidelines.

With accreditation and nominations scheduled for Thursday and campaigns and polling set for Friday, attention will now turn to the 147-member electoral college as it prepares to elect the four leaders who will occupy the elective positions on the National Women’s Executive Committee.

The elections will bring to an end the latest nationwide process of establishing Women’s Councils and Committees from the grassroots to the highest national level.