The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, has officially announced significant adjustments to the roadmap for Uganda’s 2025/2026 General Elections. The revised timeline affects the nomination periods for Local Government Councils, Parliamentary, and Presidential Elections.
Speaking during a press briefing held at the Commission headquarters in Kampala, Justice Byabakama said the changes are intended to enhance coordination and streamline the nomination process for both candidates and electoral officers.
“A soft copy of the updated Roadmap is available on the Electoral Commission website. We encourage all stakeholders to remain engaged and follow the timeline diligently,” Justice Byabakama noted.
New Nomination Schedule for Local Government Elections
The nomination period for Local Government Councils, originally scheduled for 3rd to 12th September 2025, will now take place in phased intervals, according to the following updated schedule:
District/City Chairpersons, Lord Mayor, and Councillors:
Wednesday 3rd – Friday 5th September 2025
At respective District/City Returning Officer’s offices
Municipality/City Division Chairpersons and Councillors:
Monday 8th – Wednesday 10th September 2025
Also at District/City Returning Officer’s offices
Sub County/Town/Municipal Division Chairpersons and Councillors:
Thursday 11th – Wednesday 24th September 2025 (excluding weekends)
To be held at respective County Headquarters
Nomination forms and guidelines will be available for collection beginning Monday 11th August 2025 from District/City EC offices. Forms for District Chairpersons will also be downloadable from the Commission’s website: www.ec.or.ug.
Parliamentary Elections: New Dates Set
The EC has also rescheduled the nomination period for Parliamentary Elections, including those for Special Interest Groups (Youths, Persons with Disabilities, and Older Persons). Originally planned for 16–17 September 2025, nominations will now take place on:
Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th October 2025
Relevant nomination documents will be available for download starting 11th August 2025 via the Commission’s website.
Presidential Election Nomination Documents Collection Opens
A major highlight from Justice Byabakama’s briefing was the announcement of the timeline for collection of nomination materials for the 2026 Presidential Elections. From Monday 11th August to Wednesday 24th September 2025, all presidential aspirants will be allowed to collect the following from the EC Head Office (Plot 1-3 & 5, 7th Street, Industrial Area, Kampala), between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM on weekdays:
Nomination forms
Supporter forms (requiring signatures from at least 100 registered voters in two-thirds of Uganda’s districts)
Guidelines on nomination and campaign conduct
To ensure transparency:
Political party representatives must present written authorization from their party Secretary General or designated official
Independent aspirants must provide proof of registration as voters
Justice Byabakama explained that physical collection of nomination documents enables the Commission to monitor aspirants closely and inform relevant field authorities for better coordination.
Call for Participation and Vigilance
Justice Byabakama expressed appreciation to all stakeholders, especially voters from Special Interest Groups, for their continued involvement in the electoral process.
“We urge all Ugandans to stay informed, participate peacefully, and adhere strictly to electoral guidelines as we prepare for yet another historic democratic exercise,” he said.
The EC continues to encourage stakeholders to consult the updated roadmap, which is accessible on the official website.
