By Jumah Kakomo
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has adjusted dates for nomination of Presidential candidates and related issues under the roadmap for the 2025/2026 general elections
The Commission had earlier scheduled nomination of Presidential candidates in line with Section 8 (1) of the Presidential Elections Act to be conducted on 2nd and 3rd October 2025. Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, chairperson of the commission on Friday announced that the nominations will now take place on 23rd and 24th September 2025.
According to the commission, nomination of candidates for local governments, including Special Interest Groups (SIGs), in line with Section 132 (1) of the Local Governments Act, Cap 138 will take place on 3rd – 12th September 2025, Nomination of Candidates for Parliamentary Elections in line with Section 26 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap 177 will be conducted on 16th – 17th September 2025, Nomination of candidates for SIGs Representatives to Local Governments is scheduled for 8th – 12th December 2025.
Byabakama adds that campaigns for Presidential candidates in line with Section 22(1) of the Presidential Elections Act will be conducted on 4th October 2025 – 12th January 2026, Parliamentary campaigns in line with Section 38 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Cap 177, will be conducted on 23rd September 2025 – 12th January 2026, campaigns for Local Governments, including SIGs candidates are scheduled for 13th September 2025 – 12th January 2026.
Byabakama further announced polling Period for Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Councils (City/District; Municipality/City Division; and Sub County, Town, Municipal Division), including SIGs Representatives, in line with Article 61(2) of the Constitution to take place between 12th January – 9th February 2026
Byabakama revealed that the Commission has made this adjustment after taking into account the post-nomination processes that have to be concluded before the candidates get on the campaign trail. These include: the capturing of presidential nomination returns, production of ballot paper samples, harmonisation of the campaign programs, and signing of the Memorandum of Undertaking by all the nominated candidates.
” After taking into account all the above, the Commission realised that if we were to maintain the earlier nomination dates, these post-nomination processes would drastically reduce the period available for the campaigns,” Byabakama added.
Byabakama further advised presidential candidates on critical pre-nomination procedures referring to Section 10(b) of the Presidential Elections Act that provides a Presidential candidate’s nomination shall be supported by not less than one hundred (100) persons who are registered voters, in each of at least 2/3 of all the districts in Uganda, which translates to about 97 districts.
” The Commission will soon announce the start date for collecting the Supporter Forms, along with the timelines for the collection of the signatures and submission for verification, additionally, the Commission will announce the start date for collecting Nomination Forms for the Parliamentary and Local Government Councils Elections, as well as the relevant (nomination) guidelines,” Byabakama stated.
Byabakama also made Clarification on the Establishment/Verification of Academic Qualifications saying that aspirants for the elective position of President, Member of Parliament, and District/City Chairperson/Lord Mayor are required, by law, to have a minimum qualification of Advanced Level (A Level) standard or its equivalent. He says aspirants who obtained the said qualifications or higher outside Uganda, are required to have their qualifications verified by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in consultation with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and obtain a certificate issued by NCHE to that effect.
Byabakama adds that those who did not obtain A Level standard education in or outside Uganda, but have other qualifications, which they claim to be equivalent to A Level standard of Uganda, must obtain a certificate of equivalency issued by the National Council for Higher Education in that regard. Aspirants who have obtained the certificate of equivalency from NCHE are required to establish the requisite academic qualifications by submitting the said NCHE certificate to the Electoral Commission Headquarters or the District Election Administrator (DEA) in the district where the person wishes to contest, at least two months before nominations.
