2026 general election: EC starts dispatching voting materials to districts

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The Electoral Commission (EC) has started dispatching voting materials to its 146 district offices across the country ahead of the 2026 general election.

Justice Simon Byabakama, the EC chairperson, flagged off the first batch of materials at the commission’s warehouse in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, on Thursday, January 8.

“We are just here to flag off the first batch of the polling kits, and in the afternoon, more will go. So, this is a continuous process,” Byabakama, who led a team of commissioners, told the media.

The Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama (holding a flag), with other commission members, dispatching the first batch of voting materials at the commission’s warehouse in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, on Thursday, January 8, 2026. (Photo by David Lukiza)

The trucks that set off during the flag-off were destined for 12 districts of Mitooma, Bundibugyo, Bukedea, Luwero, Dokolo, Wakiso, Abim, Namayingo, Yumbe and Mbale, as well as the cities of Masaka and Hoima.

Byabakama said the commission was conscious that only about a week remained before polling day on January 15, when Ugandans will vote for a new President and Members of Parliament.

“It is our obligation to ensure that all these materials are delivered to the respective districts in time so that on polling day, the materials are adequately and promptly delivered to the respective polling stations to enable polling to start at 7:00 am,” he said.

He added that it was not possible to dispatch all the materials on the same day.

“This is not the first time we are dispatching the kits in instalments, if I may use that phrase. We load those where we are satisfied that we completed the packing process adequately. So, there is nothing strange or new,” Byabakama said.

EC acting secretary Richard Kamugisha described the first dispatch of polling kits as a milestone in preparations for the general election.

He said 39 other districts were also scheduled to receive materials later the same day.

Kamugisha said the commission began assembling and packing polling kits at its warehouses in mid-November last year.

“The process involved breaking the bulk supplies of the materials that we received into small quantities that are packed in the metallic boxes, which we dispatch to the polling stations. The process of assembling and packing what we call generic materials, which in some other jurisdictions are called the non-essential materials, which are common for every polling station, was successfully concluded by December 27,” he said.

On December 27, 2025, the commission commenced the packing of non-generic materials customised for specific polling stations.

“Each polling station has materials which are different from the other. And this type of packing is so critical and meticulous that any slight mistake means different materials will go to a different polling station, and there will be no voting at that polling station. So, this is what has been going on over the period,” Kamugisha said.

He added that the dispatched kits would first be delivered to EC district stores before being transported to polling stations on voting day.

“So, whatever has been packed here will only be opened at the polling station when polling opens on January 15. We have got a large force of disciplined prison warders and police force members who have been handling both packing and security,” he said.

The EC has also recently received a third consignment of ballot papers from the United Arab Emirates, including 246 pallets for local government and parliamentary representatives. Of these, 65 are for district and city chairpersons, while 181 are for district women councillors.

Additional ballot paper shipments are expected from Greece, South Africa and Kenya for special interest group elections.

Other scheduled elections

The national conference for election of Workers’ MPs will be held on January 19, 2026, before the polls for councillors representing special interest groups at Municipality/City Division the following day (January 20).

On January 22, 2026, elections of district local government councils (city/district chairpersons, lord mayor, mayors, and councillors) will be conducted.

January 27, 2026: Elections of Municipality/City Division chairpersons and councillors)

January 28, 2026: Regional conferences for the election of regional youths’ MPs, national conference for the election of national female older persons’ MPs and army council meeting for the election of army legislators.

January 29, 2026: Election of councillors for special interest groups at District/City

January 30, 2026: Election of councillors for special interest groups at sub
county/town/municipality/ Division

February 2, 2026: Regional conference for the election of Older Persons’ MPs

February 3, 2026: National conference for the election of MPs for persons with disabilities

February 4, 2026: Elections of sub-county/town/Municipal Division chairpersons and councillors

February 6, 2026: National conference for the election of national female youth MP.