🔴 EC set to nominate candidates for 2026 presidential election

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Presented and edited by Joseph Kizza
(Refresh the page for updates)
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 9:43 AM 

Security guidelines during nomination

With the presidential nomination exercise just about to get under way today, security agencies have urged all political actors and public to take note of the following:

▪️ Access to the venue is limited to invited persons and aspirants only
▪️ Use of routes leading to the venue will be restricted in line with traffic guidelines and protocols issued
▪️ We will enforce the Electoral Commission regulation that a candidate’s convoy must have no more than two motor vehicles, each carrying no more than 10 occupants
▪️ The incumbent President, if a candidate, may use the official number of vehicles attached to the office
▪️ Processions to and from the nomination venue are prohibited
▪️ Security vehicles for presidential candidates will carry only government security personnel assigned to them
▪️ Nominees must cooperate with their security details for protection

▪️ We will not tolerate any usurpation of security duties such as traffic or crowd control
▪️ The use of rowdy groups (“Egaali”), hooliganism, intimidation of opponents and provocation of security officers are strictly prohibited
▪️ Bringing any dangerous weapons to the venue is strictly prohibited
▪️ We remind the public that election laws, public order, and criminal laws continue to be fully enforced
▪️ The rights of citizens and peace must not be disrupted by nomination activities and associated rallies
▪️ Any concerns or disputes with security officers can be addressed through established mechanisms
▪️ We call on all Ugandans to promote peace and act as ambassadors of harmony during this time

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 9:25 AM 

Mao on DP presidential race no-show

 By John Odyek: 

Democratic Party (DP) president general Norbert Mao says his decision not to contest in Uganda’s 2026 presidential elections was reached collectively by the party’s top leadership, the national executive committee.

Mao, who has twice contested for Uganda’s presidency, says he had prepared for nomination, collected the required signatures countrywide, and was ready to run. “I have been ready to run, because I have run before, so nobody can doubt my capacity."

The justice minister, in a social media post on September 21, said: "My actual words from day one were: 'Elections alone will not bring about a peaceful transition..' A transition is not just about office bearers. It is also about systemic changes in the governance structure of the State!"

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 8:50 AM 

All set for Museveni’s nomination — Todwong

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) secretary general Richard Todwong has said all is set for the nomination of their presidential candidate by the Independent Electoral Commission today (Tuesday).

According to a tentative programme shared by Todwong, President Yoweri Museveni will leave State House at 9am and is expected to arrive at the EC offices by 10am for his nomination.

As Museveni heads for the nomination, he will be accompanied by members of the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC), senior party secretariat officials, Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) members, as well as the nominator and seconder of the candidature.

Read details 👉🏽 HERE
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 8:35 AM 

UHRC, EC, Police heads discuss human rights

The heads of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Police have met to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights and freedoms ahead of the 2026 general elections.

The meeting, held at the UHRC headquarters in Kampala on Monday (September 22), was confirmed in a press statement from the human rights body.

It was attended by UHRC chairperson Mariam Wangadya, EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abas Byakagaba.

Read details 👉🏽 HERE

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 8:23 AM 

EC bars UPC contenders

The Electoral Commission (EC) has ruled that Jimmy Akena, the Lira East Division MP and Uganda People's Congress (UPC) leader, is ineligible to contest for the 2026 general elections as a presidential candidate.

Justice Simon Byabakama, EC chairperson, issued a letter dated September 20, 2025, following consultations with senior UPC officials at the Electoral Commission headquarters.

The ruling comes after prolonged disputes within the UPC with senior members Akena, Denis Adim Enap, Joseph Pinytek Ochieno and Peter Walubiri Mukidi, all disputing the UPC leadership and the legitimacy of the party’s presidential flag bearers for 2026.

Read details 👉🏽 HERE
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 8:00 AM 

Everything in check?

Looks like.

Hours ahead of the start of the nomination exercise, the organisers applied the finishing touches on the collective stage to ensure everything goes as planned. It's a joint effort, this, involving various stakeholders, including security agencies.

Guess we are good to go now!

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 7:54 AM 

What next after nominations?

The day after the conclusion of the nomination exercise will see the start of the harmonization of presidential candidates' campaign programmes. This will be a three-day exercise, starting on Thursday (September 25) and ending on Saturday (September 27).

Thereafter, the presidential candidates will begin their respective campaigns: from September 29 until January 12 next year — in accordance with Section 22(1) of the Presidential Elections Act.
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 7:45 AM 

Managing traffic flow

According to the Traffic Police, the main routes are: From Kampala City Centre; Yusuf Lule Road; Mulago traffic lights; City Mortuary traffic lights; Kubbiri traffic lights; Bwaise Flyover; Northern Bypass; Busega roundabout; Kajjansi Flyover; Old Entebbe Road; Lweza Fuelex Kigo Road Junction to the venue.

Parking will be at the main venue for only the presidential aspirants and St Joseph's Church of Uganda, Lweza for other invited guests.

Traffic diversions will only be effected at the following points, if need arises:

▪️ At Kisubi, traffic will be diverted to Nakawuka Road and access Kampala city. This diversion will decongest Entebbe highway
▪️ At Kajjansi Flyover, traffic will be diverted to Munyonyo Expressway to the city centre
▪️ There will be a diversion for motorists from Kampala to proceed to Kajjansi Flyover at Lweza Fuelex Kigo junction
▪️ There will be a diversion at Kigo Rehabilitation Centre junction for candidates after nominations to Kigo Road
▪️ There will be a diversion at Kigo Furniture and motorists entering Kigo Road will be diverted to Kajjansi Express
▪️ Residents affected by the diversion will be allowed to move with stickers in and out of their residences provided by security
▪️ Traffic Police will hold traffic flow at other road junctions, access roads and regulate it according to the movements of candidates
▪️ Traffic Police will hold road users at 50 metres from these junctions
▪️ All diversions will start at 5am on the two days of the nomination (Tuesday and Wednesday) until the end of the nomination exercise
▪️ No boda boda rider will be allowed beyond all cut-off points

Police warned that "whoever contravenes the stipulated guidelines will be dealt with in accordance with the traffic laws and regulations".
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 7:40 AM 

Managing traffic flow

Meanwhile, the Uganda Police Force has urged the general public and nomination exercise participants to follow traffic and security directions, exercise patience and discipline, and plan their journeys in advance.

In preparation for the nomination exercise, the Police has since issued the arrangements for traffic flow along the routes leading to and from the Electoral Commission nomination grounds at Lubowa and the vicinity.

The routing, diversions and parking arrangements are aimed at ensuring "smooth traffic flow and enhanced security", according to SP Michael Kananura, the public relations officer of the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety.

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 7:34 AM 

Nomination programme

The Electoral Commission says it has designed a programme that will facilitate "swift conduct" of the nomination exercise, given that the bulk of the nomination documents (lists of supporters) have been verified in advance.

Importantly, aspiring candidates will be required to be physically present, and to submit all additional requisite documents for verification. The Commission will, after scrutiny, and satisfaction that the requirements have been fulfilled, declare the aspirant duly nominated.

The nominated candidate will briefly address the public through the media at the Media Centre set up at the nomination venue.
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 7:30 AM 

Accessing nomination venue

So who will be granted access to the nomination venue, and how will they access it?

According to EC boss Byabakama, only individuals who have been invited and accredited to participate in or observe the nomination exercise will be granted access to the nomination venue.

An aspirant will be allowed into the nomination venue accompanied by no more than 20 people (including the aspirant themselves).

By the time an aspirant arrives for their nomination either today or on day two, they will have submitted their accompanying particulars to the Electoral Commission in advance.

An aspirant will use only two vehicles for purposes of their nomination. Each vehicle should not carry more than 10 people, driver inclusive. Each of the vehicles will bear a Police sticker.

The Electoral Commission has "strongly warned" aspirants against mobilizing supporters to accompany them to and from the nomination venue, "as processions are not permitted" during the nomination exercise. But there is an exception here.

"For avoidance of doubt, the incumbent President, who is also an aspirant, shall use such facilities as are ordinarily attached to his office. This is in line with Section 28(2) of the Presidential Elections Act."

After being successfully nominated, candidates who wish to meet with their supporters to launch their manifestos are advised to organize and conduct such meetings in full compliance with traffic regulations and laws governing public assemblies.
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 7:23 AM 

What you need to be nominated

To begin with, an aspirant seeking presidential nomination must be a citizen of Uganda by birth, who is aged 18 or above and is a registered voter.

They are required to submit certified copies of educational qualifications confirming that they obtained a minimum formal education of Advanced (A) Level or its equivalent.

The aspirant's nomination must be supported by no fewer than 100 persons who are registered voters, from not less than 98 districts (which form two-thirds of all the districts/cities of Uganda).

Aspirants have been guided to carry along a proposed campaign schedule with the starting date of  September 29, 2025 "to facilitate smooth harmonization after the nomination exercise".
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 7:20 AM 

In the lead-up to the presidential nomination, Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Byabakama issued a statement providing important details on what to expect, including requirements for nomination, access to the nomination venue, and the nomination programme.

Byabakama urged aspirants, their agents and supporters to follow the guidelines to "enable the Commission conduct the exercise in an orderly, peaceful and safe manner".

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 7:05 AM 

Who will feature on the 2026 ballot?

That's the question that today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday) will answer for us as Uganda's Electoral Commission gets set to nominate candidates for the 2026 presidential election.

Good morning everyone. Welcome to New Vision's live coverage of the two-day presidential nomination exercise, which is set to be conducted at the new Electoral Commission Head Office Grounds in Lubowa, Kigo-Lweza Road, Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality in Wakiso district.

On both days, the exercise will get under way at 10am and end at 4pm. Stick with us here for updates.

You can also find more election-related stories on New Vision's elections portal HERE.


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 7:00 AM 

Ready to hit the ground running!

All eyes are on Uganda's Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama and co.