214 presidential hopefuls pick nomination forms

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The national nomination exercise for the 2026 general elections has entered its 15th day, with 214 aspirants having so far picked nomination forms to contest for the Presidential seat.

According to the Electoral Commission, the applicants include 22 women.

At least 14 political parties have picked forms or formally expressed interest in participating in the polls. The exercise, which began earlier this month, will run until the official nomination days scheduled for September 23 and 24.

Aspirants are required to submit their completed forms at least two weeks before nomination day to allow verification of signatures.

Each presidential hopeful must present at least 9,800 signatures from registered voters drawn from a minimum of 98 districts, 100 signatures from each district.

The electoral roadmap indicates that beginning Monday, September 1, nominations for local government seats, including LC V chairpersons, will commence. These will be followed by presidential nominations later in September, and in October, the process will open for Members of Parliament.

Meanwhile, Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi explained the process for non-unionised candidates, including workers and peasants’ representatives, stressing that ten delegates elected at the district level will convene at regional centres in the North, East, Central and West, where they will elect representatives for their respective regions.

The final elections to determine the national representatives of workers and peasants are scheduled to take place between January and February 2026.

The Commission has urged all aspirants to adhere to the roadmap and meet the requirements to ensure a smooth and credible nomination process.

For now, all eyes remain on the coming weeks as Uganda edges closer to September 23 and 24, when the final list of nominees will be unveiled.