Elections 2026: Presidential candidates' agents and EC to harmonise campaign schedule
During the meeting hosted at EC headquarters in Kampala, the political party representatives also received 100 copies of campaign guidelines for Presidential Candidates 2025/2026.
The Electoral Commission Acting Secretary, Richard Baabo Kamugisha (centre) meeting representatives of nominated Presidential candidates to harmonise their campaign programmes ahead of the official campaign period. This was at the EC’s offices in Kampala on Friday, September 26, 2025. (Photo by Emmanuel Ssekaggo)
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The Electoral Commission (EC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with agents of the eight presidential candidates for the 2026 general election to pave way for a harmonisation process, ahead of the official campaign launch due to take place on Monday, September 28, 2025.
During the meeting hosted at EC headquarters in Kampala, the political party representatives also received 100 copies of campaign guidelines for Presidential Candidates 2025/2026.
The two-day meeting convened on Friday and Saturday, was chaired by the Secretary to the EC Richard Baabo Kamugisha; the police force also attended.
The Electoral Commission Acting Secretary, Richard Baabo Kamugisha (seated 3rd right) with representatives of nominated Presidential candidates Cross-checking proposed campaign schedules during a meeting to harmonise their campaign programmes ahead of the official campaign period. This was at the EC’s offices in Kampala on Friday, September 26, 2025. (Photo by Emmanuel Ssekaggo)
The EC on 23rd and 24th September confirmed candidates to contest Uganda’s 2026 presidential elections, dramatically narrowing the field from the 221 citizens who initially expressed interest by picking nomination forms.
The agents some of whom seasoned politicians include: the Senior Presidential advisor on Politics, Moses Byaruhanga represented the incumbent President, Yoweri Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Robert Centenary, the Vice chairperson Western Region of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Musa Lukwago and Tamwina Mulwani of Common Man's party (CMP) Isaac Igambi of the National Peasants Party (NPP) and Bruce Muhangi, who represented Robert Kasibante, the candidate of the National Peasants Party (NPP).
Others are Elisha Simba of the Conservative Party (CP), Rodgers Bichwa of Alliance For National Transformation (ANT), and the National Unity Platform (NUP) was represented by National Organising Secretary Dr Moses Kanaabi and Alex Rovans Lwanyaga.
In an interview with the media, Byaruhanga explained, “The aim of signing the MEMO by all the agents of the Presidential candidates is commitment to all parties to stick to the programme as agreed upon with all the agents of the candidates at the EC.
To change anything in the schedule, you must inform the EC in advance who will give clearance for a new date in case there is no other candidate who is booked it. The program can change subject to the EC’s Approval after consulting other candidates".
Kanaabi, the agent of NUP, alleged that President Yoweri Museveni, the incumbent, is a favoured candidate who may change his campaigning program to other districts as he may wish.
In response, Byaruhanga instead said that Museveni had in the past respected the campaigning programme as agreed upon by the EC.
"In case he wants to amend his campaigning programme, he has to get permission from the EC team, who will consult other Presidential candidates and everybody is informed where the president will be," he added.
In response
At the meeting, Julius Mucunguzi, the Head of Public Relations & Spokesperson, assured all political camps of public safety and order provided by the Uganda Police Force, which is responsible for ensuring public safety.
"The role of police includes: securing public safety during rallies and events, ensuring the security of all stakeholders, and arresting and charging individuals who commit criminal offences," he added.