Kampala authorities to crack down on illegal 2026 election campaign posters, set tough display guidelines

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As Uganda gears up for the 2026 General Election, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has issued a stern warning to political aspirants and parties against the unauthorised display of campaign materials across the city.

In the newly released guidelines, KCCA has outlined strict measures to regulate election-related advertisements, including posters, billboards and audio announcements. 

Any campaign activity found to violate these rules will be subject to penalties as stipulated under various legal frameworks, including the KCCA Outdoor Advertising Ordinance (2025), the National Physical Planning Standards and Guidelines, the Uganda Communications Commission Advertising Standards, the National Environment Act, and other related laws.

Deputy KCCA executive director Benon Kigenyi, speaking to the secretary generals of registered political parties at the KCCA headquarters in Kampala, made it clear that political aspirants must seek prior approval before placing campaign posters or using promotional tools in public spaces.

“No poster or campaign tool will be allowed on any private property without the written consent of the property owner. All campaign materials must adhere to structural and spatial planning regulations, and any erected without a permit will be deemed illegal and removed at the owner’s cost,” Kigenyi said.

Placement guideline

According to KCCA, campaign posters must be uniform in size and placed only on the front elevations of buildings, at or just above ground floor level.

Posters will only be permitted on lawfully approved structures such as existing billboards, vehicles, framed spaces on bus stops, and designated street poles.

Kigenyi said each framed poster must not exceed 0.9m by 0.6m.

No posters are to be placed on roundabouts, road curves, junctions, electric poles, traffic lights, trees, hospitals, health centres, schools, or places of worship.

He emphasised that this is not only to protect public property but to ensure public safety.

“Posters and billboards at junctions and roundabouts obstruct visibility and may interfere with road users' view of traffic signals, which can lead to accidents,” he noted.

He said illuminated signs are also prohibited unless placed on pre-approved billboards.

He stressed that the use of fliers and loose campaign materials is strongly discouraged, with KCCA citing their contribution to city litter and environmental degradation.

Audio campaigns, noise limits

Kigenyi noted that campaigning via sound equipment will only be permitted between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, with sound levels restricted to 80 decibels.

Campaigners, he said, must obtain a special outdoor advertising permit for such a type of promotion. He noted that any audio campaign that exceeds 80 decibels or takes place outside designated hours will be in violation of the law.

Candidates who defy the guidelines face hefty fines and even imprisonment under various laws.

For instance, he noted that violating the Physical Planning Act can attract penalties under Section 35, while unauthorised environmental pollution is punishable under Section 97 of the National Environment Act.

“Defacing or removing a rival candidate’s poster is a criminal offense under Section 101 of the Parliamentary Elections Act. We expect all political actors to conduct their campaigns respectfully and lawfully,” Kigenyi added.

Under Section 85(1) of the NEMA Act, violators could face fines of up to 550 currency points (about sh11m).

Offenses under the Kampala City Council’s Maintenance of Law and Order Ordinance (2006) could attract a penalty of two currency points.

Complaints from political parties

While KCCA emphasised the importance of fair and orderly campaigns, some political parties raised concerns.

Zacharia Bisase from the Congress Service Volunteers Organisation (COSEVO) criticised the “first-come, first-served” allocation of poster space, arguing it disproportionately favors well-funded parties like the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

“This system is unfair because parties with financial muscle can dominate all the available space. Smaller parties with no government funding are left with nothing,” he said.

Jackson Kato from the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) questioned the timing of the guidelines.

“Posters are already all over the streets. These guidelines would have made more sense earlier. Implementation must also be non-discriminatory,” he added.

However, the NRM communications officer, Rogers Mulindwa, welcomed the move.

“We are already booking space for our posters. If posters must be removed, let it happen openly to avoid political clashes. But no one should stop us from booking space just because we can afford it,” he said.

Gideon Tugume, Secretary General of the Forum for Integrity in Leadership (FIL), argued that since they are Ugandans who pay taxes already, they should be exempted from some of the associated campaign fines/costs.

But, in his response, Kigenyi stated that even those who have already put up posters without permits have been warned and are expected to take them down.

He confirmed KCCA had also received complaints from property owners about posters being placed on private premises without consent.

“The taxes you pay are for given services. But the things you are going to do that cause another cost to KCCA, you have an obligation as citizens to do what is right. Those complaining of space, we have enough space available for everyone,” he noted.

KCCA’s Head of Public and Corporate Affairs, Daniel Nuwabiine, stressed the importance of adhering to the guidelines, as the city still has many visitors coming, thus a need to protect its beauty.

“We have found campaign posters covering road signs and trees. If we find materials placed in restricted areas or scattered as litter, we’ll charge the responsible party for their removal,” he said.

The Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Gerard Twishime, urged the parties to follow the guidelines during the process.

“Don’t expect us to keep aside when violence is taking place, we come in to stop the fights like we did at the recently concluded NRM party primaries. We are not the ones who cause violence, but when we come in, you misunderstand us,” he noted.

Twishime also cautioned politicians against placing campaign posters within police barracks and urged them to respect citizens’ rights throughout the electoral process.

“In business areas like Kikuuko, Kisenyi, Owino and others downtown Kampala, we don’t expect you to bring noisy vehicles followed by boda boda riders to interfere with their businesses,” Twishime warned.